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06-05-2006, 03:26 PM #1
Fixer Upper
- Join Date
- Jan 2005
- Location
- New Jersey
- Posts
- 23
Buying a Cottage, Especially Old Ones
It is common to find cottages not built to current standards for durability and safety. Many times cottages can be inhabited with short-term deferral of some major repair items. Framing and framing connections for the home are lighter than recommended, homes of this type are more prone to insect damage and rot than others.
Many homes of this type are repaired only on an as-needed basis, extensive and proper repairs have been postponed for some time. A deferred maintenance approach to maintaining a building is less costly in the short-run but requires a "cottage mentality."
Unexpected repairs should be expected to be ongoing occurrence. At some point, the decision is made to either substantially improve the building, to rebuild it, or to replace it.
Keep in mind that although you may be in love with that cottage you just must buy you should always be aware that one day you will have to sell it and may have a hard time finding a buyer who has the same mentality you do today!
Home Inspector Michael Del Greco is President of Accurate Inspections, Inc., a New Jersey Home Inspection firm. He has performed thousands of home inspections in New Jersey. He has taught the New Jersey
Home Inspector CEU & Licensing classes and help in developing questions for the National Home Inspector Exam.Last edited by New Jersey Home Inspector; 06-05-2006 at 03:52 PM.
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