Slashdot is powered by your submissions, so send in your scoop

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
User Journal

Journal queenofthe1ring's Journal: so, um, we bought the house? 15

Journal by queenofthe1ring

We ended up making an offer on the house. Our offer was about 10k lower than the list price. Their realtor said that they had received many offers on it in the past and were not very negotiable so they all were rejected. Some how the accepted our first offer anyways. I guess our realtor played up the "couple of young kids trying to get off to a good start". That and we had a prequalification letter from the bank.

Anyhoo... Just got the contract back from the realtor so taking it to the bank tomorrow I guess in order to start getting the appraisal and whatever else the bank wants. Trying to find good home inspectors. Need to run a radon test.

Does anyone know if the little home radon tests you can buy at Lowes/HomeDepot are accurate enough? Not sure much how else we could have one done. Not sure if that is covered by the home inspection or not.

Other suggestions? Bear in mind the initial contract is already signed...

This discussion was created by queenofthe1ring (768698) for no Foes, but now has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

so, um, we bought the house? More

so, um, we bought the house?

Comments Filter:
  • from the wikipedia entry

    "ASTM E-2121 is a standard for reducing radon in homes as far as practicable below 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) in indoor air.[45][46] Radon test kits are commercially available. The kit includes a collector that the user hangs in the lowest livable floor of the house for 2 to 7 days. The user then sends the collector to a laboratory for analysis. The National Environmental Health Association provides a list of radon measurement professionals.[47] Long term kits, taking collections

    • Let's see if /. will let me post finally...

      Thanks for the info. I used that site you linked and actually found a home inspector on it. So we decided to go with that guy since he seemed to be thorough in addition to being the only Radon tester in our area.

      We already bought and placed a home test kit from Lowes, so we should be able to get a good comparison.

  • Definitely find a GREAT home inspector. If they charge too much, pay it anyway. Make sure they check the AC, Furnace, Water Heater, Roof, and Foundation at the very least. Those are your expensive repairs. I assume your initial contract has a clause where your acceptance is pending a home inspection? If so, the home inspector may have a good suggestion for the best way to test radon, and may even do it for you. You may want to check for carbon monoxide and mold if its bad in that area...
    • FK already said everything I would have, so let me just say, Congrats! Its a big step and the house will probably dominate your life for awhile until you can get into a rhythm with it. The nice thing will be getting to try all those little things you've thought you'd enjoy in a house at some point;-)

      • Thanks!

        We're definitely looking forward to being able to grill out whenever we want. (Mostly I look forward to being able to grill out without having to go to his mom's house, which is where our grill currently resides.)

        Hopefully I'll be able to survive this transitioning phase. I thought just making the contract would be the most stressful part. I was wrong!

    • I think this home inspection is going to cost us a bunch (including a Radon test done by the inspector). I feel a little faint just thinking about it. He does provide a very detailed report, with pictures! We're also going along tomorrow, so hopefully we'll be able to get lots of information. The foundation is a concern on this house. There are a few cracks, not sure if it is serious or not, so hopefully he will be able to tell.

      I will make note of the things you suggested in my little notebook tha

      • I don't know about you, but any foundation problems == no buy for me. Ask him, though, as some cracking isn't bad, but if its floor to ceiling, beware. And let him explain everything to you... you're paying him for a service so take along a notepad ;)

        He'll hopefully give you life left in everything. Like "this roof should last you another 5 years". Speaking of roofs, see how many layers of shingles you have. When replacing a roof, extra shingles means more labor to tear down. But knowing the life i

        • Well, I need to read through the report again more carefully today, because we've got an appointment with the realtor to write up a negotiation page. Fortunately there wasn't really anything major that requires repair.

          He said the cracks were just cosmetic (the thin layer of smooth concrete they put on the visible part of the foundation to make it "pretty"). The roof is original with a few missing shingles, but should last several more years. AC already had the major components replaced, so should la

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Yes, it would be the one with the powerlines in the back.

      Still not sure about this. But thanks for the congrats anyways.

      I think I'm still in shock actually.

      Trying to make all the phone calls and pay all the extra hidden costs, etc. And I thought just the contract was stressful...

  • Congratulations! I really liked living in my first home that I bought. It was nice, knowing that I'm not just the renter - I can install stuff and everything.

    I don't know anything about Radon detectors. Sorry.

    I 100% agree with Fort Knox - a good inspector is crucial. With the second house we bought, we had a good inspector, and the owner ended up re-roofing the house before selling it to us. We didn't do this with the current home, and now I wish we did. I've got some dry-rot I ought to have caught.

    • Thanks!

      We have what we think will be a very good inspector. His website has a sample report that is very detailed and has photos included. We'll be going along too though.

      Unfortunately we met who we think is the current owner when we were placing the home radon test kit (the inspector will be doing another one, for a whole ton of more monies). He doesn't seem very nice and tried to discourage us from testing. If it turns out there is something expensive wrong with the house, probably the contra

  • Hope you enjoy it.

Slashdot Top Deals

8 Catfish = 1 Octo-puss

Close