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Buying a cottage private sale, what to watch out for?

  • Last Updated:
  • Aug 7th, 2012 8:12 pm
Deal Addict
User avatar
Nov 9, 2003
1528 posts
325 upvotes
Grimsby
The photos look very much like it is a mobile home with the original roof removed and a new one installed. Be sure there is planning permission for it to stay. Is the land included or leased/rented?
Deal Guru
Mar 20, 2003
10476 posts
656 upvotes
New-Brunswick
silicontraveler wrote: Just talked to the guy again, he says the roof is just discolouring from the leaves.
You're seller is very quick to answer your questions/concern with opinions but no facts... it looks like he is trying to buddy buddy you while selling you a lemon.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Aug 9, 2004
22170 posts
825 upvotes
Newmarket
If it were me, I wouldn't worry too much about the well right now...it has one currently, and seems to have a lot of water, so at most you might need a new pump and pipe. And if the water quality isn't great, just use it for toilets, showers, washing dishes, and buy a water cooler and 18l water jugs for like $5. Each. That's what a lot of us lakefront ppl do. We go through maybe 1 jug a weekend for the 3 of us, so if you used the place on weekends for half the year, it adds up to to maybe $125and no worries about water quality, or having to install maintain UV sterilizers, reverse osmosis, etc.

Looks like a cute little place, what a cottage should be :)
Deal Expert
User avatar
Aug 9, 2004
22170 posts
825 upvotes
Newmarket
silicontraveler wrote: good advice dirtmover, i may have to get a well company from Barrie or Hamilton. It's rec land so septic was put in 70's when the cottage was built.
Here's the roof, is the other issue, i guess i can gets some local guys to help.
[IMG]http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... ssssss.jpg[/IMG]
I don't see any cracking or curling, so if there aren't any leaks, you're prob ok for5-10 yrs.

It's a small roof anyways, looks like maybe 16 packs of shingles, cottage labor is cheap unless you're in the fancy areas, so a reshingling shouldn't cost more than $2k or so.
Member
Jan 1, 2012
457 posts
9 upvotes
TORONTO
Now i realize there are no foundations! That's a bad thing right? it's very sandy lot.
[IMG]http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... C_0313.jpg[/IMG]

Here is the excess of moss, in the back yard. Do you think if i grow more grass it will eat it?
[IMG]http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... C_0292.jpg[/IMG]
And the sandpoint well, that he claims works and provide enough water.
[IMG]http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... C_0298.jpg[/IMG]
here's the pump
[IMG]http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x276 ... C_0311.jpg[/IMG]

Kindly tell me your opinion on sandy lots.
Member
Jan 1, 2012
457 posts
9 upvotes
TORONTO
They guy wants me to email the offer, should I write it up and scan it or is an email enough?
Member
Jan 1, 2012
457 posts
9 upvotes
TORONTO
So guys, what the hell is the worst that he could lie about? He said he'll take my low ball offer but NO conditions, NO inspection AS IS. WTF?
Basement flooding? rotten roof, bad well? It's in the middle of a forest. what could be so bad? I know a bit about housing i notice stuff. It looks all good, there was some mold smell in the side basement of the crawl space but so what, it's not in the house. The sand point look dodgy but maybe 5k would fix that at worst, there is huge water table under this area. The septic was inspected 2008 by the township. The foundation look great as you can see. Maybe this addition was bomb as you say the rot there on both side off of the addition? maybe leak there.

This guy is just dodgy for no reason? He's nuts because it's his dead dads cottage, that i can believe. The obvious thing is he's try to be a smart a$$ and hide something.

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