All Forum Posts by: Patrick O.

Me, personally, I'd try my cheapest and simplest options first and work my way up unless I see something that is just obviously a major issue. I'd add an air vent through the block first and build up the ground around the perimeter and extend gutters to ensure good drainage like Deanna alluded to. Then I'd add a dehumidifier in the area and maybe run an extra hit off of my ductwork around that area. And if none of that worked I'd start thinking about encapsulation. These are to address moisture issues. As far as structural I'd take a hard look at the floor above. If it's tile and you're seeing lots of cracks you likely have an issue. Walk it real well, don't be afraid to jump on it a bit and feel if something's wrong. If you're not comfortable call in a structural engineer. Not sure how your part of the country is but another thing to keep in mind is termites and other insects nesting under there. Oftentimes, if it's damp they'll find their way there

Disclaimer first, it's a bit hard to tell from two pics and not being there or testing anything. I'm pretty sure those blocks in the middle of the crawl space are there for added support. They're not really necessary but it's sure not gonna hurt to have extra. The area I'd focus on is on the ends of the joists and make sure they're secure. Look for any signs of splitting or bowing. As far as moisture, I look on the wood for white residue as a sign for concern but I don't see anything like that in your pics. Remember, any time heat meets cold you're gonna get moisture so it's to be expected at times especially hot summer days. Mold and rot occurs from the moisture not drying. See if there's either an air vent in the block or a spot where you could easily add one. They also sell crawl space fans for like a hundred bucks or so. Just some of my personal thoughts. Hope it helps. But obviously use your own judgement

If the utilities are still on would be one of my first guesses. If you're looking for yourself a simple drive-by to see if there's a car in the driveway or if the place looks occupied

From what I gather, it sounds like he's already done most of the work. I'd try to, at least, meet the guy halfway if he's just trying to make payroll to his subs. The list of unfinished items you wrote is a minimal amount of work from what I can tell with the exception of maybe the backsplash. If you plan on doing more projects in the future and thus far you're pleased with the guys price and quality of work you might want to keep him happy. If you don't plan on anymore projects in the near-future I would hold firm and not pay him until completion

The first thing I would try to address is what got me in that scenario of having a credit score that low in the first place. More money and responsibility will only exaggerate poor financial responsibility, not rectify them. Kudos on finding a great deal and working hard to make it happen but if you can't get your finances in order it likely won't matter in the long run. Best of luck.

Since the question is what would I do, I would immediately start making offers on distressed or pre-foreclosed homes. I've grown up around and in the construction business. Many of my relatives and friends are in that field. I would use the cash to my advantage by making lower offers on homes in exchange for quick and hassle-free closings. I would rent these properties out and then start a small construction business. I'm not a fan of letting money just sit in the bank because the interest rates are embarrassingly low and I would actually be losing money if you factor in inflation. I will say though there's something to be said about holding onto a pile of cash and waiting for the right opportunity. Maybe spend some money on education in something that really interests me and would be profitable in the long-term

Thanks Chris and Jessica for your info and thoughts. I was just caught off-guard about it because I didn't have any issues with our first two homes in Philly. And I was told the seller wasn't using an attorney so I googled it and found there to be a disparity in North and South Jersey. Figured I wanted to be prepared for when she contacted me because I wasn't sure what to ask about. I have a construction background so I feel very comfortable when speaking with a home inspector but not so much with a lawyer. Thanks for all your comments!!

Thank you guys for taking the time to respond. I'm honestly still confused as to what specific issues a lawyer could help with but I guess I'll keep googling. Always fun to try and learn new stuff. Christopher Phillips, my understanding is it's not currently required in Jersey but it is common practice in North Jersey for both buyer and seller to use an attorney and common for both buyer and seller to use only the title company in Central and South Jersey. I may be wrong but that's what I gathered from google searching

I am a Philadelphia resident.  I am in the process of buying a vacation home in New Jersey.  My realtor has suggested that I hire a lawyer.  I have been through the home-buying process twice in Philly and never had a need for a lawyer so I asked the real estate agent why he was so insistent on me needing one for this purchase in Jersey.  His response seemed weak to me, said he can't offer advice as far as the law is concerned, because its an "as is" property, attorney will order survey, title reports, etc.  My intention isn't to minimize the value of an attorney or foolishly save a few dollars and jeopardize my long-term interests but to understand what it is I would be paying a lawyer to do and what to expect from them.  Also, I'm getting the impression that this RE agent is either lazy or foolish and is only interested in covering his own butt or getting away with doing the bare minimum. Not sure if maybe this is standard in this state.  Any friendly advice is greatly appreciated

I would paint the ceiling register, change out the high hat covers or just the high hats themselves. New laminate countertop and a tile backsplash. New hardware but I'm not a fan of painting the cabinets. Unless the wood looks really shoddy and you're trying to come up with a cheap way to clean em up. The only way to paint cabinets and have them look nice and have durability with the paint is to spend a whole lot of time on them which is rarely worth it. Hard to tell with the floor from the pics. Best of luck