bean29
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Post by bean29 on May 15, 2019 10:51:58 GMT -5
My Son's girlfriend made an offer on a house. I am concerned by the pictures that there is mold in the basement. DS says "We already know there is mold in the attic & they want a sub pump". I think they is his GF and her realtor. DH & I are concerned, but DH is resigned to stay out of it b/c they won't listen to us, haven't asked us for any advice.
So DS said they were going to ask the sellers to pay for 1/2 the closing costs in negotiation. I think they should have already asked for 1/2 the closing costs, and if there is mold, they should demand it be remediated before closing and they should be given a warranty. RE: sub pump, I did not ask DH, but they may need other work other than a sub pump, so I said a waterproofing company should do a secondary inspection right?
Any resources I can point the kids to? Cause we are just old people who don't know anything kwim?
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on May 15, 2019 12:05:56 GMT -5
So, if an inspector finds evidence of mold - what do they recommend you do?
Hopefully they recommend you hire a mold remediation company to assess the extent of the damage?
I already told DS to call his Godfather - who has an environmental engineering company in a neighboring state...but I don't think they do residential...I am pretty sure he would send someone to assess DS's property though if he does not have time to come himself. His nephew graduates from College this weekend and his niece has a middle school grad the first weekend in June.
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on May 15, 2019 12:35:21 GMT -5
If there is mold in the attic, the roof leaks (potentially more expensive than the mold remediation). It might be better for her to withdraw her offer - and look for houses that don't need a new roof - and don't have leaky basements.
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dannylion
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Post by dannylion on May 15, 2019 13:14:01 GMT -5
I was about to suggest not buying a house with a leaky roof and moldy basement, but I see that Phil beat me to it.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on May 15, 2019 14:58:02 GMT -5
Have you "wondered" out loud how much installing a sump pump when one doesn't already exist costs? While your DS is within hearing distance? Or "wondered" how installing a sump pump would help the dampness in the basement issues... And doesn't needing a sump pump to pump water away from the foundation of the house - maybe indicate other issues (maybe it's a roof leak that's dumping water into the basement - or maybe busted gutters that's dumping water against the foundation - or maybe it's the landscaping slope that is not draining water away from the foundation correctly) Will a sump pump actually solve the problem? or just mask it?) I'd also "wonder" out loud about if there's mold in the attic - where is the moisture coming from? And if that moisture could also effect the lower portions of the house - as water tends to seek it's own level - so the path down might be many many many feet horizontally from where the water entered the structure. Which means there may be mold behind walls all the way down to the basement. FWIW: I'd also figure out some way to suggest that they find/buy a house that does NOT have a leaky roof and a damp basement. Water is the bane of homeowners... it's destructive and costly to fix the damage from it. My "fixer upper" had seepage problems (a common problem for older homes in my neighborhood) AND had had a leaky roof in the past (as it had stains in the attic and as the damage to the ceiling below the leak - wasn't enough to cause them to replace the plaster/drywall - they just painted over the stains... and didn't seal it... the stains re-appeared. ) when I purchased it. I knew what I was getting into (I'm familiar with older homes and the issues) and had a plan and $$ to fix the basement issues and almost managed to get a new roof on it (before the really old roof leaked again). Dealing with water damage (and mold) is NOT for the faint of heart or those with shallow pockets.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on May 15, 2019 15:00:54 GMT -5
So, does DS and everyone else involved think that the mold in the basement is actually caused by the roof leak? Water flows down and doesn't always follow a straight line down.
So, how long does DS think the roof has been leaking?
Some good things to wonder out loud. You might be able to lead them to thinking beyond the "oh, we can fix this easy" thoughts...
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on May 15, 2019 15:28:11 GMT -5
If she is determined to buy this exact house, she should be prepared for future problems. If it were me- get it inspected by someone who's not a "preferred inspector" with the realtor. Find an independent person. Then get quotes on what it's going to cost to add the sump pump because you are talking about jackhammering out concrete, running drain tile, hooking into the city sewers potentially, etc. It's not a cheap thing and can easily cost more than the 1/2 the closing costs.
I bought a 1950's house that had been closed up for a year prior to my buying it. I made a lot of demands/requests in my purchase agreement. There were a handful of things identified in the inspection and since it was a VA loan they were a little more picky. I agreed to re-paint the shed that they said had peeling paint and in turn gave them a list of interior repairs they had to do. We negotiated back and forth for probably a month. They were desperate to sell as the dad was in his 90's and in a nursing home. They wanted to sell when it was still power of attorney and wouldn't have to go through probate as part of the estate.
While empty the siding was attacked by woodpeckers. They had caused extensive damage. No one would have bought the house knowing it needed new siding. We are talking large holes, dozens upon dozens of them. We requested new siding in the purchase agreement. We got 3 quotes. We wanted the one that ended up being most expensive so we agreed to pay the difference. They paid like $13,000 at closing to the siding company and we paid the other $4,000 to the siding company. They'd have paid it all but we wanted nicer siding.
My point is- all of this can be negotiated into the purchase agreement. New roof, money towards the sump pump, etc. If they balk at any of that she should consider looking for a different house to buy.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on May 15, 2019 16:56:55 GMT -5
If she is determined to buy this exact house, she should be prepared for future problems. If it were me- get it inspected by someone who's not a "preferred inspector" with the realtor. Find an independent person. Then get quotes on what it's going to cost to add the sump pump because you are talking about jackhammering out concrete, running drain tile, hooking into the city sewers potentially, etc. It's not a cheap thing and can easily cost more than the 1/2 the closing costs. I bought a 1950's house that had been closed up for a year prior to my buying it. I made a lot of demands/requests in my purchase agreement. There were a handful of things identified in the inspection and since it was a VA loan they were a little more picky. I agreed to re-paint the shed that they said had peeling paint and in turn gave them a list of interior repairs they had to do. We negotiated back and forth for probably a month. They were desperate to sell as the dad was in his 90's and in a nursing home. They wanted to sell when it was still power of attorney and wouldn't have to go through probate as part of the estate. While empty the siding was attacked by woodpeckers. They had caused extensive damage. No one would have bought the house knowing it needed new siding. We are talking large holes, dozens upon dozens of them. We requested new siding in the purchase agreement. We got 3 quotes. We wanted the one that ended up being most expensive so we agreed to pay the difference. They paid like $13,000 at closing to the siding company and we paid the other $4,000 to the siding company. They'd have paid it all but we wanted nicer siding. My point is- all of this can be negotiated into the purchase agreement. New roof, money towards the sump pump, etc. If they balk at any of that she should consider looking for a different house to buy. This is exactly what I was thinking - that you just can't put in a sub-pump without putting in a drain tile. They would need estimates, and finding someone in this area to do work on a small project rn is not going to be easy. The roof itself I think we could get replaced fairly easily - it is the mold/water damage that has me concerned. I am afraid the real estate agent will tell her replacing the sub pump will cost $5,000 and she will accept that without getting estimates before closing.
My son said she called all around to find an inspector and had a hard time scheduling someone, don't know where she got the suggested inspector list. Inspection is scheduled for Tuesday and that will be day 8 or 9 (do they just count business days or do they count weekends too?).
Everything inside is outdated. needs new flooring, paint, tile in bathroom. attic is not drywalled - it has wood walls and I am not sure about ceiling. Basement ceiling tiles are very yellowed, and needs to be updated too. DS would not care if it is all fixed up, he just wants to lift weights down there, so if it does not have mold/mildew he will be good. If they have to pay for sub pump + drain tile, + replace attic ceiling/roof it could be more than they can afford. DH said since Son's name will not be on the house, he does not want to spend much time fixing it up - and he is right, still my son does have some family and friends that might do a lot of work for a reasonable cost.
I feel like Debbie Downer, but I am pretty scared they are biting off more than they can handle.
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bookkeeper
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Post by bookkeeper on May 15, 2019 18:31:52 GMT -5
When we were house shopping with DS#1 for his first starter house, he made an offer on the only one that did not have extensive water damage.
Most of this water damage was gutter/downspout/rainwater related. His location gets quite a bit of rain in the summer. You can smell mold/mildew. If it does not pass the sniff test, there is a reason why.
Water flowing where it will can destroy tens of thousands of value in your home or rental. I recently repaired some of Mom's downspouts, it is a homeowner chore that needs constant attention.
Good advice so far, I second buying a house without water issues.
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Happy prose
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Post by Happy prose on May 15, 2019 18:45:21 GMT -5
bean29 So the gf is buying the house on her own? Is your son just going to help with bills?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2019 7:50:44 GMT -5
I absolutely agree with insisting that the mold be remediated by the sellers. DS and DDIL bought a house late last year with mold in the attic; the previous owners hadn't repaired roof leaks. Once mold is discovered they're required to disclose it to future buyers, so the sellers either have to remediate it or take a steep discount if your DS' GF doesn't buy it and others are looking at the house. (In DS and DDIL's case the sellers did remediate the mold and fix the roof.) I had a leaky basement in NJ- they'd painted the basement floor and the inspector didn't notice the mineral deposits on the cinder-block walls that indicated seepage. Every time it rained heavily I was down there mopping. Finally, after I changed jobs and got a serious bonus, I had french drains and 2 sump pumps installed. What a difference. Never saw water in the basement again. It was a big selling point when I sold and I made a very good profit on the house so overall it worked out.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on May 16, 2019 11:13:06 GMT -5
bean29 So the gf is buying the house on her own? Is your son just going to help with bills? Yes, she is going to buy it. Idk why, I think they are pretty committed to each other. DS had talked about buying her a ring. They don't want kids, so they may not get married. A Lawyer friend of mine called WI Marital Property Law the "Creditor's Protection Act", so I am not going to push that they get married.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on May 16, 2019 11:15:54 GMT -5
Well, the "Good news". Rain Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Monday Clear. Tues Rain. Inspection is Tuesday. Hopefully any water issues from seepage, gutter or roof issues will be self evident.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on May 16, 2019 22:47:20 GMT -5
I would run from that home as fast as I could. Mold not only damages structures but human bodies as well. I'm very sure she can find another home she likes as well .......... and doesn't have mold.
I second/third the suggestion of a full home inspection by an independent inspector. And have the home fixed and re-inspected before closing.
Good luck in your suggestin mode. Is there someone she will listen to?
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on May 17, 2019 9:29:58 GMT -5
I would run from that home as fast as I could. Mold not only damages structures but human bodies as well. I'm very sure she can find another home she likes as well .......... and doesn't have mold. I second/third the suggestion of a full home inspection by an independent inspector. And have the home fixed and re-inspected before closing. Good luck in your suggestin mode. Is there someone she will listen to? I don't know. Her parents live out of state, but she has apparently talked to her Dad. He is a teacher, so if she gets the house - he is apparently going to come here and paint for her.
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jelloshots4all
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Post by jelloshots4all on May 17, 2019 19:31:36 GMT -5
They need to have a mold inspection before she buys. One house I looked at had a radon issue. When we toured they were trying to remediate. My kids were young, so I said a hard no. Health is not worth location, a good price, a cute house, or a great mortgage.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on May 17, 2019 21:01:24 GMT -5
Isn't there a house without mold and a leaky roof she can buy?
My concern is depending on how long the roof has been leaking this could be a lot more than your average roof replacement.
And who knows what might crop up months down the road long after the current owners are gone. You can't cover EVERYTHING that could go wrong it's impossible.
Some headaches just aren't worth it. There are plenty of other houses in the world.
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justme
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Post by justme on May 17, 2019 21:45:18 GMT -5
My brother bought a house that apparently the builder fucked up because many now have mold issues due to it. They're in the process of suing and dealing with the mold issues. Their home insurance has apparently helped with some but won't actually fix the problem causing it.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 19, 2019 5:07:47 GMT -5
Always use an inspector independent of your realtor. That realtor is taking advantage of a young couple that are clueless. Unloading this white elephant on them.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on May 19, 2019 10:10:41 GMT -5
FWIW mold in the attic might be because of incorrectly vented bathroom and kitchen vents. I've read about people just venting their bathroom fan(s) into the attic... and I wouldn't be surprised if a DIY stove vent installation wouldn't be done that way as well. I would think, too, that an older correctly done but not original to the house installation of a bathroom fan(s) or stove hood might suffer from material failure over time. I check my bathroom fan attic tubing/venting as it's more complicated than a direct run of pipe right out the roof.
Basement mold/mildew is a whole other set of possible circumstances.
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