Just bought a house with a wood stove, no clue what to do.

[Grisu]

I've bought and sold a number of houses in PA, all with oil heat, and I don't recall ever discussing the amount of oil in the tank. Heck, you can go thru a half dozen tanks of oil just during the settlement period, so it'd be fun trying to figure out what you even have at the moment of settlement.

Not during the settlement period. At the day of closing buyers (and if they wish the sellers) make an inspection of the building to make sure everything is in the condition as has been agreed to in the Purchase and Sales agreement. At that time, you make an estimate of the oil left in the tank by checking the fuel gauge which is taken into account at closing a few hours later. Here is a standard agreement, see point (i): (broken link removed to http://www.realtyassociation.com/files/purchaseagreement.pdf)

What surprised me more was the fact that lamps stay with the building. Certainly much different compared with Germany.

 

[Ashful]

Not during the settlement period. At the day of closing buyers (and if they wish the sellers) make an inspection of the building to make sure everything is in the condition as has been agreed to in the Purchase and Sales agreement. At that time, you make an estimate of the oil left in the tank by checking the fuel gauge which is taken into account at closing a few hours later. Here is a standard agreement, see point (i): (broken link removed to http://www.realtyassociation.com/files/purchaseagreement.pdf)

What surprised me more was the fact that lamps stay with the building. Certainly much different compared with Germany.

Yep, commonly referred to here as the "walk-thru", usually done evening before or morning of settlement. Done literally dozens of them, both buying and selling, and never recall anyone checking a gauge on any oil tank. When dropping several hundred thousand dollars on a house, the last thing on my mind is $350 worth of oil in the tank.

The light fixtures refers to attached fixtures, not table lamps! I did hear of one case where someone removed all of the light bulbs from the fixtures, which really pissed off the buyer, but not enough so to cancel contract.

 

[sportbikerider78]

Yep, commonly referred to here as the "walk-thru", usually done evening before or morning of settlement. Done literally dozens of them, both buying and selling, and never recall anyone checking a gauge on any oil tank. When dropping several hundred thousand dollars on a house, the last thing on my mind is $350 worth of oil in the tank.

The light fixtures refers to attached fixtures, not table lamps! I did hear of one case where someone removed all of the light bulbs from the fixtures, which really pissed off the buyer, but not enough so to cancel contract.

I have a large oil tank. I think the sellers took quite a bit of oil out of it during the closing process. I can't prove it...not worth the trouble.

 

[mass_burner]

Both of my kids grew up with a stove or 2. One was right out in the middle of a great room. Neither have ever been burned, ever.

Same here, daughter since birth, 2 stoves, no gates, never a burn.

 

[mass_burner]

OP, get a moisture meter and a IR gun. Your also going to figure out your wood storing and replenishment strategy. Having dry wood is one thing, but if its under 4" of snow its useless.

 

[TommyTally]

The light fixtures refers to attached fixtures, not table lamps! I did hear of one case where someone removed all of the light bulbs from the fixtures, which really pissed off the buyer, but not enough so to cancel contract.

I gotta be honest, I would take my LEDs with me as well.

 

[begreen]

When we moved into our house it had been a rental for a few years then empty for 9 months while on sale. Over half the bulbs were either burnt out or missing.

 

[Rut13]

I have a large oil tank. I think the sellers took quite a bit of oil out of it during the closing process. I can't prove it...not worth the trouble.

I'm a PA Realtor and here is the actual language in the PA standard agreement of sale contract.
FIXTURES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY (4-14)
INCLUDED in this sale, unless otherwise stated, are all existing items permanently installed in or on the Property, free of liens,
and other items including plumbing; heating; radiator covers; lighting fixtures (including chandeliers and ceiling fans); pools, spas
and hot tubs (including covers and cleaning equipment); electric animal fencing systems (excluding collars); garage door openers
and transmitters; television antennas; mounting brackets and hardware for television and sound equipment; unpotted shrubbery,
plantings and trees; smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; sump pumps; storage sheds; fences; mailboxes; wall to wall
carpeting; existing window screens, storm windows and screen/storm doors; window covering hardware (including rods and
brackets), shades and blinds; awnings; built-in air conditioners; built-in appliances; the range/oven; any remaining heating and
cooking fuels stored on the Property at the time of settlement.
As we interpret it if the seller does not ask the buyer to reimburse or remove the fuel from the tank before closing, it is the property of the buyer.

 

[Oldman47]

I gotta be honest, I would take my LEDs with me as well.

Have you priced LEDs lately? They have come down enough that no way would I mess with mine and PO the next owner. I have a large number of LEDs in can type ceiling mounts that really cost me about $20 each but it would take significant time and resources to replace them with reflectors and more conventional bulbs. I might gain about $5 per fixture but what is an old used LED worth to you?

 

[TommyTally]

Have you priced LEDs lately? They have come down enough that no way would I mess with mine and PO the next owner. I have a large number of LEDs in can type ceiling mounts that really cost me about $20 each but it would take significant time and resources to replace them with reflectors and more conventional bulbs. I might gain about $5 per fixture but what is an old used LED worth to you?

Considering I bought them for around $12-15 each and probably have around 12, I'd say in the neighborhood of $150. Not the current market price, but it's what I have invested in them, so no sense in investing in another 10-12 bulbs when they can all be removed in around 10-15 minutes. Not to mention their stated lifespan is still around 15 years or so. So, for my time, it would be worth the money. Couldn't make that much money doing something else in that period of time unless it was buying a winning lottery ticket.

 

[billb3]

I'm a PA Realtor and here is the actual language in the PA standard agreement of sale contract.
FIXTURES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY (4-14)
INCLUDED in this sale, unless otherwise stated, are all existing items permanently installed in or on the Property, free of liens,
and other items including plumbing; heating; radiator covers; lighting fixtures (including chandeliers and ceiling fans); pools, spas
and hot tubs (including covers and cleaning equipment); electric animal fencing systems (excluding collars); garage door openers
and transmitters; television antennas; mounting brackets and hardware for television and sound equipment; unpotted shrubbery,
plantings and trees; smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; sump pumps; storage sheds; fences; mailboxes; wall to wall
carpeting; existing window screens, storm windows and screen/storm doors; window covering hardware (including rods and
brackets), shades and blinds; awnings; built-in air conditioners; built-in appliances; the range/oven; any remaining heating and
cooking fuels stored on the Property at the time of settlement.
As we interpret it if the seller does not ask the buyer to reimburse or remove the fuel from the tank before closing, it is the property of the buyer.

That's pretty much SOP here too.

 

[Wildo]

Worth $20-electricity= 17.50x16 bulbs=$280 so yeah there coming out. I would have to work two days to replace twenty minutes time...

 

[tarzan]

I'm a PA Realtor and here is the actual language in the PA standard agreement of sale contract.
FIXTURES AND PERSONAL PROPERTY (4-14)
INCLUDED in this sale, unless otherwise stated, are all existing items permanently installed in or on the Property, free of liens,
and other items including plumbing; heating; radiator covers; lighting fixtures (including chandeliers and ceiling fans); pools, spas
and hot tubs (including covers and cleaning equipment); electric animal fencing systems (excluding collars); garage door openers
and transmitters; television antennas; mounting brackets and hardware for television and sound equipment; unpotted shrubbery,
plantings and trees; smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors; sump pumps; storage sheds; fences; mailboxes; wall to wall
carpeting; existing window screens, storm windows and screen/storm doors; window covering hardware (including rods and
brackets), shades and blinds; awnings; built-in air conditioners; built-in appliances; the range/oven; any remaining heating and
cooking fuels stored on the Property at the time of settlement.
As we interpret it if the seller does not ask the buyer to reimburse or remove the fuel from the tank before closing, it is the property of the buyer.

And maybe just as important is the firewood stored on the property.

 

[DaveInPhilly]

Did the inspection on Thursday. All went well. The inspector was impressed with the stove. The baffle and everything inside the fire box was in great shape. The front door had some dings in the enamel that have rusted, but they appear to be purely cosmetic. On closer inspection it is definitely enamel, its a kind of bluish-green. Wife thinks its pretty, so that's good enough for me. The inspector looked at both chimneys but made clear that he was only checking for structural integrity and imminent danger, he was not performing a chimney inspection. That being said, he told us the stove's chimney was in great shape, and well taken care of. The fireplace chimney was in good shape, but needs a good cleaning. I figure, come fall, I'll have someone out to take a look at both of them, and maybe give me some tips for running the stove.

There isn't much wood left, they will leave it, but I don't think it will last more than a few weekends worth of burning. The house also has a pool, so figuring out how to work that is a bigger priority, but I suspect, come fall, I'll be back here with 8,000 questions.

As we interpret it if the seller does not ask the buyer to reimburse or remove the fuel from the tank before closing, it is the property of the buyer.

This is basically as I understand it. The seller can ask to be compensated, or sell it back to the oil company before closing, but in reality never do. I think that will be the case here. After meeting the seller at the closing I half expect them to top it off before they leave.

 

[Grisu]

The fireplace chimney was in good shape, but needs a good cleaning.

Glad to hear that everything seems to progress nicely. When you say "fireplace chimney" is that a masonry chimney? If yes, the stove will perform much better with an insulated 6" stainless steel liner in there. It will also be safer. A chimney sweep could be hired to clean the chimney and install the liner.

Drying wood takes time. If there is no much left you may not burn very often this winter. However, get the wood for the subsequent winter(s) taken care of - the sooner the better.

 

[DaveInPhilly]

There are actually three chimneys in the house. There is a single masonry chimney for a fireplace in the living room. There is a second masonry chimney in the center of the house that the furnace vents from, and there is a double walled chimney on the exterior of the home for the stove.