Why you should winterize a vacant house.

[G-man]

I had an appointment yesterday for an older home which was being sold as part of an estate. I had some trouble with the Sentri lockbox, so the realtor had to come out to open the house for me. As it would take him 20 minutes or so to get to the home, I drove a few comps then came back. The Realtor had opened the lock box, but had not opened the door or went inside. I opened the door to a biblical flood within the home. Water was pouring from the light fixtures in two rooms, coming down the walls and puddling on the floors about 1 inch in some places. I called the realtor back to explain the situation, and to say he was a bit surprised would be putting it mildly. Why the owners did not winterize the home, when we've had one of the coldest winters on record astounds me. Or why the realtor never went into the home when he was there is a puzzlement too. Plus, the realtor wanted to know if I was still going to do the appraisal. Well, I said, that depends on if the buyers still are interested in a very wet house, or waiting the several months it will take to repair the damage. I'll let my client know and I'll go from there. This job never lacks for interesting days.

 

[Mountain Man]

Realtors are very busy, we make or receive 50+ calls a day and have to show homes too. Sooo, I'm not surprised they opened the box and left. You received a courtesy service from the listing agent considering you couldn't figure out the lockbox. Lord help if it were a combination box with letters.

Of course the post is in jest, sort of.
I would have taken a quick look and called to tell you... CRAP! Never mind, we have bigger issues. Then called the owner and probably end up canceling the listing which cost $$ as MLS likes to charge for such. It ain't so easy on this end either.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Someone's got to be kicking them self in the butt.

 

[Blueprint]

I get laughed at all the time winterizing my OR home regularly for short time frames.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I have been in a few where weatherization would have saved the improvements. I recall one where the pipes froze on the 2nd floor and flooded the ceilings on the both the main and basement levels. Total repair costs were in excess of $75,000.

 

[G-man]

Yep, the pipe froze and burst on the 2nd floor bath. I could hear the water spraying out of the pipes in the bath. It was coming down the first floor ceiling and into the basement. I don't know how much it will cost to fix, but it isn't going to be cheap. It's an older house, but, still. Tearing out the older plaster/lathe, new flooring & subfloor, plumbing, wiring. It was a mess.

 

[OSU Beavers]

Driving comps I saw water coming out from under the garage door of a listing so I called the Realtor who said she would "get around to it".

 

[Blueprint]

Driving comps I saw water coming out from under the garage door of a listing so I called the Realtor who said she would "get around to it".

You best be serviced appropriately. Hopefuly we all can understand the reality at end of day.

 

[Blueprint]

Damn. I dont know what quite happened through these processes.

 

[Blueprint]

1223456578900- Maybebe sometime, wrong style sea will allow her to appr the love provided to her at any given time.