Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for July 31, 2019

With the realtor there, they love it. When they are alone, they would list it.

well, that was quick

I hope it isn’t a money pit.

TOO SMALL? OK, the Addams Family has a bigger house, but there are six of them plus Doug, er, Thing, and they have extra space requirements for Gomez’ train set.

Like watching HGTV’s House Hunters. People comment negatively but buy the house regardless. For my own house, as a potential homebuyer, I did complain about plain white walls, cabinets that weren’t stained, all-white floor tiles, small hall bathroom, small patio in the back…but we bought it and still love our house. Of course we painted the walls, stained all of the cabinets and replaced all of the floors. Not much we can do about the small hall bathroom but we don’t use it. Our master bath is huge. :-D

And so it begins

The only real important thing about buying a first home is the price

At least someone did not cover up all the potential problems like the water stain. I hate surprises like that.

In California you’re required to have a house inspection before buying. Friends of mine moved out of California to Texas and bragged about what a great deal they got on a house without all the stupid regulations, only to have the plumbing blow up under the floor (in a way that any building inspector could have predicted) and cost them so much to repair that they’re now drowning in debt.

For many, houses are like people – nobody likes a perfect person. Toni is already having fun re imagining what can be done to make this hers (just like she did to Brad).

I’m surprised they didn’t say in unison, “We’ll take it!”

And then, “What’s it cost?”

After settlement they find out that’s a load-bearing wall.

“We now return to ‘this old house.’ On today’s episode we’ll be renovating…..everything”

Gotta say “It’s OK”, else the realtor will see dollar signs in your eyes.

Realtor speak: When you are buying, they refer to it as a home. When you are selling, they refer to it as a house.

“Would that we could.”

“Bad Ceiling Stain”? (theme from Jaws starts playing) That could be a leaking roof… dry rot underneath, and can cost an additional 10’s of thousands to fix. “Too small”? Looks plenty big from the outside… they wanted a mansion?

They’re going to buy it.

I think Toni’s pregnant. She just hasn’t told him yet.

I bought my house because it had 5/4 tongue and groove subflooring instead of plywood. I considered if that was high quality, so was the rest of the house. I still had it inspected and they did find a termite problem due to storing firewood in the garage. 30 years and no problems. Of course I have done improvements, new windows, siding, roof, etc. That kind of thing.

Bad Water Stain/Bad Sign: Either a leaky roof or upstairs plumping problem. MAKE the Seller fix it OR shave off a HUGE cut of the asking price.

Also, you might want to do a little research into the surrounding area. Is the area in a flood zone? Near an area zoned for business? Near a busy city street? How about the neighbors? Any Evil Psychotic Heartless COFFEE Drinkers living nearby? ;)

I think they were trying to talk themselves out of the idea of debt.

Ceiling stain might mean either a leaking roof or plumbing neither one a good thing. And why does she always want to remove walls/

Watch out, the realtor looks like she can talk you into buying something you either can’t afford , or don’’t want.

Arc is only for a week, actually, the scenarios are evolving into two weeks, so Brad and Toni are not taking the time that we see the HGTV prospective buyers taking.

I think they know they can’t afford it and are trying to find reasons not to want it-you know, “The grapes (I can’t reach) were probably sour anyway”.

The staging is abysmal.

Oh no…Toni’s reaction is par for the course…ever watch those shows on HGTV where people are looking for a new home along the beach or on an island or whatever? They will rip the house to shreds while in it…then tell the realtor they liked it…ah reality!

Way to play it close to the vest guys.

Brad and Toni are wrong to show so much interest in front of the realtor. I can understand enthusiasm, but this will probably increase the price.

Did you see the blinders? Just look at those blinders.

When we bought the townhouse we are still in at first when we went in from the street it did not move us. It was okay for a townhouse in size, although while we did not have any major issues, of course there were surprises after we moved in. What sold us was the private back common yard, where small and middle school age kids were playing and talking. Sold! We had two little kids ourselves. Realtors can tell you that you never can tell when buyers fall in love with a house, or exactly why but it happens very much like how this is depicted. The wife has to like if though for married couples. I think this is also a hint that the couple is preggers although Brad does not know yet.

If you love something, it shows, I guess.

Realtor looks like Brad’s mother-an aunt?

First,, What is the Purchase Price???

It’s so much better than what they have now.

I’m flashing back to “Ghostbusters”

When I was looking for my last house, I made a detailed list of features I wanted for my realtor. The house I bought had none of them… but it has character. {grin}

House Hunters!

Reminds me of that verse in Proverbs where the buyer tells the seller, “It is good for nothing!” and then goes out and brags about the deal they got.

Realtor looks like an Ann Awful protégé!

They are the HGTV couple on “Flip or Flop”

They are falling in love with that house.

Most likely outcome. They’ll buy and move. TJ will stay where he is. This arc will become Frank & Nancy – Take Two.

Yeah, there’s nothing an open house realtor loves to hear like “Not in the market” and “Just looking”; they love wasting their time.

Would have been better to say, “It’s really nice, but…”

What about the location, the school district, the overall neighborhood (I mean neighbors), and construction of the place? … I mean, a ceiling stain would raise a BIG red flag in my mind! Ask that realtor some tough questions, pleasantly – then read them, as best you can, if she’s being truthful! :)

“It’s PERFECT!! We’ll have to change EVERYTHING!”

Now let’s go home and print up some money!

They seem to think today is “opposite day.” (It’s awful!) – We want it!

I dont think it was complaining as much as thinking about remodeling or improvement projects.

And thus did Brad and Toni become Patients Zero in the next subprime mortgage crisis…

I have read this comic strip daily for many years and you actually begin to think of them as family. Now to give advice to a non existent family that I have affection for, do not buy a house this big as your first house. This is what happened during the last administration when young people bought homes that they could not afford and ended up in foreclosure or short sells. Buying a house that needs work when you can do it yourself is a great idea. I have done it for 5 homes in my adult life and made a lot of money on each one. In fact I consider the house I now live in as paid for entirely by the profit from the other homes. This home was in pretty bad shape when we bought it. It will be our last home as we are senior citizens now and can not do all the work we used to be able to do. But we have upgraded this home to the point that is near worth about 40% more than we paid for it. Real estate is a double sided ax, it can cut well or hurt you bad.

The contrast.. Young girls seek the freedom of camping and the young marrieds seek the life that will tie them down. Not a bad thing, just a contrast.

Peter: What do you think, Egon?Egon: I think this building should be condemned. There’s serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring is substandard, it’s completely inadequate for our power needs, and the neighborhood is like a demilitarized zone.Ray: Hey! Does this pole still work? (slides down a fireman’s pole) Wow. This place is great! When can we move in? You gotta try this pole! I’m gonna get my stuff. Hey! We should stay here. Tonight! Sleep here! You know, to try it out!

Can we just get a “Brad” comic that focuses solely on the lives of Brad and Toni? That would be AWESOME!!!

They were doing great until they told the realtor that they love it. Now it will be more difficult to talk down the price since they “Love it!” so much as is.

Well, now they’re Trapped.

Nicest thing, they already have a place to stay.

Why would you say stuff like that if you don’t like it!

All the stuff they commented on are things that can be fixed or changed; except a stain on the ceiling could mean bigger trouble, a leak somewhere. The fact that they both declared love for the house simultaneously combined with the expressions on their faces suggest they they really do love the house (overall). Maybe the Degroots can sell the smaller house and then help Tony and Brad afford this one.

My mom didn’t care for her house ..until she notice it was around the corner from a Baptist Church; my parents being Baptist themselves w/5 brats ..made her changed her mind.

I saw my “dream house” when we were a block away. I didn’t know anything about the house, except that it had been taken off the market because it was built “on spec” and hadn’t sold. We were a block away, it was at the end of a cul-de-sac, and I said, “That’s my house.” I just knew it. As it turned out, the builder neglected a few things that had to be fixed, and the electricity wasn’t hooked up to the house yet from the street. My husband called to have it hooked up and they said to let them know when the trench was dug for the wiring and they’d come out. So we called a guy to dig the trench and he told us to let them know when the electric company was coming out, and he be there the day before. So my husband just picked a day, told them each what they wanted to hear, and voila! We had electricity. No heat or air, though. We had a wood stove in the front room that heated the place up nicely. (Yes, rural area.) Two bedrooms downstairs, master upstairs. Skylight. Cathedral ceiling (cobwebs, yikes!) About quarter of an acre. We had that end of the cul-de-sac to ourselves for years. We lived there for 18 years. And I LOVED that house!

cue the ominous music

First time in my house I nearly gagged at the smell of dog urine and almost slipped on the greasy floor in the kitchen…..but I appreciated the bones of the house….

Arrgh! This is too painful to watch….

Luann is Brad sister. Hope she comes and give her opine about the house.