a S O L I D contract

YEAH- we finally have a contract on our house in Kansas. A solid contract. After eight {or so} months on the market, looks like an end might be in sight. We ended up coming down about {$30,000} from our original asking price, but at least we won't be making two housepayments for too much longer. I know we'll both be able to breathe a little easier once it's a done deal- should be final with a closing date no later than April 3rd.

Yesterday, we got the list of requested repairs from the buyers based on the inspection they had done. Luckily, it's only five points we have to address. It could have been a lot worse. When we sold our house in Alaska, we had a much longer list of things to do. We had purchased a new house, made a few improvements and still had a list of seventeen things to fix before we could sell it. Things that were unchanged from the time we purchased it until the time we went to sell it. So frustrating. Back then, we thought they wrote thing up just to make it look like they were there. Stupid things.

 More than anything we're wondering where in the heck do they get these inspectors from?

One of the points on this inspection:

Buyers request that the hardi-board siding on the houes be repaired to restore it's warranty. Nails/screws have been "overdriven" into the boards. Some corners were not installed properly. The inspector believes these items can be corrected {without full replacement and major expense}

and the warranty can be restored.

We're glad he thinks it can be replaced without major expense, but what in the world does that mean?

We haven't touched the siding, why is it an issue now? Apparently, the guy doing our inspection didn't catch it or let it go. But now, we're responsible for fixing it? Sure, Jim noticed a few of the screws were screwed in too far, but didn't think much of it. It's not like we turned the boards upside down and screwed the nails in as far as we could get them to go in the time we've lived there. Seriously. We didn't even realize the siding warranty wasn't valid. 

As the first owners of our house that we purchased just 3 1/2 years ago, this was the last thing we expected to come up.  Where is the consistency between inspections and inspectors? I know when we had the inspection on our shop, the inspector immediately recognize that it was Triple B's {the company we hired to build it} work. He basically told us, he could practically sign off on the inspection without even looking at our building knowing they do quality work. Is it all in who you know or who you get?

Another point:

The "cutoff" electric switch for furnace service is not located near the furnace {in another room}. For code, it must be moved closer to the furnace unit.

We bought a house with an unfinished basement. Yes, we put a wall up to enclose the furnace room and make it a shelter area. The switch is still right next to it- just on the other side of the wall, but that is not close enough? All we did was put up a wall- it's remains in the same location. Ugh. Who makes these rules?

He also said:

The gas fireplace has an apparent leak near the orifice and must be corrected for safe operation.

I think we're reasonable people and this is definitely understandable. Asking for a roof inspection for possible hail claim is legit. We get that- it's Kansas. I'm just grateful we're not trying to sell a 30 or 40 or 100-year old house- especially being overseas.

I can hardly wait for the appraisal guys to come out. I don't get them either... Is it asking too much for just a little consistency? These guys are killing me... oh, I just wish I could have a little face time with them.