StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

Me and my girl are getting out of our condo and into a townhouse. We currently are living at the grande in riverdale nj which is a newer condo complex (our unit was built in 2007) we are kinda getting sick of the condo living and want something bigger with a garage and some more privacy..
We have been looking at some houses but for under 400k you really can,t find a decent house in northnnew jersey.. Taxes alone are 8-12 k on most houses up here.. So we found this really nice condo in Lincoln park nj on a dead end with a garage, something we both agreed on but it needs some work.
It is a little under what we can spend so we are going to put in some hardwood floors , paint and redo the whole kitchen.. I went online and saw some people spending 50-100k on there kitchen... Here are some pics, what do u guys think it will cost for new cabinets, granite counter tops and all new appliances?.

http://www.weichert.com/29762183/

svtmike

Figure granite at $50-$75 / sq. ft installed.

Cabinets -- depends a lot on how fancy you get with the doors. Raised panels with rail and stile construction are the most expensive. Change to mitered corners and the price (and long term durability) come down. Change to flat panels and it comes down even more.

Appliances -- again a huge range of costs. Figure $1k low end for a refrigerator, $300 low end for a dishwasher. I haven't looked at stoves or microwaves in a while.

You should be able to come in way way under $50k.

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

I figured $30k to do everything... Floors , kitchen and paint the place.. I do not want to put all my savings down so I can do this all right away before we move in.. hopefully that will be enough.. I think I might resurface the cabinets to save some money cuz I heard custom cabinets are money....

svtmike

Refacing cabinets is definitely cheaper. If you want to do any kind of windowed doors though the interior of the cabinet has to be appearance grade.

If you can do any of the work yourself you'll save money. Leave the granite to pros though.

mattg

granite is getting old and busted. concrete is the new hotness.

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

Concrete countertops?
I never seen that in most new construction it is corine cuz it is cheaper then granite..
I like the look of a darker granite with dark wood cabinates..
You have any pics of concrete countertops in the kitchen?

hornyleprechaun

IMO concrete doesn't look good.. I think granite is still the best looking countertop available. I have a black countertop and plan on redoing the cabinets to make them a little darker. Look at my thread in Home & Garden and you'll see my countertops/cabinets.

Edit: If you can do the work yourself you will save a lot of $$$. A lot of the cost of updating/redoing your house is labor as materials aren't expensive. It cost around $120 for everything to redo my backsplash in my kitchen, but it would have been probably 300-400 for someone else to do it.

svtmike

^ I agree on concrete. It'll be a fad while granite has classic good looks that will be desirable for many years.

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

Man....I'm glad I moved out of NJ.

Despite what everyone said....I still like granite, but it can be really pricey.

MWalsh9152

I love granite too, but it really can boost the price of the kitchen in a hurry. If cost is a concern, maybe you could do everything but the counter first, then when your savings recovers a bit you could do the granite? Its only a few hour process to remove the existing and install the granite

svtmike

I don't agree with this advice. Changing countertops means a lot of little finishing work because the backsplash is either removed or of a different height. Be prepared to do the countertops first along with the details around it (sink, fixture, backsplashes, base cabinet replacement if you are replacing cabinets, etc.).

In this case, Stoned is talking about replacing stuff down to the floors which means cabinets are coming out (even if he's going to reface and reinstall them) so he should do the countertop at the same time.

MWalsh9152

good point, youre the interior decorator....Im just here to give Jefford a hard time

svtmike

No, that's BubbaMarkStrategicDefaultTL. I'm just the BTDTGTTS guy.

Renegade

It depends on level of appliances, electrolux stainless steel will prob be like total of $8-9k..but if you do kenmore or something probably like $4k, all said and done I'd imagine you'd be looking at at least 25-30k

noshow_nogo

funny. I was looking through that exact same complex when i was shopping around. kitchens were all the same. but definitely go for the refacing and check this out for your countertops. I'm thinking of doing it on my rental apt once the lease is up.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf999197.tip.html

definitely would help with cashflow until you wanna go for the real deal.

fsttyms1

Those that dont like Concrete havent seen a good concrete counter top. I have seen plenty of them now in 750k+ homes and they are simply beautiful (when done right) If they are stained and polished they are fantastic.

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

I did some research and the complex seems to get great reviews and lincoln park also gets great scores.. I was originally looking in mahwah cuz taxes are so low , half of most towns around it.. I just got back from looking at it again and I really like the place.. I have a offer drawn up and am submitting it for 290k tomorrow.. It started at 369 and Now is at 329... Hopfully I can get it for under 300 then I can prob redu everything at once before I move in..
Ravin nj why are you so glad to move out of nj?

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

I like living in NJ , it's close to the ocean close to the mountains and close to NYC..
Sking a hour away ocean a hour away and NYC is 30 min away.. I would hate to live in the middle of nowhere with my neighbors living miles away and the largest city with over 100k people 3 hours away..

noshow_nogo

goodluck, I hope they bite. I was definitely drawn to the reviews and seclusion of the units. talking to neighbors around there, everything from snow cleanup to the landscaping was done very timely, so the maint fee is actually worth what you pay. Looking back I wish I had bought a townhouse because landscaping is a pita and expensive as hell.

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

Yeah the maintenance is $295 and taxes are about $7000.. So with mainence and taxes it's like $9000 a year.. At first when I went to the open house the real-estate agent said there was no pool later to find out she had no clue..
U would spend 200 a month on landscaping anyways and they just redid the whole roof and siding.. Either way you look at it you are paying mainence but the house can turn out a lot more when u need to do the roof and all the other bs maintnce outside... My girl saw a real nice short sale in cedar grove but the backyard was like a football field long of ladscaping and a in ground pool that was empty and rotting.. I said hell no unless she is gonna mow that shit..
Where did u end up buying a house?

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

i am going to look into this option when it comes time to redo my kitchen... i wanted to build my patio table out of concrete but the wife wouldn't let me...

http://itsconcrete.com/Gallery.php



there is a bar in nyc that is made the whole bar counter from concrete... it is beautiful...

LuvMyTSX

Nice, place, but yeah, definitely has the standard condo-type kitchen that needs to go. On the upside, it's not that big, so it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to do. You can go with semi-custom cabinets (middle of the road), and a cheaper granite without the fancy edges, and you should be fine. Go easy on glazes/finishes. Kitchens are very expensive, but one that size should not be bad at all. You don't want to over-do it anyway. Upgrade, yes, but don't over-renovate for your neighborhood or you won't see as much of a return on your money.

LuvMyTSX

I am also not feeling the concrete look, but to each his own.

OP, you can also look at Silestone, Caesarstone, etc. There are other options, but some are actually more than some granite. Just go to a kitchen place and check everything out.

doopstr

Any interest in central jersey? You can get a nice free standing house with .5 acre for about $350k with about 9k in property taxes. They are older homes tho (about 40 years)

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

link? can i trade mine in???

doopstr

on realtor.com search 08520 put in the 300-400 range.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

I just bought a dishwasher, fridge, gas range, and over the range microwave for 2k. The fridge was a $2200 fridge but I went to so many places I wound up lucking up and they sold it to me for $900. The house you are looking at is VERY nice. good luck and I hope your remodel goes well and under budget.

Dr. Colorado

This is the look I'm going for. Black granite counterops (3" squared edges for a more modern look) and cherry wood cabinets. Redoing the kitchen can add a lot of value to your place so good luck.

I have a stainless steel fridge but my oven, stove and microwave are all black GE which I think will set off nicely against the black granite countertops.

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

I work in Ramsey and my girl works in Emerson so we do not want to go furtur south then Newark , obviously not newark.. I found a few town homes in edison but that is still too far south.. Her brother lives in east bruswick and I know you cAn get a lovely place for our range but just too far for us...Lincoln park ranks high in new jersey when it comes to towns..I have also been looking in mahwah but for the price u don't get anything nearly this nice BUT taxes are like 2-3k less..













1 Chatham Township Morris 10,279
1.9%
$797,500
125%
$9,948
36%
96
95
94
4.5
1.4
9
Yes
2 Upper Township Cape May 11,363
-6.2%
$295,000
95%
$3,632
49%
88
85
87
16.9
2.0
3
Yes
3 Verona Township Essex 12,937
-4.4%
$420,000
100%
$8,136
19%
96
86
94
16.4
2.4
18
Yes
4 Oceanport Borough Monmouth 5,751
-1.0%
$510,000
125%
$6,622
10%
91
91
92
7.1
2.2
4
Yes
5 Lincoln Park Borough Morris 10,856
-0.7%
$350,000
115%
$6,271
28%
93
81
83
8.0
3.5
10
Yes
6 Shamong Township Burlington 6,873
6.4%
$372,500
108%
$6,664
59%
95
90
92
5.5
3.0
4
No
7 Millstone Borough Somerset 431
5.1%
$392,500
98%
$5,879
18%
91
88
92
0.0
0.0
3
Yes
8 Lavallette Borough Ocean 2,752
3.3%
$700,000
180%
$4,830
22%
79
95
94
11.6
3.0
3
Yes
9 Mahwah Township Bergen 24,560
2.1%
$425,000
93%
$5,787
48%
94
90
95
6.3
3.9
7
Yes
10 Essex Fells Township Essex 2,071
-4.2%
$1,065,000
113%
$12,705
16%
98
89
93
7.6
2.5
18
Yes
11 Secaucus Town Hudson 15,562
-2.3%
$429,000
133%
$4,709
6%
92
77
85
46.9
2.3
22
Yes
12 Roosevelt Borough Monmouth 913
-2.1%
$240,000
162%
$5,197
23%
92
85
81
4.4
4.0
2
Yes
13 Rockleigh Borough Bergen 393
0.5%
$2,400,000
242%
$10,840
39%
87
89
95
27.8
0.0
6
Yes
14 Roseland Borough Essex 5,400
1.9%
$582,500
99%
$7,087
20%
93
89
93
8.1
3.4
18
Yes
15 Alpine Borough Bergen 2,429
11.3%
$3,100,000
243%
$12,295
48%
86
96
95
3.8
2.9
7
Yes
16 Mountainside Borough Union 6,644
0.6%
$635,000
96%
$7,420
5%
96
95
96
11.0
2.5
14
Yes
17 Cedar Grove Township Essex 12,848
4.5%
$494,000
115%
$6,593
17%
93
80
90
17.2
1.2
16
Yes
18 Walpack Township Sussex 40
-2.4%
n/a
n/a
$800
>75%
96
84
94
n/a
0.0
1
No
19 Folsom Borough Atlantic 1,948
-1.2%
$202,500
182%
$2,627
8%
88
93
83
19.3
2.6
1
Yes
20 Dennis Township Cape May 5,907
-9.0%
$216,200
88%
$2,597
56%
83
85
79
23.2
4.0
1
No
21 Union Township Hunterdon 6,352
3.1%
$319,950
174%
$7,433
31%
91
89
94
6.5
3.4
2
Yes
22 Manasquan Borough Monmouth 6,199
-1.8%
$607,500
179%
$6,586
12%
92
88
91
26.9
2.4
3
Yes
23 Tabernacle Township Burlington 7,337
2.4%
$358,800
110%
$6,666
43%
92
86
92
9.9
2.2
3
No
24 Chatham Borough Morris 8,390
-0.8%
$693,000
86%
$8,780
12%
96
95
94
11.6
2.5
13
Yes
25 North Caldwell Borough Essex 7,207
-2.3%
$760,000
113%
$11,323
7%
90
89
93
7.0
3.0
16
Yes
26 Sandyston Township Sussex 1,924
5.4%
$250,000
113%
$3,794
73%
96
84
94
8.9
4.1
2
No
27 Ogdensburg Borough Sussex 2,623
-0.6%
$273,500
104%
$5,972
29%
86
78
87
2.7
3.7
2
No
28 Spring Lake Heights Borough Monmouth 5,106
-2.3%
$490,000
128%
$5,321
3%
79
92
91
6.6
3.2
4
Yes
29 Summit City Union 21,103
-0.1%
$787,500
88%
$10,665
54%
93
86
94
11.9
2.5
16
Yes
30 West Caldwell Township Essex 10,797
-3.9%
$455,000
78%
$7,619
16%
89
84
93
10.6
3.3
17
Yes
31 Leonia Borough Bergen 8,799
-1.3%
$509,850
105%
$9,162
28%
88
79
83
9.7
2.8
15
Yes
32 Caldwell Township Essex 7,373
-2.8%
$423,650
84%
$8,977
5%
89
84
93
6.8
2.3
17
Yes
33 Clark Township Union 14,650
0.4%
$415,000
108%
$7,627
14%
92
87
81
14.7
2.1
16
Yes
34 Lower Township Cape May 20,785
-9.4%
$225,000
178%
$2,622
27%
85
72
81
24.5
8.4
1
Yes
35 Little Ferry Borough Bergen 10,715
-0.8%
$370,000
155%
$7,095
11%
86
82
82
11.1
4.6
20
Yes
36 Brigantine City Atlantic 12,886
2.3%
$400,000
196%
$4,370
>75%
91
75
58
18.2
4.3
2
Yes
37 Cranford Township Union 22,369
-0.9%
$446,250
95%
$8,119
13%
93
86
95
12.9
2.6
15
Yes
38 Nutley Township Essex 27,011
-1.3%
$409,225
141%
$8,438
8%
90
81
88
17.4
3.9
23
Yes
39 Wood-Ridge Borough Bergen 7,594
-0.7%
$413,250
124%
$6,421
1%
84
84
87
8.1
3.2
23
Yes
40 Stillwater Township Sussex 4,385
2.8%
$247,500
80%
$5,084
34%
98
84
94
6.8
1.7
1
No
41 Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Bergen 4,095
0.9%
$719,000
66%
$10,094
3%
96
90
95
3.4
0.5
10
Yes
42 Cape May Point Borough Cape May 230
-4.6%
$837,500
173%
$3,187
18%
87
72
81
122.9
0.0
1
Yes
43 Linwood City Atlantic 7,354
2.5%
$330,000
146%
$6,420
20%
96
91
91
12.7
3.7
3
Yes
44 Montville Township Morris 21,442
2.9%
$585,000
93%
$9,051
18%
94
91
94
11.2
1.9
13
Yes
45 Shrewsbury Township Monmouth 1,073
-2.3%
$231,000
173%
$4,312
4%
92
85
85
5.6
7.2
4
Yes
46 Teterboro Borough Bergen 18
0.0%
n/a
n/a
$1,599
<1%
80
69
95
n/a
0.0
21
Yes
47 New Hanover Township Burlington 9,479
-2.7%
$325,000
178%
$3,756
<1%
71
65
85
2.2
3.6
1
No
48 Haworth Borough Bergen 3,433
1.3%
$734,500
107%
$12,304
7%
96
91
95
2.3
3.8
10
Yes
49 Helmetta Borough Middlesex 2,023
10.9%
$240,000
155%
$4,502
34%
82
77
90
3.9
4.8
3
Yes
50 Medford Lakes Borough Burlington 4,161
-0.3%
$299,950
97%
$7,113
3%
94
95
92
8.4
1.9
4
No
51 Sea Bright Borough Monmouth 1,799
-1.0%
$465,000
258%
$5,650
2%
91
91
92
9.5
5.0
3
Yes
52 South Amboy City Middlesex 7,865
-0.6%
$309,450
148%
$4,458
21%
89
70
79
18.4
4.6
8
Yes
53 Millburn Township Essex 19,153
-3.1%
$985,000
95%
$14,141
16%
97
93
98
40.3
2.1
16
Yes
54 Long Hill Township Morris 8,785
0.1%
$485,000
63%
$8,923
43%
94
92
93
6.0
3.1
8
Yes
55 Stockton Borough Hunterdon 555
-0.9%
$337,500
108%
$5,617
39%
n/a
66
85
7.1
0.0
0
Yes
56 Cape May City Cape May 3,809
-5.6%
$575,000
211%
$3,301
>75%
87
72
81
77.4
7.3
1
Yes
57 Andover Township Sussex 6,552
8.6%
$320,000
167%
$6,110
17%
91
90
89
8.7
2.8
2
Yes
58 Hardwick Township Warren 1,631
11.4%
$379,500
130%
$6,628
62%
92
80
84
5.0
2.9
2
No
59 Berkeley Heights Township Union 13,575
1.3%
$550,000
76%
$8,525
7%
95
91
96
6.7
2.2
11
Yes
60 Sea Girt Borough Monmouth 2,044
-4.8%
$1,425,000
157%
$9,597
n/a
98
99
91
19.3
2.1
3
Yes
61 Ridgewood Village Bergen 24,639
-1.2%
$679,500
84%
$11,276
6%
97
94
96
10.0
2.8
11
Yes
62 Spring Lake Borough Monmouth 3,475
-2.6%
$1,417,500
124%
$8,539
22%
98
95
91
22.8
4.7
3
Yes
63 Interlaken Borough Monmouth 881
-2.1%
$620,000
131%
$6,403
24%
n/a
n/a
n/a
3.4
4.3
3
Yes
64 Plainsboro Township Middlesex 21,213
5.0%
$326,250
124%
$7,725
10%
94
93
96
10.5
2.5
4
Yes
65 Tenafly Borough Bergen 14,390
4.2%
$755,000
105%
$12,402
31%
97
94
95
7.5
3.7
11
Yes
66 Kenilworth Borough Union 7,741
0.9%
$375,000
129%
$5,606
22%
86
76
83
18.7
4.8
17
Yes
67 Monmouth Beach Borough Monmouth 3,574
-0.6%
$549,900
142%
$5,810
3%
97
92
92
9.7
4.1
3
Yes
68 Maurice River Township Cumberland 8,083
9.6%
$154,500
149%
$3,140
52%
74
81
57
6.7
4.2
2
Yes
69 Fort Lee Borough Bergen 37,008
4.5%
$510,000
105%
$7,189
26%
87
81
88
10.1
3.0
13
Yes
70 Manchester Township Ocean 41,813
7.8%
$192,750
132%
$2,952
47%
85
75
89
8.0
6.5
3
No
71 Lyndhurst Township Bergen 19,732
1.8%
$405,000
125%
$6,115
14%
83
80
81
17.3
5.2
25
Yes
72 Park Ridge Borough Bergen 8,945
2.7%
$536,500
88%
$8,267
4%
96
85
96
5.7
1.6
8
Yes
73 Howell Township Monmouth 50,548
3.4%
$340,000
120%
$6,571
15%
94
86
92
10.6
3.8
7
Yes
74 Kearny Town Hudson 38,008
-6.2%
$380,000
138%
$7,448
10%
82
72
81
28.1
5.5
23
Yes
75 Downe Township Cumberland 1,675
2.8%
$110,000
158%
$2,448
70%
77
76
53
20.9
5.3
2
Yes
76 Ridgefield Park Village Bergen 12,665
-1.6%
$384,000
126%
$7,879
11%
97
73
82
16.1
4.2
17
Yes
77 Ringwood Borough Passaic 12,814
3.4%
$382,500
97%
$7,843
69%
85
87
87
5.5
3.8
3
Yes
78 Closter Borough Bergen 8,730
4.1%
$756,500
140%
$11,010
4%
91
92
95
8.4
2.1
8
Yes
79 Medford Township Burlington 23,399
5.1%
$375,000
93%
$7,590
19%
93
94
92
10.6
2.4
7
Yes
80 Belleville Township Essex 34,444
-4.1%
$345,000
161%
$6,773
9%
74
59
68
29.1
5.5
25
Yes
81 Hopewell Borough Mercer 2,022
-0.6%
$379,250
102%
$8,391
5%
92
92
94
5.9
1.0
1
Yes
82 Westwood Borough Bergen 10,934
-0.6%
$465,000
96%
$7,796
6%
95
84
92
13.2
2.2
10
Yes
83 Allentown Borough Monmouth 1,847
-1.9%
$315,000
102%
$6,196
25%
87
89
85
12.9
3.7
3
No
84 Hampton Township Sussex 5,213
5.8%
$276,000
139%
$4,935
25%
91
84
94
13.8
3.5
2
No
85 Maplewood Township Essex 22,759
-4.6%
$475,000
129%
$10,689
21%
85
75
84
25.9
4.2
19
Yes
86 Harrington Park Borough Bergen 4,916
3.7%
$561,000
65%
$10,787
9%
96
94
95
2.2
2.7
7
Yes
87 Waldwick Borough Bergen 9,621
0.0%
$450,000
96%
$8,414
5%
96
83
89
9.4
2.0
10
Yes
88 Bloomfield Township Essex 45,372
-4.8%
$370,000
139%
$7,772
6%
84
64
65
32.0
4.6
26
Yes
89 Mountain Lakes Borough Morris 4,343
2.0%
$811,250
83%
$15,258
35%
99
96
98
19.8
0.6
3
Yes
90 Kinnelon Borough Morris 9,681
3.4%
$655,000
77%
$10,369
38%
93
94
93
7.3
2.2
5
Yes
91 East Newark Borough Hudson 2,217
-6.7%
$417,500
133%
$5,239
1%
70
57
81
13.3
4.4
19
Yes
92 Fredon Township Sussex 3,361
17.5%
$373,000
119%
$6,654
16%
93
84
94
6.6
1.6
2
No
93 River Vale Township Bergen 9,751
3.2%
$622,000
95%
$10,484
3%
96
92
94
4.4
2.3
8
Yes
94 Riverton Borough Burlington 2,715
-1.6%
$290,000
96%
$6,358
3%
95
97
79
13.5
2.4
6
Yes
95 Glen Rock Borough Bergen 11,396
-1.3%
$591,000
79%
$11,356
8%
95
87
95
6.5
2.8
12
Yes
96 Farmingdale Borough Monmouth 1,563
-1.5%
$335,000
123%
$5,147
<1%
100
n/a
92
17.2
2.4
4
Yes
97 Bloomingdale Borough Passaic 7,604
-0.1%
$354,000
103%
$7,873
49%
84
75
77
9.8
3.1
5
Yes
98 Haddon Heights Borough Camden 7,365
-2.4%
$253,000
102%
$7,016
7%
95
91
82
19.3
3.6
9
Yes
99 Byram Township Sussex 8,656
4.0%
$345,500
111%
$6,560
39%
93
92
85
6.2
4.5
2
Yes
100 Haddonfield Borough Camden 11,515
-1.2%
$415,500
98%
$9,481
12%
96
92
95
24.2
2.9

9
Yes

svtmike

That post seemed to go on for infinity.

#1 STUNNA

welcome back....

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

Thanks.. I will try and behave this time..well I alwaysnbehave just say some things that people don't wanna hear...

Sorry about that infinity post it was shorter on the site..

noshow_nogo

ended up in a new construction duplex in elmwood park. chose it mainly for access to rt 46, rt 80, rt 4 and the parkway are about 5 minutes a piece. No tolls to a lot of places I go, so my EZPass bill went from 350 to about 20 a month. I do regret the purchase and if I had to do it all over again I'd go your route and buy an 1980's townhouse, pay the maint fee and upgrade all the rooms. they don't build em like they used to I'll tell you that. I'm still fighting over a lot of things that had to be taken care of before closing in 10/2009. I had to close because my landlord already lined up another tenant. Good thing is we had an agreement to have all the items taken care of in writing.... but after they got paid, they're draggin their feet. You're on the right path and Lincoln Park is a great quiet area with a decent school system just good enough to keep the taxes low (I'm paying about 10k) and still very close to major highways. I'm still a little freaked out with that steep entrance, but again I hear the snow cleaning is impeccable. Goodluck and again I hope they bite.

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

You've never been banned for posting your opinion.




Especially in a townhome type of community where the values are really more tied into the complex verses the individual unit. Just b/c you drop $50k (or whatever) on your kitchen does not mean it will necessarily increase $50k in value if all of the other comps of similar models are much, much lower.

Be smart with your renovations and don't put too much into it b/c you'll never get it all back...

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

When doing a renovation do it in this order....

1) Because you want the changes
2) Because it will increase the value of your home

Before you go ripping out the kitchen, check out a bunch of the other units. It solves a few issues...

1) Gives you ideas on what can/can't be done
2) Gives you a feel for whether your money will be well spent

We put close to $25K into our TH and in the end, we gave it ALL away for free.

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

Where in Elmwood Park? We actully went to look at a house in EP right off the boulavard , (the back yard was the pump station).
Well we put a offer in for $305 and they coutered at $339 so we said that $320 is the highest that we will go, take it or leave it.. We are currently waiting for a answer..
If we get it we plan on ripping out all the carpet downstairs and putting down hardwood floor and painting the whole place before we move in.. We plan on waiting a year or so (to make sure we like the community and area) before we redo the whole kitchen.. We do not want to rip out the kitchen and spend 30K just to hate our niebors and community..

Renegade

"take it or leave it" isn't my favorite negotiation tactic, it kind of creates a little animosity, and can make sure you have 0 chance of coming back to make a deal. I would have just said let's split the difference and do $322,000, it makes it fair on both of us!

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

The real estate agent is a douch.. First off we went to the open house sunday and we where to only people there.. SO when we presented the offer (he did not know we where the same people that where there) he said that he will not even present it.. $305 when they are asking $339 and the house has been on the market for 200 days with NO offers.. Then he says he got anouther offer for $325K from someone that came to the open house when we where the only people at the open house!! SO if he is gonna screw with us the F.. him take it or leave it!!!

When we bought our condo it wa the same situatiuon the condo was on the market for $320 and we offered $290 and they came back at $319 so we where like $299 its sold if not see yah.. the real estate agent said no way.. Untill a week later when she called to say we got it for $299..
Sometime you gotta let these people know that you mean buesness.. I like the place and my girl likes the place but we DO NOT need a new place...

NSXNEXT

iTrader: (2)

So did you sell your current place?

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

Not yet.....we might jest rent it out.. not sure yet.. But the people sis not accept the $320K so I guess we are gonna be living there for awile longer...
The lowest they will go it $330, they will not even split the difference..