De facto "as is"

[Anonymous]

It is our first home purchase in NoVa, and I am trying to see if this experience is typical.

We went under contract for an older home in NoVa, for a reasonable price. While the overall condition of the home is good, some issues came up in inspection that we submitted to the sellers. The inspection addendum returned from them as fully denied, de facto making the home "as is" purchase.

Items included repairing a badly cracked driveway, replacing a 25+year old furnace, reinforcing the deck with rotted out supports, doing electrical work in the attic, and bringing an old chimney up to code. The chimney repair was estimated as expensive, so we asked for 15k with an estimate submitted, expecting to get somewhat less, meeting somewhere in the middle.

Is this bait and switch behavior typical in NoVa? I just wanted to adjust my expectations and go in prepared. I am somewhat taken aback.

[Anonymous]

Before you made an offer, you could see the driveway was cracked and the furnace was old, no? Is the chimney a safety hazard? Lots of old houses are not up to current code. You sound like a typical first time home buyer!

[Anonymous]

The driveway was perfectly visible when you made your so asking for an adjustment for that makes it seem like you are the ones doing a bait and switch. It’s like saying the kitchen needs updating. The furnace is sort of similar— some of those old cast iron gas furnaces last forever. The deck is a reasonable point but it’s not clear what you mean when you say doing electrical work in the attic or bringing the chimney up to code.

Basically you bought an older house you should probably expect some things need work.

[Anonymous]

The cracked driveway will have no impact on your life, other than aesthetics.

Why is the electrical work necessary?

This is pretty typical for an older home. You have the right to negotiate on these items or walk away.

[Anonymous]

Agree that the deck is the only thing you should expect any concession on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The cracked driveway will have no impact on your life, other than aesthetics.

Why is the electrical work necessary?

This is pretty typical for an older home. You have the right to negotiate on these items or walk away.

Inspector says it is necessary.

Of course I have that right but I cannot negotiate with a "0"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before you made an offer, you could see the driveway was cracked and the furnace was old, no? Is the chimney a safety hazard? Lots of old houses are not up to current code. You sound like a typical first time home buyer!

Inspection states that chimney is a safety hazard, especially since a wood burning stove was installed instead of a regular fireplace.

[Anonymous]

You sound like you're nitpicking about stuff that was likely known/obvious with an older home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cracked driveway will have no impact on your life, other than aesthetics.

Why is the electrical work necessary?

This is pretty typical for an older home. You have the right to negotiate on these items or walk away.

Inspector says it is necessary.

Of course I have that right but I cannot negotiate with a "0"

You tried. Their answer was no, this is an « as is » house. You can make a final offer « we want this price reduction or we walk », but you need to mean it. They, so far, have said that they are ready to see you go if you don’t meet their price because they believe the current price already factors all of this in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cracked driveway will have no impact on your life, other than aesthetics.

Why is the electrical work necessary?

This is pretty typical for an older home. You have the right to negotiate on these items or walk away.

Inspector says it is necessary.

Of course I have that right but I cannot negotiate with a "0"

You tried. Their answer was no, this is an « as is » house. You can make a final offer « we want this price reduction or we walk », but you need to mean it. They, so far, have said that they are ready to see you go if you don’t meet their price because they believe the current price already factors all of this in.

I have no problem walking away, leaving them with disclosable defects on the house and a stigma of a broken contract.

I just wanted to see if this bait and switch is normal in this region. If so, I will look for a heavily discounted inspection that only looks at major structural issues. In the past, both we and sellers always fixed some issues and paid out some money during the inspection process. I am not a first time home buyer; this is my 4th home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is our first home purchase in NoVa, and I am trying to see if this experience is typical.

We went under contract for an older home in NoVa, for a reasonable price. While the overall condition of the home is good, some issues came up in inspection that we submitted to the sellers. The inspection addendum returned from them as fully denied, de facto making the home "as is" purchase.

Items included repairing a badly cracked driveway, replacing a 25+year old furnace, reinforcing the deck with rotted out supports, doing electrical work in the attic, and bringing an old chimney up to code. The chimney repair was estimated as expensive, so we asked for 15k with an estimate submitted, expecting to get somewhat less, meeting somewhere in the middle.

Is this bait and switch behavior typical in NoVa? I just wanted to adjust my expectations and go in prepared. I am somewhat taken aback.

Cracked driveway you could see and it's not dangerous. Hard no.
Old working furnace you could see at time of purchase. Hard no.
Deck with rotten supports. Maybe.
Electrical work? Why? Is it dangerous or just older.
What is the actual issue with the chimney? It does not need to be brought up to code except if they are making changes. We had to change our chimney for the hot water heater when we got a new HVAC system that orphaned the hot water heater for code. Otherwise, No.

You are buying an older home. They are right except if the deck is dangerous vs. older. Same with the wiring - only if it is a fire hazard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cracked driveway will have no impact on your life, other than aesthetics.

Why is the electrical work necessary?

This is pretty typical for an older home. You have the right to negotiate on these items or walk away.

Inspector says it is necessary.

Of course I have that right but I cannot negotiate with a "0"

You tried. Their answer was no, this is an « as is » house. You can make a final offer « we want this price reduction or we walk », but you need to mean it. They, so far, have said that they are ready to see you go if you don’t meet their price because they believe the current price already factors all of this in.

I have no problem walking away, leaving them with disclosable defects on the house and a stigma of a broken contract.

I just wanted to see if this bait and switch is normal in this region. If so, I will look for a heavily discounted inspection that only looks at major structural issues. In the past, both we and sellers always fixed some issues and paid out some money during the inspection process. I am not a first time home buyer; this is my 4th home

Old furnace and cracking driveway, for example are not big issues.

You are doing the bait and switch if you agreed to purchase as is and now you are demanding repairs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cracked driveway will have no impact on your life, other than aesthetics.

Why is the electrical work necessary?

This is pretty typical for an older home. You have the right to negotiate on these items or walk away.

Inspector says it is necessary.

Of course I have that right but I cannot negotiate with a "0"

You tried. Their answer was no, this is an « as is » house. You can make a final offer « we want this price reduction or we walk », but you need to mean it. They, so far, have said that they are ready to see you go if you don’t meet their price because they believe the current price already factors all of this in.

I have no problem walking away, leaving them with disclosable defects on the house and a stigma of a broken contract.

I just wanted to see if this bait and switch is normal in this region. If so, I will look for a heavily discounted inspection that only looks at major structural issues. In the past, both we and sellers always fixed some issues and paid out some money during the inspection process. I am not a first time home buyer; this is my 4th home

Old furnace and cracking driveway, for example are not big issues.

You are doing the bait and switch if you agreed to purchase as is and now you are demanding repairs.

I think I got a consensus.

If this deal falls apart, I will never waste money on a full inspection in Virginia again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is our first home purchase in NoVa, and I am trying to see if this experience is typical.

We went under contract for an older home in NoVa, for a reasonable price. While the overall condition of the home is good, some issues came up in inspection that we submitted to the sellers. The inspection addendum returned from them as fully denied, de facto making the home "as is" purchase.

Items included repairing a badly cracked driveway, replacing a 25+year old furnace, reinforcing the deck with rotted out supports, doing electrical work in the attic, and bringing an old chimney up to code. The chimney repair was estimated as expensive, so we asked for 15k with an estimate submitted, expecting to get somewhat less, meeting somewhere in the middle.

Is this bait and switch behavior typical in NoVa? I just wanted to adjust my expectations and go in prepared. I am somewhat taken aback.

Cracked driveway you could see and it's not dangerous. Hard no.
Old working furnace you could see at time of purchase. Hard no.
Deck with rotten supports. Maybe.
Electrical work? Why? Is it dangerous or just older.
What is the actual issue with the chimney? It does not need to be brought up to code except if they are making changes. We had to change our chimney for the hot water heater when we got a new HVAC system that orphaned the hot water heater for code. Otherwise, No.

You are buying an older home. They are right except if the deck is dangerous vs. older. Same with the wiring - only if it is a fire hazard.

Thank you, that helps.

Regional differences I guess.

If the deal falls apart, next time I will seek a limited inspection on major hidden structural issues only. The only reason to get those nitpicky detailed inspections is to get money back from the seller or to break a contract if I am concerned about a serious issue. Otherwise, a contractor friend is just as good.

[Anonymous]

You're lucky you have an inspection contingency at all, OP. Even that is unusual.