first time homebuyer....some issues!

[mjoekingz28]

Hey all.

I have a chance to get a home for myself. I know you can't be there to see it, but if you have any experience with these issues it would be nice to get your advice on the subject.

In both of the closets there is a dark colored mold on one of the walls. Oddly there is no mold in the bathroom and I couldn't find discoloration (indicating water) around the mold. I didn't think it was a big deal until the realtor stated its possible its black mold. It sounded like that would be a deal breaker the way she put it (ie, hiring someone to tear out walls). I'm going to try to get someone out there tomorrow to verify if its black mold, fungus, mildew or whatever.

There is one spot in the whole house where when you walk over it, it sinks. She said it might just be carpet there holding it together. I've been told that termites or water damage could have rotted the joists holding the floor up and the remedy is to rip the floor up and have the joists and wood floor replaced. Any experience with this and how much it may run. She said if its just that one spot that is damaged then its no big deal, but if all the house is that way then it could be major money.


Also, since the power meter is missing and the water is turned of, how can I check the plumbing and the wiring and AC. I saw something rather cool one time, but not sure if I remember it correctly. I was at someone's house and he got a generator running and plugged it into the wall and then the entire place had electric. Could we do something like that or is it just going to be a [censored] shoot whether ethis stuff works or not.

thanks

 

[Burt]

Unless you are getting this place for a song, by that I mean lot value only, I would say do yourself a favor and "RUN!". Buying a first house plays with your emotions and tunes down the volume on the logical part of your brain. If you can't afford better, you ought to wait so that you aren't buying someone else's problems.

 

[brentalan]

Ask the realtor to recommend a home inspector and ask that person's advice. You may want to bring in a structural engineer if they think that is the right thing to do. This can cost a bit, but if you want to really know what you are getting into this is the best way to do that.

 

[The_Jeff]

remember the realtor represents the seller so they're as shady as a used car salesman.

Your generator deal is called a "suicide plug" with two male ends. Works if the main breaker is off, don't count on the power company having it off cleanly.

Lack of climate control/ unoccupied houses get mold and accellerated wear. Spongy floors are well rotten.

There are plenty of under employed carpenters etc who would buy this place to "flip" if they saw potential-- and their labor is wholesale! If they've skipped the place, so should you.

Black mold was a big problem down south a few years ago, insurance used to cover its remediation as its spores made a place "uninhabitable." My insurance dropped mold from the list of covered stuff for this reason.

 

[demarpaint]

I agree with the above comments. Unless you are getting the house for next to nothing, run. OTOH if you are in the construction trade or have friends in the trade that can estimate the cost of the repairs, along with a cushion for unforseen damage, and a profit for you, then go for it.

I bought a house in the early 80's that was damaged by fire. We did all the repairs and contracted out the electrical work. I know construction and home repair. We made a very nice profit when we sold the house. I did the same thing with the house I'm living in now, it was a handyman's dream. A great way to make money if you know what you are doing. If not run from the deal, you can lose your shirt.

The problem with mold and mildew is it needs a source of moisture to grow. Having it growing behind a wall is not good, since you have no idea how much repair will be needed to get it out, and stop the moisture from outside that feeds it. You could see a small spot now, and once you open the wall have to replace all the walls that face the outside, or a small area, take your pick? Certain molds are toxic, and some people are highly allergic and will show symptons shortly after exposure to it. Tough sell! Tough to estimate the extent of the damage. Consult an expert, don't guess, when in doubt pass! JMO

 

[mjoekingz28]

Well, I've only been saving up for a house for a year and this is the first house in a good location that is in my price range.

Maybe something is shady because we just found out about it Wednesday or Thursday and she is saying an offer must be in by Monday. However, there was no sign on the internet of it existing until today. It is listed on a few sites.

I hope everyone will be working today so I can use their help.

I plan to call a Termite man who does free estimates. There is also a Mold guy that will check it for free. A structural engineer that does free estimates.

After that it will just be the electrical and plumbing we'd be unable to check.

Its just a 2 room shack without a carport or a paved driveway, but a very peaceful neighborhood. I really wanted that, but it has everything else I wanted (vinyl siding, central air, a room big enough for a pool table).

Burt, you keep a level head it seems. You're absolutely right about getting hyped up. Its just like when you're with a pretty lady and you lay down and forget protection, but you're so 'ready' that you find ways to justify it like 'what are the chances' or 'it'll be alright just this once. I'm just like that when looking to purchase a vehicle. In advance I know everything to look for and am very discerning, but when I look at it I go ape, and rationality goes out the door.

 

[Familyguy]

Run away. If there's mold, there's water. There's either leaky plumbing or a leaky roof and sometimes that water can wind its way through the house until it pools somewhere where mold can VISIBLY be seen. There's probably a lot more of it where you can't see it. The high pressure sales tactic is a sure sign that they're hiding something. I wouldn't waste another minute on something like that.

 

[crinkles]

run.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

If they want a deal in place by a certain time, that's pressuring you. Get out now.

 

[The_Jeff]

Think of all the dumps where they cover the boo-boos and charge full price.

This place is so terrible they're not hiding it, and lowering the price hoping to catch price shoppers.

A typical realtor contract is six months long; if it was in fact just listed last week the agent has plenty of time to sell; they don't care, and are probably hoping the market will turn around (more $$$) over the next six months just like everyone else. This monday thing is laughable. Probably they gave this listing to "the new guy" as a "prove yourself" test.

 

[Pablo]

It's a real buyers market - really unlike any time in my 30 years of home owning. I'm not just saying that....

My point: Take your time. That could be a fixer for someone after they square away all the known weaknesses and the price is whittled down appropriately. You don't have the experience to do that.

Hire a pro - NEVER believe a RE Agent/Broker and NEVER allow them to chose the home inspector (typical rookie mistake)

No house will be perfect. Never. But, you can at least not step into a swamp on your first buy. Keep looking. In a house or two, you will be laughing at this one you skipped.

 

[Dave Hess]

Quote:
Maybe something is shady because we just found out about it Wednesday or Thursday and she is saying an offer must be in by Monday.


They are trying to dump that house before you walk away.

 

[Nyquist]

As someone who purchased a foreclosed home that needed a lot of work, I would advise you to run. Heck I would have run away from my house that I'm now living in if it had mold.

Granted, if you do find a good fixer-upper it can be worth your time. Our investment has netted us a 31% return based off of the appraisal in an already down market.

PM me for details if you wish.

 

[Corvette Owner]

You said, "After that it will just be the electrical and plumbing we'd be unable to check." JUST ! Do you know how much this could cost ?

I agree, RUN, don't walk from this deal !

 

[Bill in Utah]

Just say NO!!!

Too many problems WITHOUT knowing the REAL story. Unless there was a SERIOUS price advantage (ie, even if you figured out exactly how much it was going to cost to fix ALL the problems times 3-4 times and still below ACTUAL market) then this is someone else's "deal".

Maybe the Agent since its such a deal...

I'd pass without question..

 

[willix]

Hire an independant inspector to find out red flag issues.

 

[highmilegeguy]

Run away.

Even when I bought a home that seemed mint, I still ended up spending about 5k in the first two years with little unseen flaws here and there.
You see disaster, imagine what is not easily visible.

Its a buyers market. You can put in lowball offers these days and get a taker. Find something sound. This isn't it.

 

[onion]

I wouldn't even consider it.

 

[Burt]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I agree with the above comments. Unless you are getting the house for next to nothing, run. OTOH if you are in the construction trade or have friends in the trade that can estimate the cost of the repairs, along with a cushion for unforseen damage, and a profit for you, then go for it.

I bought a house in the early 80's that was damaged by fire. We did all the repairs and contracted out the electrical work. I know construction and home repair. We made a very nice profit when we sold the house. I did the same thing with the house I'm living in now, it was a handyman's dream. A great way to make money if you know what you are doing. If not run from the deal, you can lose your shirt.

The problem with mold and mildew is it needs a source of moisture to grow. Having it growing behind a wall is not good, since you have no idea how much repair will be needed to get it out, and stop the moisture from outside that feeds it. You could see a small spot now, and once you open the wall have to replace all the walls that face the outside, or a small area, take your pick? Certain molds are toxic, and some people are highly allergic and will show symptons shortly after exposure to it. Tough sell! Tough to estimate the extent of the damage. Consult an expert, don't guess, when in doubt pass! JMO


What you want as a first time buyer is a house that has cosmetic issues, but not not heavy duty structural problems. Paint is cheap, lawns can be improved, shrubs are cheap if you buy them in the fall. Buy the smallest house in the best neighborhood you can afford. Realtors are slimier than used car salesman. They just want to close a deal. What ever you do, do not use the inspector that they recommend. He/She will not recommend some that they know will give it the third degree.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Thanks a lot. We went this morning and looked at it in the daylight and I was overwhelmed at what we missed during the night before. Its just too much wrong and I have zero experience in house repairs. We turned the water on and the sink leaked when flowing and the bathroom tub just couldn't be shut off.

That comment about mold got to me, if what you can see is bad, imagine what you're not seeing.

However, my pops put in a bid before consulting with me, but at least he inspected the house prior. The outside is pretty decent, thats about it. The bid was for $5000 and the house was listed for $12500. So we'll see what happens. $5k for a home has me crackin' up. There are houses all around that area that was said was owned by a single man who neglected them heavily.

Thanks again for being level headed. Thats what I need you and my family for, a non-partisan POV.