Buying the Next House

Parent Cafe
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<p>I (predictably :slight_smile: ) LOOVE the antique kitchen. I assume that it has a central chimney with multiple fireplaces? It looks like the big fireplace is to the right in the picture, which would make this the “keeping room.”</p>

<p>The hoarder’s house is in a pretty spot, and has potential. Is that the Five Mile River? The last big flood on that river happened in the 50s. I was too little to remember it, but the street we lived on was near the river and flooded. The waters stopped just at the foot of our property. That was the flooding that ripped out the center of Waterbury and parts of Norwalk, amongst other places.</p>

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<p>Consolation, we LOOOVED the antique kitchen also, but there was too much that was uncomfortable for living in the house. The current owners have used it as a weekend house, which feels about right to me.</p>

<p>Also, note that the photographer for the antique kitchen was much more of a pro than the photographer for the Hoarder’s House. My realtor keeps reminding me: Pictures can lie.</p>

<p>The Hoarder’s House is along the Aspetuck River.</p>

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<p>Veryhappy, I can see why you are so taken with the house. That living/dining area really does have a lot of potential. The antique kitchen is cute, but I wouldn’t want to live there. My brother lived in a house like that for years. It was very drafty! I love their current house which is still Victorian, but less rustic. It’s got gorgeous fireplaces (for coal!) in almost every room. The front hall is so big they actually use it for a dining room.</p>

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<p>If it didn’t flood during Hurricane Irene last year, it will probably never flood.</p>

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<p>Water allegedly came closer to the house but didn’t get more than 15 or so feet from the house. At least, that’s what the current owner says. Our realtor doesn’t believe him. </p>

<p>We’ll see what the inspection says . . . what DH and I have been saying to each other all day long. :o</p>

<p>mathmom, our imaginations are running wild. DH and I keep turning to each other to ask, “Would our breakfront work in that house?” “Where would we put that couch?”</p>

<p>New “problem” I realized: There’s not that much wall space in the main living area, and we have a lot of artwork that we’d want to hang. </p>

<p>One thing at a time.</p>

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<p>Don’t put anything valuable on the lower floor that you can’t easily move upstairs. :)</p>

<p>BTW, are those doors and windows energy-saving? If not, replacing them should definitely be on the to-do list.</p>

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<p>I agree, Consolation. The doors and windows appear new, but it’s one more thing for the inspector to – inspect.</p>

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<p>

The direct payback for replacing windows and doors for energy savings can often be 20 years or more. And that doesn’t count the indirect energy costs of manufacturing and shipping.</p>

<p>If they are in good shape, I wouldn’t be so quick to replace them.</p>

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<p>There are lots of really nice insulated blinds and curtains that will help with energy costs if the windows are OK.</p>

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<p>But thumper, the point of that house is the views!!</p>

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<p>VH…there are some really nice blinds…they filter out the heat from the sun and cut down drafts BUT you can see through them…they are NOT opaque. A friend has them in her contemporary house…same reason…likes the views, but wants to keep sun from fading her furniture and heating up the house. I can’t really describe them well…but they look sort of like very thin screens…when they are rolled up, they disappear up against the window trim. When they are down, they look really nice.</p>

<p>P.S. no views after dark when it likely will be the coldest.</p>

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<p>

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<p>True, but perhaps it varies by climate?</p>

<p>We had new storms (there were old ones) made for all of our windows–an old house with very large, non-standard double-hung windows–and had the sill and chases foamed and another 6" of insulation blown in under the walk-up attic floorboards. We also removed the window weights and insulated the weight pockets.</p>

<p>Our oil consumption fell by 30% the first year. Obviously, this wasn’t just windows, and probably halting the chimney effect by foaming the sill was the biggest thing, but carefully chosen measures can make a big difference. Carefully chosen being the major point. You need to talk to someone whose goal is not simply to sell you a single product.</p>

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<p>That is a really nice house. I had envisioned something different, old, and smelly, that you’d have to gut because of the mess. It looks beautiful.</p>

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<p>Thanks, busdriver. Inspection is tomorrow. Fingers crossed.</p>

<p>Consolation: I agree with you. I’m hoping we don’t have to replace all the windows and sliders, however.</p>

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<p>We replaced all of the sliders, windows and doors in our first house. The comfort level…and reduced outside noise were well worth the cost of the windows. DH did all of the labor, however.</p>

<p>I agree with the previous poster. I didn’t expect your favorite choice to be on the contemporary side!</p>

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<p>It’s only contemporary because of the triangular windows above the sliders.</p>

<p>And actually, it’s our favorite due to the location.</p>

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<p>I am waiting with bated breath to hear the results of the inspection, and I’m sure I am not alone! :)</p>

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<p>VH…any word on the inspection?</p>

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<p>Well . . . .</p>

<p>DH and I disagree on the “results” of the inspection. I say it’s time to walk away; he says everything is fixable. DH is much more of a romantic than I am. He is in love with the location, and the concept, and can see what it can become. I can see it too, but I’m the practical one. So this is my challenge over the next few days. It’s possible I won’t prevail.</p>

<p>Well, of course everything is fixable. It only takes time and money. </p>

<p>Let’s see:</p>

<p>The second story is wider than the first. The overhang was not buttressed (wd?) correctly when the house was built and it is sagging – only an inch or so, but it needs buttressing. The solution is to bring in a hydraulic lift (!!), raise the overhang the required inch or so, and install some sort of posts to support the overhang.</p>

<p>There is mold throughout the first floor. This will require completely removing all the drywall, having the mold remediated, and redoing the walls. </p>

<p>There is nothing salvageable in the kitchen, so that will be totally ripped out and replaced. (I knew that already and was prepared for that anyway.)</p>

<p>The roof and gutters need to be replaced.</p>

<p>The insulation in the attic is backwards (I’ve heard of this before --): The waterproof barrier should be facing the roof and it’s instead facing the floor. Not a biggie.</p>

<p>The bathrooms are all functional, but the fixtures are original to 1969 and we would want to replace them.</p>

<p>The driveway needs to be smoothed and re-paved. (Knew this already.) Also, drainage needs to be added. Right now the driveway slopes down right to the garage doors. There is no place for water to go, so it’s been seeping into and remaining in the garage. (Current owner is storing things in the garage that are wet on the bottom.) So the inspector said some sort of drain needs to be added in front of the garage, when the driveway is redone.</p>

<p>There is a leak in the baseboard heating and it appears to be leaking under the concrete slab on which the house sits. The inspector recommends sealing off this heating method and, when we install central air, using the same duct work for a forced hot air heating method. (I think I’m stating that all correctly --)</p>

<p>And that’s only what I remember; I haven’t read the inspection report yet.</p>

<p>According to DH who was present for the inspection, the inspector alleges this can all be fixed (including a new kitchen) for the price we would be willing to pay. I’m skeptical. You know how these things go.</p>

<p>Edited to add: This is also a short sale, so getting approval from the bank just to buy the damn thing would take months. We are scheduled to close on our current house on October 19.</p>

<p>I’m going to be out and about all day today and probably won’t have time to check in to this thread until later this afteroon. WWYD?</p>

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<p>VH: so sorry!</p>

<p>WWYD: walk away - buy a lake lot - build from scratch
or (first choice) keep looking
Isn’t it still a buyer’s market? I don’t think you have to put yourself through all this grief and expense. You really can’t know what it will cost till you are done.
It isn’t the end of the world to put your stuff in pods and rent a while. You obviously can’t get this house ready to move in for Oct anyway.</p>

<p>I’m out all day, too. Good Luck!!!</p>