Home Owner Thread

[bronko]

Question for anyone who has maybe been through this process.

My wife and I are currently building a house in a county that does not require inspections.

We are going to hire someone to inspect the house, but are debating if we want to have it inspected twice, once before the drywall is hung and once after the house is completed, or if we should just have it inspected once when the house has been completed. Which way should we go?

Part of me wants to overkill it to make sure everything looks good, but another part of me knows my wife and FIL will be up the builders asses throughout the entire process while I am not around.

You need someone with knowledge at a few times. After foundation work, again before drywalling to inspect wiring and plumbing. Get references for contractors because there are a lot of shysters and plain bad craftsmen. Inspections can be a hassle, but they are necessary.

 

[Lee]

A custom home builder who builds the house on spec.

There is a 10 year structural warranty and a 2 year fit and finish warranty.

That is perfect, you can have someone inspect, probably a waste of money, sounds like a good builder, but its not a ton of money like $300-$400 and when talking about a house, that is worth it for peace of mind.

 

[bs80]

Part of me wants to overkill it to make sure everything looks good, but another part of me knows my wife and FIL will be up the builders asses throughout the entire process while I am not around

The downside is that you're out at the very most a grand (how much do inspections cost these days anyway?) and that your wife and FIL about the shoot out of somebody that's actually NOT you

The upside is that you cover your bases and are doubly sure that things are good.

You're building a new house from scratch. If you have any concerns at all, just do it, if nothing else for your peace of mind...

 

[PITCavsFan]

Question for anyone who has maybe been through this process.

My wife and I are currently building a house in a county that does not require inspections.

We are going to hire someone to inspect the house, but are debating if we want to have it inspected twice, once before the drywall is hung and once after the house is completed, or if we should just have it inspected once when the house has been completed. Which way should we go?

Part of me wants to overkill it to make sure everything looks good, but another part of me knows my wife and FIL will be up the builders asses throughout the entire process while I am not around.

Another piece of advice...

Take a lot of pictures of every wall/ceiling BEFORE the drywall goes in and try to label it.

Might not be useful often but in 10 years when you want to add a new fixture, outlet, drain, or move something....you know exactly where the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are behind the walls.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I am probably going to be hitting this thread up for advice in the coming few months. If we get the place I made an offer on, it's a definite fixer-upper but nothing too intense.

Looking forward to hearing from people about flooring options. Painting the walls first, of course... but the carpeting and bathroom flooring are nasty.

@BimboColesHair @Man Called X @bob2the2nd @Cavatt @Hurl Bruce

 

[southernflyer]

Having documented inspections is definitely worth it.

I am on the other end selling a house of a deceased family member.

A prospective buyer couple put in an offer and had their inspector (right after a snow storm a few weeks back) list a lot of items where many weren't clearly/scientifically defined or properly inspected, then knocked down their offer. I ran their names through the county website and it turned out the buyers weren't going to use for their residence as they indicated, but flippers. They had used this guy numerous times to shave thousands off other offers and the buying real estate agent is their married daughter for all their transactions. We had to hire an independent inspector to help counteract what we thought was inaccurate and a rebuttal item by item for their inspection. It has been a headache since we have to publicly disclose their inspection results and then attach our results with it.

FYI - seller's inspection was $450, if they had had the "deluxe" detailed with exact measurements, etc it would have been $850. Our inspection was $400.

 

[Randolphkeys]

We were just awarded the property. There were definitely flippers in on the bidding process. Since we were shut down on our first bidding war, we applied a lot more personal touch with this one: letter to the seller and listing agent, brought our kids to a showing, etc.

It's definitely a fixer upper. Anybody want to brag about their bathroom renovation project so I can steal ideas, please start typing!

 

[Phills14]

We were just awarded the property. There were definitely flippers in on the bidding process. Since we were shut down on our first bidding war, we applied a lot more personal touch with this one: letter to the seller and listing agent, brought our kids to a showing, etc.

It's definitely a fixer upper. Anybody want to brag about their bathroom renovation project so I can steal ideas, please start typing!

Everything is so damn expensive right now. I'm in the market for a new home. Everything is priced at the top of the market and there is still a lot of work to do in these places. Then they go in 2-3 days at 5-10% over asking. Nuts!

Glad you found something Keys!

 

[Randolphkeys]

Everything is so damn expensive right now. I'm in the market for a new home. Everything is priced at the top of the market and there is still a lot of work to do in these places. Then they go in 2-3 days at 5-10% over asking. Nuts!

Glad you found something Keys!

I was shocked to discover the craziness of coastal real estate has found it's way to Northeast Ohio. My friends little brother - who also knew @Deezus in college - has been trying to buy a house in Rocky River for a year and keeps getting outbid. I had to go $62,000 over to get this place.

 

[N7RobBob]

I was shocked to discover the craziness of coastal real estate has found it's way to Northeast Ohio. My friends little brother - who also knew @Deezus in college - has been trying to buy a house in Rocky River for a year and keeps getting outbid. I had to go $62,000 over to get this place.

That's just ridiculous. 3-5 years ago you had houses going for 150K-180K That are pushing 300k for no good reason.

 

[Randolphkeys]

That's just ridiculous. 3-5 years ago you had houses going for 150K-180K That are pushing 300k for no good reason.

I bought a fixer upper. So I went $62,000 over the original asking but I'm still under the "Zillow Zestimate" by over $60,000. Once it's fixed up, my family immediately generates value. It's the hassle tax.

 

[Deezus]

I was shocked to discover the craziness of coastal real estate has found it's way to Northeast Ohio. My friends little brother - who also knew @Deezus in college - has been trying to buy a house in Rocky River for a year and keeps getting outbid. I had to go $62,000 over to get this place.

DUDE. PM me! I need to know who this is and how many times he's seen my taint at a party.

Def hit me up when you start doing renovations. I bought our house out of bankruptcy and spent 7-8 years fixing pretty much everything (much of it myself). Youtube is your friend.

 

[Cavatt]

My house has poison ivy crawling all over it. I talked to the former owner and mentioned it. He said he was immune, but the strain around the house is so intense it even got him. I am mostly better, but even wearing gloves and long sleeves it got on me and I swelled up real bad. I will eradicate it, but first I must nurse my wounds.

Building a pre-school in the garage my wife is going to run. Putting my chemistry lab upstairs school downstairs. Turning my garage into a moneymaker.

 

[Chris]

All I gotta say as a new home owner, this shit is a lot of work.

 

[Randolphkeys]

All I gotta say as a new home owner, this shit is a lot of work.

Do go on... I close escrow in about two weeks.