GinaC wrote: The turning point came when I was fussing over a fear of something or other, and my realtor just said, "So you fix it."
That would ave made me discredit anything the realtor said past that point.
They make money off the sale so they are in a conflict of interest. I always think of them as the ones that provide the keys.
what really steams me is when they try to block communications between the existing owner and the client. especially with old houses, the history and details about what has been done aren't easily transferable if the realtor attempts to act as a filter. Being a historian you'd probably gather lots from such a conversation.
Better to just knock on the door without them, speak to the owner and get first hand info if you can. They try to prevent that so they can filter the conversation and to prevent you from making a deal to de-list and cut the agent out of the commission.
I'd at least make a offer with a subject to inspection and then you can ask the owner if you can remove some siding to check and if he wouldn't let you do that it might say a lot about what is hidden. That way you have an out if you don't like what the inspector reports. You might get a humidity probe in there in various places.
I'd also try to get permission to open the panel and to check in some boxes to see if they made a hack job of the wiring , unless it looks original and you plan to upgrade from K and T, in which case it is likely to be a total rewire. I'd look at some part that isn't; obvious like ask to inspect the wiring to the porch light, drop the lamp and look in the pot and see the condition there. The kitchen is where lots of people do crazy stuff because homeowners think they know how to do it all themselves but don't and often there have been changes done by unqualified people. If you find the wires in the panel are different than other wires, be suspicious of why that is and where they were joined. Is the sewer pipe new or is that a problem waiting to be dug up? does it run under things you'd hate to loose like a nice garden or a workshop ?
if you get one inspection done , use the checklist when you do your own inspections upon first look, itll point out stuff like loking around the perimeter to see if they buried sill plates. stuff you might not think of immediately but can be int he habit of seeing once you are tuned into the potential. If you go through a full inspection it can be worth the cost even if you dont buy it. - again the agent shouldn't recommend the inspector, they may be in partnership through referrals.
Be suspicious even if they are real nice ! you dont have to let on that you are skeptical, or rude, just be wary. It's your money.
).
The upside of flippers is you can dumpster dive and curb scout to get all sorts of choice bits that you might want/need. (Like our recent door find!)
