I sold a house about 17 years ago (man I'm old) and the buyers had me over a barrel with a ridic inspection report that called for wildly expensive foundation work. I could tell everyone that it didn't need the work or that the cost estimate was ridic, but I would have to disclose the report.

I don't advise anyone do this as a negotiating tactic because you'd have to be a POS to do that.

I'm a bit on the realtor's side here. If I'm buying a house with a 27-year-old roof, I"m assuming I'm replacing it within the next year or two. Three at max. I would never, ever expect a shingle roof to last more than 30 years. It seems to me that that must certainly have already been priced into the house. Asking the owners to pay for an entirely new roof seems unfair. I think the more reasonable thing is to suggest that you are going to have to replace the roof immediately instead of 3 years, so ask for a reduction in price of something like 20% of the estimate of a new roof and repairs. Or something along those lines.

Bottom line is you negotiated a price based upon a 27-year-old roof. You are now wanting the same price for a house with a brand new roof. That doesn't seem right either. Trying to find some middle ground seems much more reasonable. And, frankly, this house sounds like it's in ****ty condition anyway. Walking away doesn't seem like a terrible option here.

On the flip side, there are sources online that suggest asphalt roofs can last up to 50 years. I have friends who's roof is over 40 years old. While ultimately I don't expect them to pay 100% for the roof, negotiations need to start somewhere. The end result we're looking for with the roof is a sellers concession of some kind.

As someone mentioned above, the sellers should be thinking about time and money to relist the house compared to dealing with us.

There is no such thing as something that is "unfair" in a free market financial negotiation.

Johnny can ask the owner to do a head stand and sing yellow submarine if he wants to. Similarly, the owner can decline.

Sure but assuming both want to close the deal then coming to a reasonable compromise for both sides seems like the thing to do.

I think expecting a shingle roof to last more than 30 years is pretty unreasonable.

it is what it is. as i will argue with them, i am a layman wrt roofs and have found research that suggests asphalt shingle roofs can last as long as 50 years. because the seller (and obviously you) think that is unreasonable, that is up for debate.

but as we dive deeper into this transaction than i initially asked, is it in their best interest to lose the sale by unwaiveringly refuse to deal on the roof? i would argue it isn't, but i am prepared to walk away if they refuse to deal, mostly because i can find a house in a week or 2, what happens to their house come April when all the nicer houses start listing?

the information they know of me: i am a non-contingent buyer getting the best interest rate possible from a reputable mortgage firm, which either their realtor or they should deduce that i am getting because i have excellent credit. ie, if i want to buy this house, there is basically nothing stopping me.

the information they should objectively see about their house: they basically moved in 27 years ago and did nothing. it needs a lot of work aside from the stuff mentioned here or in the HI. and while i value that because i like to fix/build shyt and make the house my own, many people do not and will just see a lot of work and hard pass.

this is where a "good" realtor comes in. does their realtor explain to them that literally every appliance needs to be replaced, and the roof, and the furnace/hot water heater are on their last legs? you know, all that ''bird in hand' shyt...

If I were them I would be looking to unload the house. I would probably try to negotiate something like a third of the cost of the roof or something along those lines. I definitely would not want to pay for an entire roof.

It's really just going to depend on how stubborn they are. And also what their financial situation is.

i do agree, as i mentioned above. i believe we are looking for 50% though.

as i have expanded more about the house and the issues surrounding it, i think more people would objectively agree that from their perspective unloading it quickly is more advantageous than if they were to just cut off and continue to test the market. but they raised their kids there. they've lived their for 27 years. sometimes people aren't objective.

case in point, same neighborhood, owners were asking 10% above what was even remotely reasonable compared to comps. they listed the house in July 2018, we offered them a fair price based on comps in Feb 2019, they hadn't dropped the price in 7 months and had no real traffic other than us. they didn't even counter and asked if we could offer more. we obviously didn't negotiate with ourselves.

I have a colleague who has had his house on the market for 2 years and refuses to nudge on the price. Some people are kind of stupid about these things.

i've heard that some people will just list their house at an inflated price in case someone will pay that price. basically they're not really looking to move but if someone were to offer them the price they want, they would move.

Certainteed Presidential-TL

What roofing material is the best value for buck these days anyhow (strictly for longevity)... composite?

So I'm thinking about removing a load bearing wall and replacing with a beam.

Can someone explain to me why steel beam costs so much more than wood beam. Other than the cost of the beam itself are there any other extra costs that are involved in steel beam vs wood beam.

transportation costs are one reason

steel costs more than wood, in general

i could build you a wooden beam in my garage for minimal costs for any length with basic materials from HD/Lowes. it would work just as well as most other wooden beams. steel, not so much.

My wife and I are currently in the process of buying a house and this is exactly what I wanted to hear. We have been getting more annoyed with our realtor. We were wondering if it made sense to get our own HI, we will 100% now.

Yeah, I got that part of it. I'm interested in the other costs besides the costs of the beam.

Here's a more detailed question. For just removal of the load bearing wall and placement of the wood beam we've got a quote of 10K. How much more would you expect it to be if we used a steel beam instead?

Hmm, my soft quote for:

- structural engineer
- removal of supporting beam (a single ~7' column in the middle of a living space I want to remove)
- removal of 2 horizontal steel beams (supporting the floors above, these meet in the middle of he existing supporting beam)
- replacement with 1 longer, larger steel horizontal beam spanning the width of the old 2 beams
- tile/paint/etc

is 13-15k.

Out of curiosity, how long is the longer replacement beam?

In my case it's going to be 25 feet.

is it a continuous 25' beam or is it multiple beams that will be combined together

all the other costs are going to be virtually constant regardless of if you're putting a wooden beam in or a steal one. the only thing that is different is the beam material, how it's constructed, and how it's installed

(1) 25' beam would need heavy machinery to lift and get set, whereas (5) 5' beams, spliced together inside your house, would be more manageable to lift and move. things like that are taken into account

What is your plan on finding another HI? Are you asking a friend who recently both got a house if they would recommend their HI?

My understanding is whether it's wood or steel, it's going to be one long beam.

I'm waiting for a quote on the steel, but he mentioned a while ago that total cost (including installatoin) of steel beam would be at least 3x of wood beam. I just don't understand how that's possible.

Solar dude turned me on to his framer friend for some side work. He is removing my 80's metal screenroom and replacing it with framing for a 4 season room, tied in to the roof line, that will be ready for the roofers.

tear down, framing, install the doors/windows I source separately, stucco to match house...

$6k

Supppper happy. I've been quoted as much as 40-50k to do this as outside space and 80-100k to do it as living space. The structure is already permitted for the screenroom, attached to house.

You will often save a ton by essentially being your own general contractor and parting things out. On the other hand, as a contractor, when people start trying to part things out, run. You're not going to make any money.