The Super Official Homeowners Thread

[Sijray21]

I mean, if you're good at plumbing it can save you a lot of money. In HS I took an hvac class where I sweat solder, laid brick, circuit board repair, and a few other things. Takes a bit of skill, but it really isn't all that difficult.

I think the expectations for negotiations should be eased when you are also in a tight spot (not willing to rent or walk easily).

I only have 1 experience buying a house, but I was in control. I already had a rental place lined up to rent when we were negotiating. We offered $10k under their asking (which was $30k down from their initial published price 4 months prior) and negotiated to $2k under their asking and they threw in a few high end appliances. The appraisal came back at our asking price (appraisal contingency) they offered to cover $2k of the $8k difference. We wanted them to cover the whole thing or we walk and we meant it. They buckled and we got the house for our original asking price. This was also after the seller mentioning to me that they were anxious to get down to their other house in FL asap not knowing I was the buyer; he thought I worked with the agent. So I knew they didn't want to put the house back on the market.

Icing on the cake: the rental place didn't charge me for breaking the lease I never used.