Brownstone Basement Beam
I found this really beautiful brownstone that’s being gut renovated. But the basement looks awful. there’s a huge beam that seemed to be roting away that the contractor said they will replace but is this to be expected from a brownstone first build in 1889? Also what else should i look for now that they’re…
I found this really beautiful brownstone that’s being gut renovated. But the basement looks awful. there’s a huge beam that seemed to be roting away that the contractor said they will replace but is this to be expected from a brownstone first build in 1889?
Also what else should i look for now that they’re going throught the renovation?
Is sewer smell normal close to the bathrooms? or is that a deal breaker?
OK, mopar called me into this one so here’s my $.02. If you sign a contract with a fixed price while the seller’s renovation is in progress, you’ve created a bad incentive — the more the seller spends on the renovation, the less money he makes on the sale to you. Even an honest contractor will cut corners under the circumstances. If the seller is giving you the opportunity to look under the hood while he works with no strings attached, thats’ great but surprising and you run the risk of losing the house, but there’s always another one.
DIBS’s advice above is both right on and impossible. You cannot control everything the contractor does through the purchase contract — some important things will elude you.
We went this route with a very thorough contract but a dishonest and under-funded seller and our contract only bought us an advantageous position in a lawsuit, not actual compliance from the seller.
Don’t go into contract before the renovation is complete. Too many things could go wrong.
Somewhat related, when a Brownstone needs a new beam, how expensive does that tend to be? Both from a materials side, and I guess a labor side for installation? Does replacing a beam entail replacing the joists as well?
If you go to contract before the renovation is completed, make sure that every single detail to be completed is spelled out in the contract in exacting detail. These sorts of things oftentimes wind up causing difficulties at closing.
Thanks to all for your advice.
The contractor is the one selling the house and it seems he’s trying to sell it as soon as it’s done.
I requested to see it before it was finalized since i wanted to see what’s under the cosmetics.
The smell was justified by open pipes.
And out of four beams in the basement only one looked really worn out. So i’m guessing that the other beams might have been replaced at an ealrier renovation.
Yes to the inspector – i am having one inspecting it in the next couple of weeks.
Beam could be rotting from external seepage – again, engineer’s opinion is paramount.
Don’t buy a house that’s in the process of being renovated. Ask Slopefarm about what a disaster that is.
You want to sign a contract for a house in its current condition.
Re beam, simply being 100 years old would not make it rot away. Perhaps it’s been eaten by termites. If that’s the case, and they’ve eaten the whole entire thing, then you probably also have to replace every joist and all the floors on that level — and possibly the next level as well.
Re the sewer smell — could be just they have a pipe open, could be the vent needs fixing, could be the plumbing was never done properly in the first place.
Whatever you buy, be sure to get an independent inspection by a licensed structural engineer.
if you really like the place and you think can get for reasonable price…then make offer and bring in your inspector/engineer and who will make a report for you about problems/solutions/costs.
People here will give you recommendations (don’t take the brokers recommendation).
So, you are looking to buy a brownstone that is in the process of being renovated? Not sure exactly how that would work.
Lot’s of things can happen to a house that’s 120 years old. Mine had a fire in the basement at one time. It’s fixed now, but it looked kind of scary when I saw the house.
You’ll need an engineer to look at the house before you buy it – that’s standard procedure for buying any house. They will examine the new beam (or lack thereof) in the new basement and everything else in the house for problems, and give you a ball park guess as to how much it will cost to fix. As my engineer told me “there’s nothing that can’t be fixed with money.”
FYI, sewer smells close to the bathroom are NOT normal, but can (probably) be fixed.
Is the reno supposed to be done soon? Who renovates a house while it’s for sale?
Something tells me you should be looking for a discount to normal prices with this one…