I can finally say it...

We closed a few days ago!!!!!!
The previous owners daughters were such a nightmare. They wanted absolutely nothing to do with the correction of anything in this particular house. They stressed 'as is' all the way - way beyond a conditional meaning...the whole way through the process I was grinding my teeth, totally stressed out, not sure if the bank would let a couple of things slide. In the end we closed on a house with a window that wouldn't stay up, a sewer pipe that didn't extend through the roof, a dishwasher that was broken but was advertised as just fine, a ridiculously old kitchen - the homeowners daughters probably paid a 13 year old kid to paint over all the wall paper and cabinets - YELLOW- and you can see the previous blue color underneither.
They slopped up everything - and got globs of dried paint everywhere. The outside condition - totally overgrown - it took the entire day today to dig out just one overgroon flower bed running along the back of the house. And the fire alarm upstairs wasn't hooked up at closing which was a violation of contract. At closing we brought this up as well as the fact that heat didn't generate to the downstairs bathroom - and they offered $50 only. RE said the pipes probably need to be bled. We didn't want their stinking money, all we wanted was the assurance that we could have it fixed and in working condition. When we mentioned this they started acting pretty much like complete b*(ches at the table....saying..'WELL I NEVER! We're going on vacation - we can't have this! And, she's a bride! What is she gonna do - hold this deal up?'.
I really wanted to walk away or spit on them. One or the other. My lawyer made a funny statement saying that he couldn't wait for us to get into the house so we could dig up the backyard to find all that GOLD. You can tell the previous people living there were most likely cheapos b/c the upstairs converted to gas and the first floor was left alone with oil. So technically we have two heating systems to heat two different floor in the house. Crazy. It'll cost a lot to update that one day. Anyway, we ended up getting $75.00 and left it at that. Not that it'll pay for anything, but I guess we just took it instead of nothing. My case was atypical I think (unlike my friends who the homeowners leave a bottle of wine in the fridge for them) because the house was vacant and the owner died - leaving the estate to his daughters (the witches).
Okay, on the brighter side, one day this house will be phenomenal. Just a lot of time, money, OT, elbow grease and patience.
After spending a whole day cleaning, I miss the kid life I use to have. I definitely feel like an adult now..with many adult responsibilities.
It was a beautiful Sunday and I wished I was at the beach on my day off. Sometimes I think that maybe getting a condo the first few years would have been a better idea. But on the flip side, this will be a great investment in the long run, and I feel fortunate to be able to buy in LI - in the town I really really wanted!! And in 3 years we'd have to do this anyway. So...I'll keep ya all posted. :)

Re: I can finally say it...

Congratulations - Now that you finally closed - Can you post some pics Please
Scott

Re: I can finally say it...

Sounds just like my house!!!!

We closed two weeks ago and handyman special isn't even the word for it. Unfortunately/Fortunately we did not have it inspected

Our mortgage broker kind of let things slip by so we could get the house (it was FMIL's house- long story - but it started off as doing her a favor) so now who the heck knows what is in violation of code etc. b/c they owned the house for 25 years and made like - NO REPAIRS!! Just added rooms and such. I laughed when the dryer repair-man came yesterday and told me that our dryer vent is completely against fire code....Lordy - I am sure EVERYTHING is!! I am waiting for the house to burn to the ground!!

ANYWAY - Congratulations!!!!

p.s. - don't feel bad about not getting the wine in the fridge from the previous owners...we were left a refrigerator w/ food still in it! I think FMIL thought she was helping us by leaving us some food - instead I had to spend two hours scraping and scrubbing the entire fridge just to get it clean...

Re: I can finally say it...

congrats and please dont feel bad.

Re: I can finally say it...

Congrats...... It make take time and alot of hard work but you have a HOUSE!!!! (something I can only dream of at this point) Enjoy the process of making it your HOME

Re: I can finally say it...

Just wanted to say congratulations on your closing! Best of luck with your new home. I'm sorry the previous owners were so awful, but like you said, over time you will turn that house into everything you've always wanted. Congrats again!

Re: I can finally say it...

Congratulations! It sounds exactly like our house too!

Please take before pictures. We didn't and now that we have 4 rooms completed nobody could appreciate how much we have done!

Everyone told us to take our time, but I just wanted to get it done - yesterday. But, do take your time and don't stress. You may feel like it will never be right, but it's amazing what a difference even a bit of paint can make.

Re: I can finally say it...

Please just focus on the fact that you HAVE A HOUSE ON LONG ISLAND>.what a great investment..what a great start to a wonderful life..look at the brightside..you could be paying someone rent and still have a crappy living space!!! i know its stressful but its YOURS and you should revel in that fact!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

Re: I can finally say it...

Congrats!!!!
Where town is it??/

Re: I can finally say it...

Congratulations

Re: I can finally say it...

Congrats - and I understand your pain. Today I took a vacation day to..... sit and watch the electrician rewire the house. Talk about a fun day! Sitting arond for 10 hours watching someone do work, with no TV, computer, AC, fan or anything to amuse myself.

Re: I can finally say it...

Thanks everyone!!

Honestly the upstairs is really brand new. But the downstairs is completely old. I'm going to post some pics of the kitchen b/c I think it's so hysterical.

We're talking 2 layers of wallpaper with a messy coat of paint on top. One lower cabinet has no shelf (can see right to the floor).

2 layers of lineoleum.

Cabinets: were blue, are now yellow, some spots a mix of yellow/blue LOL....

Ceiling: 3 long wooden?? planks running along the ceiling - they painted over - can't tell if it's real wood of fake wood for design...mom wants to rip it down

Here's what *****: My mom wants to assist us in stripping the cabinets to paint them white, and to change the hardware to steel. My father says - leave it alone - don't touch anything - live with it (for like 5 years??) until you're ready to tackle it.
With this thinking, nothing would get done - this kitchen has to get fixed up - such feuding everytime we try to talk about doing some updates to the kitchen.

Re: I can finally say it...

I would do the work now - but thats just me. I would rather have a kitchen that I was happy with now, especially since you spend a lot of time in there....preparing meals or when you have people over they usually flock towards the kitchen.

Where are those pics
Scott