I haven’t made the offer yet, but I went looking last week and today, and found one I really like. I’m going to make an offer tomorrow(monday) - I wanted to sleep on it.
It’s got 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a swimming pool (pool party this summer!) a sun room, a fountain/pond. It has a swiss chalet look exterior (Hi, Arnold!) and a huge backyard, with one fence covered in honeysuckle, 3 magnolia trees, a nice large kitchen w/ brick work around the stove, a breakfast area & dining room. Phew! (How much home does one woman need?)
They’re asking 165K for it. Mom is recommending I offer 150K.
Advice, suggestions, congratulations?
…in a state so nonintuitive it can only be called weird…
My only advice probably doesn’t apply to you b/c it sounds like you are not buying an old house.
We bought a 20’s era home, but before we made an offer we hired an engineer to inspect it. He found things the owners didn’t even know about: the fuse box was dangerous and needed to be updated, the floor was rotten around the bathtub, there was a roof leak around the chimney that eventually would have caused serious damage. The owners paid for all that stuff; we had the contract written that way.
We still live here, 10 years later, and we love it. Hope you love yours too.
Oh, yeah, I’ll have it inspected thoroughly. My ex & I bought a home and passed on the inspection as a negotiating point: we won’t ask you to fix anything, but you’ll take our price. (It was his idea) I would have appreciated knowing the kind of problems that we encountered before actually getting the house. We nearly had the water heater flood our house - would have if it hadn’t leaked first.
Definetly get a thorough inspection of the property ! We are now going through the pains of not negotiating things beforehand. (We bought from friends- never again!) I love my house, but could’ve had better negotiating terms with a proper inspection. Not that that exists here in Mississippi.
The costs of an official inspection will pay for itself in negotiating any needed repairs, preferably to be done before the sale.
Believe me. I don’t want to see my experience suffered by anyone else.
Advice? Yeah, thank your stars that you don’t live here, where my 900 sq ft house with no simming pool, sun room, fountain, pond, honeysuckle or magnolia trees was just appraised at 600k. I swear.
On a serious note, congratulations! The fact that you’re asking the question implies this is your first house. It’ll be a great adventure. You’ll actually enjoy mowing your lawn, etc.
“Um, according to who? Nothing more than a high brow troll, though occasionally the bi polar personality swung in a constructive direction on innocuous topics.” Omniscient
Update - Negotiations were successful, we arrived at a final price of 160K. They already had an inspection and they are fixing all of the problems that we requested they fix. And they’re repainting the exterior and the sunroom to boot.
All that is left now is the paperwork. And the moving.
Oh, yeah - billie, yes I do thank my lucky stars. Actually, just 5 miles farther north and the houses get smaller, the yards get smaller and the swimming pool disappears.
AntiPro - the party starts as soon as I get settled in. And I may hold a beer, pizza, and painting party if I feel like any of the rooms besides the sunroom needs paint.
Handy - I need to introduce you to my ex, y’all would get along great.
Fantastic!!! When’s the party???
They already had an inspection and they are fixing all of the problems that we requested they fix. And they’re repainting the exterior and the sunroom to boot.