Buying new house, prior tennants took out copper tubing and wiring!?
Question:Well, I went with on the inspection for the closing of our house we are buying and found that the electrical wiring going to the air conditioner unit had been removed, as has the electric cord going to the fixed in place microwave.
The copper tubing coming from the a/c condensation collection pan was also missing as was the copper tubing going from the cold water to the water heater.
Pretty messed up way to get an extra couple bucks if you ask me.
But anyway, anyone have any idea of the cheapest way to fix this up, such as buying the parts first so I only have to pay for labor, etc.
Any advice on the situation?
Any ideas of who is cheap in dallas?
Anything at all?
I have electric/ soldering experince...but not on this kinda stuff.
-oh, and to the people who have nothing to say but, 'I dunno, call a plumber and electrician' ... duh! I am just wondering if anyone has any price-cutting ideas or shortcuts, or has experienced similar.
Answers:
Don't close! This is the seller's responsibility. Tell them- preferably through your lawyer- that you want these items repaired and another walk through after completion. If they offer to reduce the price, get estimates from a plumber and electrician before you agree on a price.
Remember, they want to sell the house even more than you want to buy it.
We found water damage from a broken toilet tank on a walk through. Our lawyer dragged the sellers over the coals. He saved us tons of money, time and grief by threatening to walk out of the closing.
Until you close, you are in the driver's seat, here. Don't close until the house is as it was when you made your offer.
Don't close on the house until it gets fixed to your satisfaction.
Demand that the prior owners fork out the money to pay for the repairs or ask for a lower price on your house because of the additional expenses.
Have you already closed on the house? If not you need to make an itemized list of the issues you have and have them corrected at the owners expense before you sign, or perhaps they can set up an escrow account that you can use to pay for repairs if you call a professional.
I would see this as a major red-flag on the previous homeowners, if they stooped to that level who knows what else is wrong that is not immediately visible.
This reminds me of the movie "Moving" with Richard Pryor, if I recall, as he was being shown his 'dream house' by an older couple they kept joking that they would 'take that with them' as they showed his various things in the house in an obviously joking manner - "The roof? Oh we are taking that with us too, hahahaha".
When he finally moves in they had lived up to their word (which they recorded to avoid lawsuit) and took with them the windows, wiring, drawers, pool, doorknobs, fans, etc. Very funny, but never thought the comedy would become a reality for someone.
Good luck and please proceed with caution on this purchase as you should probably be quite skeptical at this point.
The only thing I can say is that you should wait to buy the parts, you might get the wrong parts and then you have to make another trip. If you are going to have a laborer anyway, let him buy the parts, or he might have them on his truck. To me sometime it is worth a little extra money, then trying to fix it yourself. I have found electricians and plumbers when I go to supply stores for such things and ask them for a laborer that does small jobs or who moonlight. Good luck, MJS
Get multiple quotes and check their references. Don't get the parts yourself. Not only may you get the wrong parts, most contractors get professional discounts or wholesell prices.
If I were you, I'll get the sellers to paid for the work before you sign off on the closing inspection. This is totally unacceptable and you should be smacking your realitor around for not suggesting this to you.
Do not close. Make the owner replace everything that is gone. It is still their house until you sign the papers. Do another walk-through or have a Home Inspection before signing.
CALL A PROFESSIOBNAL ELECTYRICIAN OR OPLUMBER AS NEEDED. Home DIY repairs can be more costly and deadly if not done right or to code.
Don't close!! As soon as you close you own it and all the problems. Bail out now!
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