retzie

I think this is another one for the British vs. American houses list: separate hot and cold taps in sinks. (I say 'probably', since they exist in older Australian places and I vaguely remember similar in the UK. Yes/no/maybe?)

We hosted a conference in Oz last year and I distinctly remember the Americans struggling with hand-washing. Apparently they didn't enjoy the cultural experience of Burny/Freezy

Bob

That's true...but older houses here also have separate taps as well, though not nearly as common as in the UK.

WEBlue

Wow, no, we've not seen this kind of thing in our house-hunting. We have seen a few almost-derelict houses that were bank-owned, with boarded-up windows that had been broken, etc. And one freaky empty house where a few cats had hidden out for too long.

MostlyYank

One estate I looked at a few years back was full of white supremist literature.

Pete

kimilseung

Funny, so few Americans know how much they have in common with Muslims. The need to wash in flowing water.

Ruth16

That's odd for a realtor to do those kinds of checks, they don't want to know about dampness ect, my friend was selling her house, her basement was very cold and damp, her realtor told her to put a dehumidifier down there and that she would call her at work to warn her she was bringing someone around this way she could run home and hide the dehumidifier ...that's more like a realtor would do, if they did checks like we do they'd never sell anything.

Ruth16

Bank owned houses must be the worst, people will destroy as much as they can when they know there getting thrown out...

SultanOfSwing

We've a foreclosed house next door to us. The local filth was telling me how bad it smelled inside. I suspect the previous occupant (who, according to the bloke across the street is a bit mental) didn't clear the fridge. Someone has been back squatting though, before the police sent them packing and there's a god-awful ugly RV sitting outside that looks like crap

Someone, presumably the bank, has been sending a landscaper over to cut the grass though, so maybe it will go up for sale soon. We told our old landlord about it, in case they're interested in buying. We'd buy it ourselves if we had the means, and rent it out so we could have someone else line our pockets for us

Bob

Depends on the state...some places, something like that is a material fact that can get the realtor/seller in a lot of trouble for not disclosing.

Ruth16

Yes maybe it does depend on which state you live in, my friend in the uk bought a house few years ago only to find out the plumbing was a disaster, shower leaked ect, the seller left without leaving a forwarding address , not sure if they could have done anything about that even if they could contact him.

I don't think they have the "walk through" over there like we do in the US we can test all thosej things before signing .

My friend bought a house in Florida, before buying it they let the bath/shower run, kitchen faucets, went round flushing the toilets while everything was running Lol, turned out no leaks, although they did discover after they moved in the dish washer had a small leak which it was small DIY job.

Nutmegger

The walk through is done on the day of the closing to ensure that nothing has occurred since the inspection. The actual professional inspection is the one thing that no house buyer should scrimp on, and which the purchase should be made contingent upon. Lenders even make their loans contingent upon a good inspection. If something bad is found in the inspection it's back to the drawing board on the negotiation -- and in CT at least if something is found and the prospective buyer backs out, it is against the law for the seller not to then disclose what was discovered to the next potential buyer.

Ruth16

Interesting, didn't know all of that.

Sally Redux

Also, turning all the taps on would not necessarily show up problems. I was watching a TV programme where someone had put in an en-suite bathroom without any waste pipes - the water just emptied under the house.

Ruth16

Sure it could, leaks under kitchen And bathroom sinks , leaky faucets, I've had a few of those myself in my own home. My dishwasher had a slow leak a few years ago, I would never have known if I hadny have gone downstairs one day in my bare feet, felt it on the carpet ....not saying youd do that in. Walk through though lol.

WEBlue

We've got a few foreclosed houses nearby. One is kind of a mess--grass grown too long, garage windows boarded up. Another house like that around the corner got bought two months ago & it's been fun to watch the new owners fix it up, fix broken windows, paint the whole thing, replant the garden. I really feel badly for the empty houses & love to see good people move in & fix them up.