Tuesday, December 29, 2009

How to Identify a Deal Breaker

A couple of weeks ago, right when we got pre-approved for a mortgage, I called the realtor I worked like a beast of burden last year. I told her that I remembered I'd promised to use her services to buy a new home when we were ready, and well, we're there, or we would be in January. It's my way of paying her back for making her show me two dozen homes for rent. I felt badly when I found out she only earned a couple of hundred dollars for the work I made her do. She must have spent that in gas money driving to meet me at all those homes.


Since that time, she keeps sending me listings for homes I can't afford or ones that need way too much work. To be fair, I've ignored most of her emails and two of her phone calls. I mean I told her I wanted to start looking in January and to my knowledge, it's still December. Still, she works hard, so I'm willing to use her again. One email she sent says on the listing that financing may be a problem because, hello?... the house needs a roof.


Feeling badly (but not too much) that I've ignored her, I looked at some of the listings she has sent me. The one that needs a roof? If that's not a $40,000 kitchen in that home, well then, I might be a monkey's uncle. Can you say custom cabinets, granite that sparkles, glass tiled back splash, double ovens, gorgeous hardwood floors? I know an expensive kitchen when I see one--I drool over kitchen layouts in magazines and watch Bang for Your Buck on HGTV religiously. What I can't figure out is why they don't put a new roof on the house. I can so see myself creating in a kitchen that looks like that, but I don't want to inherit problems.

As I looked through the multi list for this home, I was ever so slightly undeterred by the possibly serious roofing problems and saw its fatal flaw right there in black and white: the cooling system is a ceiling fan. Ya right. Like that would work for a post menopausal woman.

Back to square one and once again, I'm ignoring all emails and calls until January.

Photos: swiped from the MLS (I totally could use those two ovens at least twice a year).



16 comments:

Jane said...

I loved having two ovens, not sure what a non cooking dad does with them, lol

SkippyMom said...

Wait...it doesn't have a roof or it needs the roof replaced? Wouldn't it behoove the owners to, I don't know, make sure they were warm and dry before they had THAT kitchen?

And no cooling system? Has your realtor lost her mind?

You might want to reconsider your choice of realtors - eventhough she did a good job finding you a rental home - she doesn't seem to be paying attention.

Good luck. I wish I could lend you my realtor - he is such a sweetie, does what me ask and is drop.dead.gorgeous. heehee

Gail said...

Maybe you should send her your perfect idea and the price range and it will save alot of your time and hers.

Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Man it can be a chore for sure. You are right it is still December. Maybe she is afraid she will forget. I do wish you find the right place. Happy New Year and house hunting.
QMM

Brenda said...

I love watching that show on TV also. I am always amazed at how much house you can get for the money in different parts of the country. I think looking would be fun, but frustrating at the same time. A real estate person that knows exactly what you are looking for would really be a plus during this time. Good Luck next week with it all.

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Good luck in your house hunting in 2010! May you have a year of celebration and success, Rudie! I will be braving the snow in Michigan in a couple of weeks! Yikes! Great idea to wait until January to house hunt...er...isn't that in a few days? :-) xo

Rudee said...

Skippy, what I find humorous, is that the multi list says it will be hard to find a mortgage because of the roof. The banks don't want to take a chance. Uh...the owner of the house IS a bank.

Cynthia, better bundle up. It's c-c-c-c-cold here.

Miss T said...

Drooling over those two ovens...

Celia said...

Sigh! It's heartbreaking when you find a house that has really good qualities, but the bad qualities are going to cost you boo-coo bucks.

When we were house hunting, we found a house that I loved, but the heater was so antiquated we knew were going to have to get a new one. Couldn't afford that expense so we passed. Our current house is great, but the living room is too small, but we make due.

Goodluck. The right house is out there for you.

Stephanie V said...

Don't those TV shows make it all look so easy? Like there's a gazillion house out there just perfect for you. Except that none of them is and everything needs to be tweaked a little. Well, I guess a roof is a LOT of tweaking!
Great kitchen, though.

Silliyak said...

In case you've never seen this. The older posts are better.

http://lovelylisting.blogspot.com

Winifred said...

One oven is more than enough for me but a roof is an essential! Just as well you're not wanting a house here. You'd get a roof but you'd struggle to get one with air conditioning. Well you just don't need it, we just open the windows on the rare occasions we need to! Global warming? Don't think so here.

Just send her a checklist with the essentials Rudee. Then tell her unless it ticks all the boxes you don't want to know.

SkippyMom said...

The bank owns a house with no roof? You would think they would put one on...lol

I have to say in all our house hunting no matter what you give the realtor as you specs you are still going to get a list of homes that don't fit the criteria.

I adore my realtor [we are still looking for a one level home] but he constantly brings me two levels [b/c one levels are so rare here] and ones that are juuuuuuust outside our price range. He means well, but if the inventory isn't there - he wants to send something. And the inventory is pretty thin this time of year.

Rudee I think the bank is waiting for the Spring/Summer to either roof the house to sell it for a higher price.

Good luck. :)

Renie Burghardt said...

It's kind of exciting looking for another house, Rudee. Hope you find a great one, in a short time, with everything working perfectly, and the roof in perfect condition.

I have been in my house since 1987and have no desire to move. But one of these days, I will have to move back to civilization, I know, and that will be a sad day for me.

Happy New Year, Rudee!

Huggies,

Renie

Anonymous said...

LOL I'm with you.. AC is a must!!! But that really is a cool kitchen. Happy Hunting!
Hope your Holidays are going well and you're enjoying them.

Rositta said...

Might be worth negotiating with the bank for a new roof. I mean they really do have to sell I would think. The kitchen is gorgeous and a cooling system, well that can always be installed. At least that's what I would tell me client in my former life as an agent. Good luck in your endeavor. Happy New Year...ciao