All Forum Posts by: John H.

In my area, deals are few and far, so its best to not miss any.

This is the last one that closed just last week.

Singly family house was on the market for $120k with nursing home getting proceeds from their patients home. I know the realtor personally and I said nice house, needs work, would they take 60? She told me no, it can't ever go that low due to the nursing home lien. I took her word for it, so i let it go.

8 months later, it closed for $40k with asking price of $120k still. I asked her what happened, I thought it couldn't go lower. She said, oh, it has a mold problem and the roof leaks. She sort of just shrugged it off when I asked why didn't she tell me about it ( I see here twice a month for other reasons). I would have paid 60+ easily.

I guess my question is, how do you keep yourself on the top of realtors "call" list when things get cheaper? She already knows I'm a cash buyer and never do any type of inspections or appraisals.

My only thought was to nonchalantly mention, "of btw, if you ever see a house drop into my price range, i'll throw and extra grand, or 5k under the table if we get it to close.

I dont' want to insult any realtors either......advice?

Most old homes just have 1 shutoff where the water line enters the house and none around the water meter. If this is the case, you need to call the water department, have them shut the water off at the street for 10 minutes while you replace the old valve with a new ball valve.

They come back on just like any other property, if the buyers doesn't like what they bid on after inspection.

The last one I wanted that came back on MLS (almost 2 months after it went under contract), I told realtor i'd go full asking price cash, close in 7 days. Realtor told me it was only back on for 1 day as a technicality and wasn't taking offers because the buyer wanted 15k knocked off of house for repairs and homepath had to cancel their original transaction, relist, then create a new contract with that buyer. Gotta love government programs!

It looks like your window was not installed properly. I'd check out another window, and see if it is installed correctly. If not, I would pull the siding off around all windows and do it right.

See this photo, installer is putting a weather proofing type material over the edge of the window, so water cannot penetrate from behind the siding.

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/install-replacement-windows-and-flashing-correctly.aspx

I'm not a landlord, so no comment on protocol, but 2 hours to diagnose a faulty thermostat? I'd have to find a real hvac guy, probably a lot cheaper than a plumber too.

My friend had a 60CFM fan in his own house and with 4 family members, the shower walls were always dripping. He upgraded to a 110CFM and there was no difference. He asked me about it and I gave him a 300CFM fan I had collecting dust, and he now has a clear mirror after long showers, as well as dry walls. Only downside...he says its cold now as the room is a wind tunnel.

This is like the fan I gave him, and its not much more $$$ than the 100cfm's.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/NuTone-QuietTest-300-CFM-Ceiling-Exhaust-Fan-QT300/100076143#

These are a bit bigger than the 100's, so check if your ceiling has enough room for a box this size.

We have a 1968ish trailer that will be rented out soon. It had a very old oil furnace that we threw out. What type of heat would you guys recommend for a trailer? The house has 4" of insulation in the attic that could be increased, the walls are 1" fiberglass batts, and floor possibly none. New vinyl windows, good doors.

No natural gas in the town.

I'm think i'm leaning towards electric baseboard, but could electric bills be over $500/month?

A single propane wall unit seems quite costly a month too, but I just don't know enough.

Hours and hours of google'ing has me all twisted up on what to do too.

Any thoughts on heating this old tin can?

Sorry, I guess your right, I heard a landlord saying you can't because of it, but he seems to be wrong.

http://www.propertymanagementinsider.com/hoarding-recognized-mental-disorder.html

Isn't this discrimination? Hoarders are a protected class.

A few sheets of plywood would make life very easy for all parties involved. Your contractor or other friends must have sheets lying around that can be used for the day. I've got plenty, but I'm too far away.