# I'm trying to buy a house - battlements? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 21, 2010, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875 "2010-10-21T12:56:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/21 "2010-10-21T21:17:33Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I love these old biblical rules that are basically tort regulating municipal ordinances. > > \*Thou shalt shovel snow which falls upon thy walk promptly! For if one who passes by shall slip upon thy snow, that shalt be chastised for thy negligence, and fined. \* It would be pretty funny to rewrite some HOA regulations in phony bible-speak. _Park not thy rusted-out hulks upon the lawn, for properly trimmed and cared for grass is sacred, and to do so is an abomination._ ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/22 "2010-10-21T23:24:19Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Cripes. It _is_ unadorned concrete block. > > I would see this place in the distance every time I passed by on Hwy 115, and every time I would wonder whether they were ever going to finish it. The land it’s on is flat, severed from a farmer’s field. > > There does not seem to be a moat. I just can’t believe that whoever spent the money to build that didn’t bother setting any aside for landscaping. Maybe they intended to make the serfs do the gardening. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/23 "2010-10-22T09:39:15Z")
No moat or drawbridge, no portcullis, no murder holes, WHERE the hell are all the peasants and animals going to sleep? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/24 "2010-10-22T18:46:38Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#): > > :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: Seriously? That’s less than I can pay for a condo around here! Pardon me, I have to go call the bank and then get my immigration forms in order. No need for immigration forms [if you can swing $1¼ million](http://www.historicproperties.com/detail.asp?detail_key=Neams001). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/25 "2010-10-22T20:18:02Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > No moat or drawbridge, no portcullis, no murder holes, WHERE the hell are all the peasants and animals going to sleep? Yeah, [it looks unfinished](http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&q=190+County+Road+21,+Cavan-Millbrook-North+Monaghan,+Peterborough+County,+Ontario+L0A+1G0&sll=41.902277,-71.542969&sspn=27.338363,56.337891&ie=UTF8&cd=4&geocode=FX9yoQIdTPpR-w&split=0&hq=&hnear=190+County+Road+21,+Cavan-Millbrook-North+Monaghan,+Peterborough+County,+Ontario+L0A+1G0&t=h&ll=44.140342,-78.516777&spn=0.007792,0.015761&z=17&layer=c&cbll=44.140499,-78.514409&panoid=vmrzZaMWeTZshjhhmbDdEA&cbp=12,166.51,,2,0.39). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/26 "2010-10-22T20:59:47Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > More seriously, the realtor has been very very helpful, and has gone above and beyond the call of duty. What is an appropriate gift for a realtor, anyway? Or does one not do that sort of thing? I realize that he’s making money, but in our case, he has definately earned it. Not sure how it works in Canuckistan, but here in the US, the realtor of the buyer doesn’t make a penny. They’re working for referrals and the hope of getting you as a seller years down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/27 "2010-10-22T21:38:42Z")
Really? It’s always been my understanding the commission is split 4 ways: Seller broker Seller agent Buyer agent Buyer broker ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/28 "2010-10-22T21:52:29Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Not sure how it works in Canuckistan, but here in the US, the realtor of the buyer doesn’t make a penny. Wrong. As a Realtor, I make a commission whether I represent the Buyer or the Seller, and so does my company. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/29 "2010-10-22T21:56:19Z")
It might be different in Ontario, but in Alberta, (as far as I know) both of the agents make money - about 3% for the buyer’s agent, and 4.5% for the seller’s agent (I think - don’t quote me on it). The _buyer_, however, doesn’t pay anything - the sellers pay all the commissions. I don’t know what you mean by “broker,” **Inigo.** The only brokers that were involved in our house purchase was a mortgage broker. We had a real estate agent and the buyers had a real estate agent, and there were two lawyers involved and two banks, and that was it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/30 "2010-10-22T22:15:00Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I don’t know what you mean by “broker,” **Inigo.** The only brokers that were involved in our house purchase was a mortgage broker. We had a real estate agent and the buyers had a real estate agent, and there were two lawyers involved and two banks, and that was it. Even here in Canada, there is a real estate broker working behind the agent. You probably will never meet him or her, though; as there may be one broker for many agents in a realty office. The agents are the public face of real estate; they do the legwork, drum up the business, show the properties, and help fill out the initial contract of sale, among other duties. But once they’ve “made” the sale, the broker takes over behind the scenes and handles the actual sale, the dealings with the lawyers, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/31 "2010-10-22T23:24:19Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Wrong. As a Realtor, I make a commission whether I represent the Buyer or the Seller, and so does my company. Hmmm…maybe I’m misremembering. Maybe it was it didn’t cost me anything (directly, of course) when I bought (as in, after I went through closing, I’d have to then cut a check to my realtor as well). What’s the typical split on that? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/32 "2010-10-23T00:01:45Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > > [@Musicat](#): > > > > Wrong. As a Realtor, I make a commission whether I represent the Buyer or the Seller, and so does my company. > > Hmmm…maybe I’m misremembering. Maybe it was it didn’t cost me anything (directly, of course) when I bought (as in, after I went through closing, I’d have to then cut a check to my realtor as well). All commissions are typically (but not always) paid by the Seller. They are actually paid to the Seller’s Brokerage company, and that firm decides who else, companies or agents, share in the fee, based on prior agreements. Please note that I speak only from knowledge of Wisconsin law, and there are differences between US states. > [@](#): > > What’s the typical split on that? There may be a “split” many ways, governed by civil agreements between brokers (real estate companies) and agents (working for the companies) – it’s multi-layered, and some agreements are private. I cannot speak for any other company (to do so might risk anti-trust action), but I can tell you that we share our commissions with other brokerages by paying them 40% of our gross commission by virtue of belonging to the local Board of Realtors and participating in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). There are exceptions – we have some agreements directly with other firms in town that alter the MLS sharing fee, and one company refuses to share with us as much as others, so we reduce their cut likewise. Of course, if my company has both the listing contract with the Seller and brings the Buyer to the table, there is no split with any other firm. It’s only a co-broke that requires that. And you are not likely to have to cut a check for any broker – all fees are typically deducted from the total receipts by the company handling the transaction, like a title company. They receive all funds and disburse all funds at once at closing and give the Buyer & Seller each a reconciliation sheet with the details. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/33 "2010-10-23T00:47:22Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#): > > :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: Seriously? That’s less than I can pay for a condo around here! Pardon me, I have to go call the bank and then get my immigration forms in order. No kidding. Plus that is in Canadian Dollars and is on 58 acres of land. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/34 "2010-10-23T04:41:06Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Even here in Canada, there is a real estate broker working behind the agent. You probably will never meet him or her, though; as there may be one broker for many agents in a realty office. The agents are the public face of real estate; they do the legwork, drum up the business, show the properties, and help fill out the initial contract of sale, among other duties. But once they’ve “made” the sale, the broker takes over behind the scenes and handles the actual sale, the dealings with the lawyers, and so on. Ah, so there were brokers involved. I didn’t realize there was so much going on at the real estate office - I thought they just shuffled the papers off to my lawyer. 🙂 > [@ataraxy22](#): > > No kidding. Plus that is in Canadian Dollars and is on 58 acres of land. [Don’t get too excited about the exchange rate.](http://www.google.ca/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=canadian+dollar+us+dollar+exchange+rate&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=32bCTLLiBpGMnQek27nsCQ) 🙂 (You can get excited about the size of the plot if you want, though.) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/35 "2010-10-23T05:43:58Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Battlements? Crenellations? Why not [go all the way](http://activerain.com/blogsview/1746141/just-listed-castle-of-dreams-millbrook-ontario)? This place is just off the 115 near Millbrook, Ontario. It’s for sale, too! I don’t know. It looks like concrete with lines drawn on it. Or some kind of cheap facade. Way too neat and regular. What are a 3-piece and a 4-piece? [And on reading the rest of the thread, I see that \*\*Sunspace \*\*says it \*is \*concrete.] ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/36 "2010-10-23T10:52:26Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > What are a 3-piece and a 4-piece? Bathrooms. A 3-piece bathroom is a sink, toilet, and tub _or_ shower; a 4-piece is a sink, toilet, tub, _and_ shower. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/37 "2010-10-23T12:17:29Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Even here in Canada, there is a real estate broker working behind the agent. You probably will never meet him or her, though; as there may be one broker for many agents in a realty office. The agents are the public face of real estate; they do the legwork, drum up the business, show the properties, and help fill out the initial contract of sale, among other duties. But once they’ve “made” the sale, the broker takes over behind the scenes and handles the actual sale, the dealings with the lawyers, and so on. That may be the Canadian arrangement, but not in USA, and certainly not typical in Wisconsin. In Wisconsin there are two kinds of real estate licenses: salesperson and broker. A broker may work independently, but a salesperson must be under the wing of a broker. Typically a real estate brokerage office employs a principal broker and several salespersons or other brokers, and each handles their own transactions with assistance and guidance from the principal only if necessary. The tasks are not divided as you describe. Some confusion exists since the term “broker” is used to refer to the firm or informally, to any salesperson. The public doesn’t make the fine distinction, and probably doesn’t need to. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/38 "2010-10-24T20:48:04Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Bathrooms. A 3-piece bathroom is a sink, toilet, and tub _or_ shower; a 4-piece is a sink, toilet, tub, _and_ shower. And a 2-piece would be a sink and toilet? That’s much more useful information than calling something a full or half bath. Too bad that convention’s not likely to be adopted in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/39 "2010-10-25T00:16:53Z")
So, if the shower sprays intot he bathtub, that’s still a 4 piece? Or is that a 3, and it’s only 4 when there is a seperate stall for the shower? Either way, it’s a better system than we have. . . ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875/40 "2010-10-25T00:39:34Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > And a 2-piece would be a sink and toilet? That’s right. > [@TruCelt](#): > > So, if the shower sprays into the bathtub, that’s still a 4 piece? Or is that a 3, and it’s only 4 when there is a seperate stall for the shower? If the shower sprays into the tub, it’s considered a 4-piece. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-trying-to-buy-a-house-battlements/557875.md?page=3)