[KeithO]

Mods- this is far off topic and if you feel this is inappropriate, feel free to remove this thread.

I am posting this here because I know that there are alot of intelligent, experienced people on this site beyond playing with f-bodies...

My wife and I signed paperwork for an offer on a house yesterday. The offer is contingent on us selling our house (open house is today!) and I don't know if this will work out. Even so I am thinking ahead.

The house was built in 1900 and is a frame construction. The siding, windows, electrical service, and plumbing was all replaced within the last 5 years. In that same timeframe, the extensive woodwork and stained glass was all restored to a high standard. The first time we visited the house, my wife's reaction was "I love this house but it is too nice for us, we'd ruin it". We have an 11-year-old and a very active 3-year-old. I understand her sentiment all too well.

(As an aside, the bonus here is that the house is about 15 miles from Beaver Run Motorsports Complex and has a 3-car detached garage that has an inside height tall enough for a lift. What a coincidence! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif) )

Anyway, I don't know diddley about houses and the offer we have is additionally contingent upon a clean home inspection by a professional home inspector.

Is anyone here knowledgeable about homes and specifically old ones? If so, do you have any advice for me? Is anyone aware of any websites that might specialize in houses like this?

I know that this house is my wife's dream house. I just don't want her waking up from one of those dreams where you show up for school in your pajamas. Hahaha.

[CMC #37]

Having done two home sale transactions this last year.... things to look for:

1) Make sure you go on the whole house inspection with your agent. Take notes. You will learn a lot and some things that need to be done that are not required legally are pointed out by a good inspector. Any disasters or even minor problems found can be negotiated in your favor. Also the city may require upgrades that are cost prohibitive to all parties, hopefully not though. On every transaction I have been involved with there has been dry rot and I am in California!

2)Make sure there are NO permits outstanding or missing on the home! In the case of my "new" 18 year old home recently we had an AC compressor go out after one year of living here, so went to the city to get a permit to dispose of the old one (hazardous materials) and install the new one. While hubby was at the permit office they discovered the swimming pool permit had expired and was never finalized! We were able to track down this to the first owner (we are third), who installed the pool himself. Fortunately everything checked out, however, it could have been a disaster if the pool was not built to code. DO NOT rely on your agent or the process to cover this for you! All it takes is a simple phone call to the appropriate building and permit office. Disclosure is supposed to make the previous owners liable for stuff like this, however, my lawyer said getting them to pay and the cost legal action may not have made it worth it.

3) Health hazards, especially concerning a child. Paint - Make sure it is not lead-based. If it is 20 or so years old it may be. Plumbing - make sure lead pipes are tested within health standards if they are still in the house. Same 20 year old age concern as paint. My last house I lived in had lead pipes and was built in 1987, each year the city would test the water and it was fine. Finally asbestos, often used in ceilings.

4) Asthetic concerns like noise. Any traffic noise, airplanes? What is is it like at night? Getting my home I live in now the inspection had to disclose we were less than two miles from an airport. Fortunately it is a little plane airport and they do not do much night flying.

5) Make sure everything works - some things not inspected by the whole house inspection may not get checked. In our case we were told the whole house vacuum worked. Well, it didn't and it was expensive to fix.

Best of luck to you Keith! This is where your agent earns their comission!