Beware of Spark Plugs (Wasilla, Palmer: real estate, foreclosure, lease)

[malagagirl]

I continue to look online at various real estate offerings around Wasilla/Palmer. I'm looking forward to finding a spot to call home.

However, a few people have cautioned me that it might be wise to rent until Spring/Summer so that I can get a clear look at the ground and growth. One woman relayed that she bought her house in mid winter when it was all covered in snow. When spring thaw came she found her yard COVERED in scattered old spark plugs. She nearly filled a 55 gallon drum with them when she picked them all up.

What the???

Anybody else find surprises at snow melt?

[Nephler]

I fine "land mines" every spring...


I have 3 dogs.

[starlite9]

Well maybe not spark plugs, but you will find all sorts of treasures if you don't get to see what it looks like with the snow melted first.

You can always lease a place with an option to buy so you can wait till spring to see if the place is really what you want.

Marty, can probably help you with that since that is his market area for real estate.

[blueflames50]

doesn't matter in what state you are!! when we bought our house (in winter) it was a foreclosure, empty for a yr or so. The bank told us it had a big stone patio out front...yup...36x15 deck! gave us a property diagram where the septic was....yup the huge bulldozer doing landscaping found that it was completely on the other side of the house!!

[Marty Van Diest]

When you buy a vacant house, esp a foreclosure, you may find some interesting things when the snow melts. On the other hand, you can usually negotiate a better deal in the winter because buyers scarce and sellers are more willing to deal.

There are good and bad points about both. One thing I like about winter is that it shows up the energy weaknesses in the structure that don't show in the summer. I like to use my point and shoot thermometer to check out the corners, windows and outlets. You would be surprised how cold the outlets are in a lot of houses.

[Grannysroost]

We found (all buried under the snow) sheetrock chunks, garbage bags, light bulbs, etc....then in the house the frost that built with the deep freeze on the inside walls and was oozing out an outlet. When we investigated found a hidden doggie door, hence screwed a big piece of styrofoam on the wall after stuffing insulation in the hole until spring...

[Nephler]

Really we did find stuff, broken beer bottles all over the yard. I've picked up most of it, but it keeps springing up. What really worries me is the dogs cutting their feet. The only word I have for people that do this kind of stuff are a**holes, no matter where you live.