First is the house crooked or sinking?

Inspectors range from Poor - Great. They can only see what's in front of them. They don't dig for stuff, no crawlspace, no idea what's underneath. I would guess they couldn't tell what the walls were sitting on.

I would assume there was no foundation though as the house was built in the 1920's.

I recently sold my house and the buyer's inspector made a ton of mistakes. The buyer requested a range of small fixes, virtually all of which were deemed unnecessary by the contractors I used. In some cases, the inspector even had wrong the materials used (e.g. thought caulk was used on a chimney when it was cement).

My inspector also missed a few relatively big issues when I purchased the house. With all that said, it's worth spending for the real good ones - I walked away from a house purchase when I had a great inspector who really spent a lot of time and identified issues I'm sure 95% of other inspectors would have missed.

Your second paragraph is confusing, unless I'm reading wrong. Your inspector missed some big issues, but then in the next sentence you had a great inspector.

Two separate experiences - bad experience with the inspector I used to purchase my most recent home, great experience with an inspector I used for another home.

The mistake I made was since the house I ultimately purchased was updated/move-in ready, I decided the expensive inspector wasn't needed. It's always worth it.

Lawn question... my landscaper told me he applied weed/grub killer and fertilizer today. Do I need to keep the kids off the lawn for a few days?

Oh man, That stinks. So your newer home was thought to be good so you opted for the cheaper inspector?

I never had one when we bought our first house, and currently selling. What a mistake that was.

NYC, what defects were found after your moved in? J/W

Tx

Wow. Made an offer a day after a house went on the market. Went above asking enough to basically cover closing costs. We then got countered even though they don't actually have another offer yet. F this market so much.

Why would they need another offer to not counter your offer?

So, you think it's standard to counter an offer above list price?

In hot markets, it's just a fictitious number. Unfortunately

If they think they can get more out of the potential buyer, why not?

Did your offer have any contingencies?

Contingencies? No, money down!

No. It was very straightforward. The counter was only that they wanted a higher sales price.

Yeah, that's a go eff yourself situation.

+1

I wouldn't pay dearly into any kind of frothy market like that. What makes housing different?

I'd re-counter into the original asking price, not my first offer, just to make my point. There is always another house that is just as good or better for you.

This is not necessarily true. The counter might be the best deal he can get. Depends on the market.

I agree completely if there is no flexibility in timing. But time constraints and deadlines are almost always self-imposed. They need not be inflexible, but it often seems as if they are.

That would definitely be annoying, not a fan of that move. I do wonder how common it is - most of the houses I've looked at lately are priced high, but I did see one come on late this week that looks like it's priced about $40,000 low. I should check and see if it's gone pending yet.

Of course there is a bit of flexibility in timing, but this market is not showing any signs of slowing down.

I'm sure it can't stay this hot forever, but I can't wait a year or two either.

don't think i'd ever offer above asking first offer

I've done it three times this summer alone.

Diff'rent strokes I guess.

Would have said the same thing 6 months ago.

Okay, so I have gone into 42 houses over the past 3 months (1/2 being open houses & 1/2 were showings w/ my agent). I am getting sick of looking at houses, but I have no real reason to be in a rush to buy since I am looking @ bigger houses. I am basically down to 3 houses that are all pretty close in my mind.

They all check all my boxes for things I want in a house and I think I'd be happy w/ all three. Each has pros & cons over the others houses. What are your all's thoughts about bidding $x under asking for one of them and if they counter or reject I go onto the next house and do the same and keep doing this until one of them accepts? Will this just piss off the sellers or is this a good idea if I have 3 houses I all like?

Breakdown of the 3 houses which may be irrelevant to my question:

house 1: listed 31 days ago and lowered list price $20k about a week ago and is now the same price as house #3. Houses is big enough for a family but the layout is awesome for entertaining & would be an awesome bachelor pad. I 1st saw this house at an open houses & home owner was the only person I saw there & the first thing he said was that the price is really flexible. I know he is building a house in the same neighborhood as house #3 (which is the nicest 'hood of the 3 houses).

house 2: listed 8 days ago for $50k cheaper than current list prices of #1 & #3. It is probably worth about $50k less than the other 2 houses (in my mind) so I see all 3 houses as about the same value for the price. Seller is a guy I worked w/ 6 yrs ago that I am still friendly w/ if I see him but I don't have his number & it may be a little weird calling him.

house 3: listed 17 days ago. It is more of a family home, but I am single (I have been dating the same girl for 6-7 months though & things are going well).