Tips from New Hampshire's Most experienced Realtor

Tips from New Hampshire’s most Experienced Realtor.

I reviewed a seller disclosure for one of my buyer clients today; I am thorough but not an alarmist. Here are a few things I noticed, that the seller’s agent may have just glossed over if the buyer wasn’t represented.

#1. The disclosure was dated March of 2010. I understand a lot of property has been on the market a while and some have lowered the price a few times to stay close to market value. BUT A seller disclosure is invalid if it’s over a year old.

#2 an oil furnace & fireplace but only 1 chimney. Before you get too concerned it could be the heating system is direct vented and not sharing the fireplace chimney. BUT if they are on the same chimney oil and wood fires are a bad combination and no longer allowed by code.

#3 Radon tested Ok in 1995 & no insulation in walls. What does one thing have to do with the other you may ask? If the property tested under 4,0 Pci in 1995 please provide a copy of the test (none attached) and if you intend to insulate the property to make it more economical to heat that is a great idea BUT A tighter house may tray more of the deadly gas than when it was tested as a seasonal camp.

#4 The 1969 Furnace was replaced in 2007 that is a nice bonus for the new buyer to have an updated system. BUT the forced hot water system didn’t replace all the plumbing when they replaced the furnace you still may have Asbestos in the walls, or on the pipes.

#5 Restrictive Covenants recorded in 1967. If the buyer intends to use the property as a rental, raise chickens, subdivide the land, add a guest house, have an in-law apartment or a whole slew of other future plans you had better know what is allowed in the deed restriction. BUT Everyone else has farm animals – doesn’t mean it’s allowed.

#6 Site assessment –septic system maintenance. If the septic in a rural property has been cleaned out in the past year that is a good thing for a new owner. BUT, if the tank size is 1,000 gallons that would have been a 3 bedroom size back when this place was built – today that is the minimum size of a 2 bedroom house by code. Are you going to overwhelm the system if you move in year-round with 4 or 5 people when this used to be a seasonal camp?

Everyone wants to live on the water, but in the last 4 years the new shore land protection act has dramatically changed what you can do with in 250 feet of a class 4 river (or higher) or a Great pond (any sized water body over a certain size). I have been selling real estate for 27 years, and I work for one of the areas most respected builders. I have learned more about property rights, restrictions, and repairs than anyone I have ever met in the general brokerage business. Let me work for you, I’ll save you a lot of head aches and a lot of money in the process.

   Steve Loynd New Hampshire most experienced Realtor.

Experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing – Oscar Wilde.