Re: update on the house

[Guest guest]

>she told me as we were leaving the real estate agents office if I need help

or have any questions or concerns about anything feel free to contact her

and we did and then she says its my problem.

Once they get their commission check most agents never want to see you

again.

> So Im pretty much screwed right now.

Welcome to the " joys " of owning a fixer-upper house. We were so glad when we

sold ours, because even if Ed didn't lose his job when the army base closed

we couldn't afford to keep making the needed repairs. Heck, we were scraping

by just to make the mortgage! When we bought it, it was with the

understanding that my m-i-l's Social Security check (she lived with us)

would cover most of it and Ed's woulkd cover the rest and living expenses,

but then she died 6 months after the closing. Eek! That place needed a *lot*

of repairs, so forget trying to make any *improvements*! The same agent who

sold it *to* us helped us sell it, and she was surprised that in the 7 years

we owned it we made no improvements except put in that one half-bathroom for

my m-i-l. Sorry, lady, not all of us earn a half mil each year and can do

that!

The whole experience kind of burned us from wanted to be homeowners again

any time soon. Maybe if we hit the lottery and have money to burn, or if we

inherit big bucks (Hey, I can dream!) but not before.

Sue in NJ

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: ~*~Tina Barker~*~

> I called ton, WV this morning to the headquarters of the program

> where I got the house and wanted info on the Help loan which will help me

> get the plumbing fixed

What needs to be done? Did you say there were problems with roots? I don't

remember. Is the plumbing useable now? What has to be done right now and

what can be put off?

Who do you know that can help? People at church? Friends? Family? Can

you barter anything to have the work done? Babysitting? Sex?

Can you learn to do it yourself? PVC pipe is very easy to use. Get

plumbing books from the library and see what you can handle yourself.

Good luck. Home ownership is rewarding but it's also a lot of work.

Ann

[Guest guest]

What needs to be done? My front yard needs to be dug up so they can get the old piping out and put new in and put a clean out into the street so the city can come and clean it from there and also 2 trees need to be taken down out of my yard. Did you say there were problems with roots? Yes where I have 2 trees in my yard the roots are gettin in my pipes and clogging them up. I don't remember. Is the plumbing useable now? Yes it is useable now but soon everything is going to have to be dug up cuz the guy that came out to the house said it will work for awhile but the roots will get in the pipe again since its old pipe. What has to be done right now and what can be put off? Right now the trees have to come out of the yard and the yard has to be dug up and new piping put in. Cuz if that doesnt get done now Im going to keep having problems with my pipes. Who do you know that can help? People at church? Friends? Family? My dad and soon to be brother in law are going to run the new plumbing throughout the house but they cant dig up my yard cuz they dont know where the gas line is. Can you barter anything to have the work done? Babysitting? Sex? No. . Can you learn to do it yourself? PVC pipe is very easy to use. Get plumbing books from the library and see what you can handle yourself. No I would rather have someone who knew what they were doing do all the work.

Tina

Re: update on the house

----- Original Message ----- From: ~*~Tina Barker~*~> I called ton, WV this morning to the headquarters of the program > where I got the house and wanted info on the Help loan which will help me > get the plumbing fixedWhat needs to be done? Did you say there were problems with roots? I don't remember. Is the plumbing useable now? What has to be done right now and what can be put off?Who do you know that can help? People at church? Friends? Family? Can you barter anything to have the work done? Babysitting? Sex? :)Can you learn to do it yourself? PVC pipe is very easy to use. Get plumbing books from the library and see what you can handle yourself.Good luck. Home ownership is rewarding but it's also a lot of work. Ann

[Guest guest]

Tina,

If you contact your electric and gas companies, they should come out and tell

you (I don't

think they even charge for it) where your lines are. They do this all the time,

because they

don't want people damaging their lines

So, if the digging is *only* a matter of not knowing where it's safe to dig, you

should be in

the clear! Now, putting in the kind of pipe outside might be a big job - but,

maybe if you

were at least able to get the tree down and the ditch dug where the pipe is, you

might save

some money?

An idea on the tree: I've seen lots of people on craigslist put up that someone

could have

the tree for firewood if they came and chopped it down and hauled it off

Apparently, it

works! So, maybe some free tree excavation that way?

SulaBlue

My dad and soon to be brother in law are going to run the new plumbing

throughout the

house but they cant dig up my yard cuz they dont know where the gas line is.

Can

> you barter anything to have the work done? Babysitting? Sex? No. .

>

> Can you learn to do it yourself? PVC pipe is very easy to use. Get

> plumbing books from the library and see what you can handle yourself. No I

would

rather have someone who knew what they were doing do all the work.

>

> Tina

> Re: update on the house

>

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: ~*~Tina Barker~*~

>

> > I called ton, WV this morning to the headquarters of the program

> > where I got the house and wanted info on the Help loan which will help me

> > get the plumbing fixed

>

> What needs to be done? Did you say there were problems with roots? I don't

> remember. Is the plumbing useable now? What has to be done right now and

> what can be put off?

>

> Who do you know that can help? People at church? Friends? Family? Can

> you barter anything to have the work done? Babysitting? Sex?

>

> Can you learn to do it yourself? PVC pipe is very easy to use. Get

> plumbing books from the library and see what you can handle yourself.

>

> Good luck. Home ownership is rewarding but it's also a lot of work.

>

> Ann

>

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: ~*~Tina Barker~*~

> Yes it is useable now but soon everything is going to have to be dug up

> cuz the guy that came out to the house said it will work for awhile but

> the roots will get in the pipe again since its old pipe.

So nothing needs to be done right now. Who was the " guy? "

> but they cant dig up my yard cuz they dont know where the gas line is.

The gas company will come out and tell you that for free.

Sounds like you are panicing prematurely. Your plumbing works fine now so

you have time to find a solution.

Ann

[Guest guest]

Actually ann no I dont have time to find a soulution. It has to be done like yesterday. So No Im not panicking prematurely. I dont like living in a house where I cant take a bath and have to go to my moms everyday, and where I cant wash clothes and have to go to the laundry mat or my moms and still have to pay a water bill here at my house when Im running the water bill up at my moms. So no it needs to be done. But yes its semi fixed now but the plumber said it would have to be done soon or its going ton keep happening over and over til it ruins my basement.

Tina

Re: update on the house

----- Original Message ----- From: ~*~Tina Barker~*~> Yes it is useable now but soon everything is going to have to be dug up > cuz the guy that came out to the house said it will work for awhile but > the roots will get in the pipe again since its old pipe.So nothing needs to be done right now. Who was the "guy?"> but they cant dig up my yard cuz they dont know where the gas line is.The gas company will come out and tell you that for free.Sounds like you are panicing prematurely. Your plumbing works fine now so you have time to find a solution. Ann

[Guest guest]

What does " semi-fixed " mean? Do you have running water now? Are you

still going to your mom's everyday to take a shower or does yours work

for now? Why is it going to ruin your basement? Does the water/sewer

back up into it when you run the water?

I'm asking so many questions because your situation sounds *very*

similar to one my parents had at their former house. I'm going to see

them this weekend and if I have most of your situation in front of me,

I'll have them take a look and tell me what they had to do. I know

they had to replace some of the water pipes running through their

front yard up to the house and have 2 trees removed, but it wasn't

hugely expensive. Also, the 'fixes' that their plumber did bought

them 8-10 months at a time before they would have problems again. No

two situations are exactly the same and I understand that, but if you

have running water with relatively few problems *now*, this might be

something you can manage to set aside money for over the next

few/several months to have completely fixed when you have a way to pay

for it.

On another (related) note, we all get stressed out. But when we are

in Panic Mode, we do not necessarily make the best decisions nor see

all the options available to us. I am guilty of this, too, I'm not

trying to minimize your feelings. But if you can take a step back and

really try to think calmly about your situation, maybe you can come up

with something we've all overlooked.

And maybe this is out of line for me to say, but we're all just trying

to help--you sound at your wit's end and anyone who posts is REALLY

doing so to try to give you some form of support. And maybe I'm tired

and/or reading this incorrectly, but in my opinion what you wrote came

off under the 'biting someone's head off' category. I hesitated to

post at all because I sure don't want to be 'yelled at' for trying to

help. I have a decent amount of stuff in my own life to deal with

right now.

Good luck with your situation.

-Bonnie

> Actually ann no I dont have time to find a soulution. It has to

be done like yesterday. So No Im not panicking prematurely. I dont

like living in a house where I cant take a bath and have to go to my

moms everyday, and where I cant wash clothes and have to go to the

laundry mat or my moms and still have to pay a water bill here at my

house when Im running the water bill up at my moms. So no it needs to

be done. But yes its semi fixed now but the plumber said it would

have to be done soon or its going ton keep happening over and over til

it ruins my basement.

> Tina

[Guest guest]

Bonnie and everyone else. If what I wrote sounded to bite someones head off Im really sorry I never meant it that way, What Im saying is this. Yes I still go to my moms everyday to take a shower and go to the laundry mat every week to wash clothes. Cuz if too much water is used here the water backs up in my basement. Yes I am at my wits end here. Im 28 years old. Im on a fixed income, I cant work cuz Im disabled, my fiance works but he doesnt make alot of money hes a pizzy delivery guy. I get paid every first of the month and by the 10th I have about 15 dollars left in my account to do me the rest of the month. And that has to get gas and things that just come up. Im trying my hardest not to let this stress me out more than it already has, but when you have no money, no bank is going to give you a loan and you have to get something done then yes its stressful. I sit here day in and day out and cry about this cuz I dont know what else to do. Im waiting on the woman to get back to me about a loan but she said its very unlikely that I will get it. So basically this is just a waiting game right now. So Im sorry if everyone thinks Im mad or Im bitting someones head off. Im really not.

Tina

Re: update on the house

What does "semi-fixed" mean? Do you have running water now? Are youstill going to your mom's everyday to take a shower or does yours workfor now? Why is it going to ruin your basement? Does the water/sewerback up into it when you run the water?I'm asking so many questions because your situation sounds *very*similar to one my parents had at their former house. I'm going to seethem this weekend and if I have most of your situation in front of me,I'll have them take a look and tell me what they had to do. I knowthey had to replace some of the water pipes running through theirfront yard up to the house and have 2 trees removed, but it wasn'thugely expensive. Also, the 'fixes' that their plumber did boughtthem 8-10 months at a time before they would have problems again. Notwo situations are exactly the same and I understand that, but if youhave running water with relatively few problems *now*, this might besomething you can manage to set aside money for over the nextfew/several months to have completely fixed when you have a way to payfor it.On another (related) note, we all get stressed out. But when we arein Panic Mode, we do not necessarily make the best decisions nor seeall the options available to us. I am guilty of this, too, I'm nottrying to minimize your feelings. But if you can take a step back andreally try to think calmly about your situation, maybe you can come upwith something we've all overlooked.And maybe this is out of line for me to say, but we're all just tryingto help--you sound at your wit's end and anyone who posts is REALLYdoing so to try to give you some form of support. And maybe I'm tiredand/or reading this incorrectly, but in my opinion what you wrote cameoff under the 'biting someone's head off' category. I hesitated topost at all because I sure don't want to be 'yelled at' for trying tohelp. I have a decent amount of stuff in my own life to deal withright now.Good luck with your situation.-Bonnie> Actually ann no I dont have time to find a soulution. It has tobe done like yesterday. So No Im not panicking prematurely. I dontlike living in a house where I cant take a bath and have to go to mymoms everyday, and where I cant wash clothes and have to go to thelaundry mat or my moms and still have to pay a water bill here at myhouse when Im running the water bill up at my moms. So no it needs tobe done. But yes its semi fixed now but the plumber said it wouldhave to be done soon or its going ton keep happening over and over tilit ruins my basement.> Tina

[Guest guest]

Tina, here's an idea. Could you call some of the local plumbers--not

the big business type places, but the smaller, privately owned shops

and tell them your situation? Maybe they know about some little-known

grant or some other way for you to find money to pay for it. Or maybe

they could send out an apprentice to fix it for really cheap (or free)

once they hear your situation. I know when my dad did his apprentice

work (different field--not plumbing) they'd have him do that sort of

thing to get experience.

If you don't have any luck with the yellow pages, maybe you could call

your nearest Home Depot or Lowe's and get the names of some plumbing

contractors that way. There's just gotta be a way to get this taken

care of reasonably.

I don't know much about disabilities, but my aunt had some sort of

case worker--if you do, could you call and ask what their advice is?

There simply *has* to be a way to get this to work out. What state

are you in?

-Bonnie

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: brgk44

> Or maybe they could send out an apprentice to fix it for really cheap

Our community college has plumbing students. Churches repair houses for the

elderly and disabled.

[Guest guest]

Bonnie,

Im in West Virginia. Believe me I have called everyone I could think of. The plumber that I had come out here was a small time plumber cuz I deffinately couldnt afford a big time one. Believe me I wish I could I would deffinately have this taken care of now...LOL. In the "grat" state of West Virginia they have nothing like other states. Like in other states they have orginaizations that help low income people get the work done with no problem at all but here they have to send the same inspector out to see if it absolutely needs to be done before they help. Im going to call the health inspector If I get no where with the woman Im waiting to call me back. Cuz this is a health hazzard when you have raw sewage in your basement and cant live there and they wont do anything about it. But if it comes down to it I will go live with my mom til I save enough money to get everything done which will be awhile but I will get it done. Thanks for trying to help. I really appreciate it.

Tina

Re: update on the house

Tina, here's an idea. Could you call some of the local plumbers--notthe big business type places, but the smaller, privately owned shopsand tell them your situation? Maybe they know about some little-knowngrant or some other way for you to find money to pay for it. Or maybethey could send out an apprentice to fix it for really cheap (or free)once they hear your situation. I know when my dad did his apprenticework (different field--not plumbing) they'd have him do that sort ofthing to get experience.If you don't have any luck with the yellow pages, maybe you could callyour nearest Home Depot or Lowe's and get the names of some plumbingcontractors that way. There's just gotta be a way to get this takencare of reasonably.I don't know much about disabilities, but my aunt had some sort ofcase worker--if you do, could you call and ask what their advice is?There simply *has* to be a way to get this to work out. What stateare you in?-Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Personally I'd sue the people you bought the house from for every dime you've had to put out plus mental anguish. They are supposed to disclose everything wrong with the house when you buy it. (even hauntings have been disclosed!) ~*Tina Barker*~ <Countrygurl2006@...> wrote: Bonnie, Im in West Virginia. Believe me I have called everyone I could think of. The

plumber that I had come out here was a small time plumber cuz I deffinately couldnt afford a big time one. Believe me I wish I could I would deffinately have this taken care of now...LOL. In the "grat" state of West Virginia they have nothing like other states. Like in other states they have orginaizations that help low income people get the work done with no problem at all but here they have to send the same inspector out to see if it absolutely needs to be done before they help. Im going to call the health inspector If I get no where with the woman Im waiting to call me back. Cuz this is a health hazzard when you have raw sewage in your basement and cant live there and they wont do anything about it. But if it comes down to it I will go live with my mom til I save enough money to get everything done which will be awhile but I will get it done. Thanks for trying to help. I really appreciate it. Tina Re: update on the house Tina, here's an idea. Could you call some of the local plumbers--notthe big business type places, but the smaller, privately owned shopsand tell them your situation? Maybe

they know about some little-knowngrant or some other way for you to find money to pay for it. Or maybethey could send out an apprentice to fix it for really cheap (or free)once they hear your situation. I know when my dad did his apprenticework (different field--not plumbing) they'd have him do that sort ofthing to get experience.If you don't have any luck with the yellow pages, maybe you could callyour nearest Home Depot or Lowe's and get the names of some plumbingcontractors that way. There's just gotta be a way to get this takencare of reasonably.I don't know much about disabilities, but my aunt had some sort ofcase worker--if you do, could you call and ask what their advice is?There simply *has* to be a way to get this to work out. What stateare you in?-Bonnie -Sapphyre Feel Free to Visit: www.geocities.com/asmallersapphyre www.livejournal.com/users/changescomin www.geocities.com/mothernatureschyld

gets better. Check out the new email design. Plus there’s much more to come.

[Guest guest]

> Personally I'd sue the people you bought the house from for every dime

you've had to put out plus mental anguish. They are supposed to disclose

everything wrong with the house when you buy it.

Our agent told *us* when we sold not to offer *any* information. If we were

asked outright we could not *lie* about something, but we were not to

volunteer the fact that the roof leaked, even though we had a number of

roofers look at it and couldn't find the source. It was up to the buyer's

home inspector to find problems, not up to the sellers to tell about them.

If she bought the house " as-is " , like ours was when we bought it, the only

person she can go after is the guy who did the home inspection.

Sue in NJ

[Guest guest]

> > Personally I'd sue the people you bought the house from for every dime

> you've had to put out plus mental anguish. They are supposed to disclose

> everything wrong with the house when you buy it.

Our experience was somewhere in-between. We were told you must

disclose structural damage of any kind. Other than that, we were

told, like Sue, to keep our mouths shut and let the inspector find it.

*sigh* That's why we spent a lot of money getting a

highly-recommended home inspector before we bought this house--and he

still didn't catch everything. (But it's all been fairly minor stuff

that you wouldn't notice until living here a while)

> If she bought the house " as-is " , like ours was when we bought it,

the only

> person she can go after is the guy who did the home inspection.

I think 99% of all home sales are " as-is " . Even if the home inspector

finds something and the sellers agree to fix it, at the time of sale,

it's usually still " as-is " . I'm not even sure she could go after the

home inspector. We signed a contract with ours that basically kept

him from being held responsible for things he physically couldn't

check--plumbing behind walls and outside on our property was one of

those things. Unfortunately, home inspections are not a guarantee and

they're only as good as the guy that does them. It's very, very

difficult to prove wrong doing in cases like that.

But I think there's more hope for her because it was a government

sponsored program that helped her to buy the home. Here's to hoping,

anyway!

-Bonnie