| Author |
Message |
    
mck
Supporter
Username: Mck
Post Number: 760
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 7:14 pm: | 
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This is an odd subject for the topic but what the heck. My sister, in West Roxbury, MA (part of Boston) is selling her house. She accepted an offer about 10K below asking price: evidently the market is a little slow there right now. The prospective buyer showed up at the inspection today not just with a clip board but with a pair of binoculars and a GSP gadget!  I told her to tell the realtor to tell the other side that she wouldn't try to make a deal with lunatics, and the deal was off. Was that good advice? |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11330
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 7:28 pm: |
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Binoculars are a standard tool for home inspectors to inspect roofs and chimney, so I don't think that was out of line. The GSP puzzles me as they aren't accurate enough to determine lot boundaries. He might have just been getting latitude and longitude measurements for looking the property up on Google Earth or something like that. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1602
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 7:42 pm: |
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My inspector had binoculars to inspect the roof/chimney as Bob K mentioned. I have no idea what a GSP is so I have no idea if that's crazy or not. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1428
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 9:03 pm: |
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Not to be picky but the correct term is GPS, for Global Positioning System. This is a system of satellites that allow portable recievers to orient themselves with a fair degree of accuracy. The binoculars make excellent sense (as previously discussed), and the GPS thing is actually kind of a cute idea.
PS - that was bad advice
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7431
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 11:13 pm: |
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Unless, of course, the buyer really did show up with a GSP sign (Exit 145?), in which case she is a nut job and it was good advice. |
hch
Citizen
Username: Hch
Post Number: 243
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 11:24 pm: |
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Binoculars, good idea.
GPS, not worth it. Depends on the model, but accuracy is only within several feet, which is not going to help you determine property boundaries with any accuracy on a small lot. Better off getting your hands on a survey. |
Mergele
Citizen
Username: Mergele
Post Number: 388
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 5:08 am: |
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Who cares if the buyers are nut jobs? Their money (their bank's) is just as good as the next guy's. |
mck
Supporter
Username: Mck
Post Number: 761
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 6:53 am: |
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GPS, right, I knew that. Geocaching and all that. I'm glad to hear the binoculars are standard equipment. I think I'll tell my sister to get a lawyer to protect her interests, and forget about asking family members. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1603
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 8:44 am: |
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Greentree -  |
mck
Supporter
Username: Mck
Post Number: 762
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 9:21 am: |
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Yeah, GT, that was a good one . Musing more about real estate: everyone is a lunatic in her own way. Me, I work myself into a nervous breakdown trying to undo the squalor that I was perfectly happy to live in so that a prospective buyer won't think ill of me. And my family tend to be pushovers. That house I want to buy has asbestos falling like snow flakes? We can live with it. In a hurry to move out? Don't worry, I'll sweep up after you. Surely there is a middle ground between that and the guy with the GPS. |
Factvsfiction
Citizen
Username: Factvsfiction
Post Number: 112
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 2:26 pm: |
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GPS? There is an old-fashioned thing called a survey.
Seems many Buyers today are looney. Just let them look at everything, but balk if they ask you to throw in your first born with the transaction. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1465
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 2:28 pm: |
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I think the GPS was to locate the area for Google Earth, as someone has already mentioned. |
Factvsfiction
Citizen
Username: Factvsfiction
Post Number: 114
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 2:31 pm: |
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Case-
and the Buyer needs it to close.... because? |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2968
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 6:05 pm: |
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What makes you think the person thought they needed that information to close? They were at the house. Sounds like a good opportunity to get readings. It doesn't mean they were making hte closing contingent upon what the GPS showed. |
Factvsfiction
Citizen
Username: Factvsfiction
Post Number: 125
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 10:46 pm: |
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Rastro-
its un-needed in selling or buying the house is what I meant. They may want to see it sure, but its un-necessary in the scheme of things. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11353
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 4:54 am: |
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FYI, Google Earth is a great homebuying tool. It makes it very easy to check out the neighborhood where the house you are looking at is located.
You don't need GPS to find a location online. Just type in the address. With that said, I think people buy a GPS and get hooked on it. It is a great tool for boaters, hikers and hunters, but for many it is just the latest in a long line of electronic toys that some of us get hooked on. |
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