Las Angeles Electricians Offer Free Advice

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/sep/12/0912-dream-house-in-the-works/?entertainmentlifeentertainment

By: Karen Nazor Hill
Bo and Tami Chamberlain have made a big home-buying decision that will dominate their financial lives for the next decade.
They purchased a 100-year-old fixer-upper house in Walden on Signal Mountain. They say the house is their dream come true.

The young family of five, which includes two daughters and a son under age 7, had outgrown their small, ranch-style "starter" house in Red Bank, which sold soon after they put it on the market. They hoped to find a bigger home within their budget on Signal Mountain, but most homes they found exceeded their price range, until they found the fixer-upper.

It was love at first sight, said Mr. Chamberlain, 37, a schoolteacher.

"I knew it had problems -- it was evident from the exterior -- but it also had a lot of charm. I knew right away it was a place where my children could grow up and be happy," he said.

The nearly four acres of land surrounding the house is what sold Mrs. Chamberlain, 35, training and quality assurance manager for Hamilton County Emergency Communications District. She said she envisioned the children running around, playing with horses and enjoying being home.

Living there, however, is going to take a commitment from each family member, Mr. Chamberlain said.

"It's going to be a long time before this house is completely remodeled," he said. "And we're going to be living in it when it takes place. I grew up in a cool old house on Lookout, and I want my kids to experience the same thing. I really think our new house is awesome. It has a lot of character."

First steps

The Chamberlains first got a thumbs-up on the house from a home inspector. They were told the house is solid, despite its obvious renovation needs, beginning with electrical work.

They began scheduling electricians, from six companies, to evaluate the house's electrical issues.

"It was the first piece of advice I got from people," Mr. Chamberlain said, noting that the estimated costs of doing the electrical work can vary by hundreds -- sometimes thousands -- of dollars. "I want it done right, but I want to be able to afford it."

Another priority of renovating, he said, was making sure the two stone chimneys are safe. He learned they passed inspection in 2008.

Also needing attention are a vine growing through a second-story window into a bathroom and wasps in one of the bedrooms, a particular concern for 6-year-old Emma, who calls the home "the house of many wasps."

Still to come

Later projects will include sanding and staining the hardwood floors on the second floor, Mrs. Chamberlain said. Most of the walls will require patching and painting.

And there's the mystery of the second-floor door that opens to the outside sans porch or stairwell.

"We call it the 'door to nowhere' because there's nothing on the other side except the outside," Mrs. Chamberlain said. "And it really doesn't look like there was ever anything there."

Chances are they'll build a multilevel deck that leads to the door, or they'll simply close it off, Mr. Chamberlain said.

The house has undergone several renovations, good or bad, during the last century. A window, for example, in the master bedroom opens onto the back of the bathroom wall. "The people who lived here probably added on the master bedroom without bothering to take out the window," Mr. Chamberlain said.

"The kitchen and master bath look pretty funny. It is a confusing hodge-podge of traditional and modern decor," he said. "Any interior decorator would have a fit."

Meanwhile, the owners are consulting with a number of people regarding the home, he said.

"A slough of people are checking out the home: six electricians, two contractors, one home inspector, one termite inspector, one home insurance salesman (though we got six estimates), one plumber, two attorneys, one interior decorator, one reporter, one camera man, one Real Estate agent, one mortgage broker, (and) many family and friends are doing drive-bys and our Facebook friends," Mr. Chamberlain said.

Expert opinion

The home offers features rarely found in homes built today, said Tony Cordell of Cordell Electric, one of the electricians offering bids.

"I love this house," he said. "It's an awesome place. I work for as many as 40 contractors, and I'm in old and new houses all the time. It's rare that I see a home as well-built as this one."

Mr. Cordell did see some problems, though, such as an air-return vent in a door that was completely useless.

"I'm sure it's things that have been done as people tried to remodel it through the years," he said. "It makes no sense."

Updating the electrical work in the house is a major project but not an insurmountable one, Mr. Cordell said.

"With a house like this, it's worth it. It's already stood longer than many houses built in recent years. We're seeing a lot of 'junk' houses today."

Why it's worth it

Not only does the house need attention, but a huge, aged barn on the property is leaning so badly that no one is allowed near it. But, according to an inspector, it's fixable.

"We were told that all you have to do is get a tractor and push it straight, then brace it," Mrs. Chamberlain said.

The children are eager for the barn to be fixed.

"The barn is my favorite," said Emma, 5. "I'm going to have horses, and it will make me really happy."

Mr. Chamberlain offered advice to those thinking of purchasing a fixer-upper home, a project he predicted will take a decade or longer, "Say a prayer and follow your heart. This isn't for everyone. We are hoping that if we are patient, hardworking and continue to have faith, things will get done."

House-buying tips from a Realtor

* Get a home inspection from a reputable source. "A home inspector will check out the electrical, plumbing, heat/air, everything. They usually turn in a 20- to 30-page report with photos. They go through the house with a fine-tooth comb, and most of the time, they'll tell you more than you really need to know."

* Get a termite inspection. "Most older homes, especially in the South where it's humid, need a termite inspection. If there is evidence of termites, the seller has to pay for the treatment, and it can be costly."

* Get estimates from specialists. "If you have concerns after the house has been inspected, get specialists to evaluate the situation and give you quotes of costs so you know what you're getting into before buying the house. I recommend getting at least three quotes for each issue such as electrical, plumbing, etc."

* Get a contingency period when making an offer on the house. "The Chamberlains had a 10-day contingency period after making the offer, meaning they could back out of the purchase if they wanted to. If you back out of the offer without a contingency, you would lose the earnest money you put down on the house."

Source: Emily Eiselstein Glover, Realtor, Keller Williams