Dont Get Stuck Having To Deal With The Sellers Household Hazardous Wastes - After You Move In!

I have a confession to make!

I was just outside with Frankie (my dog) and noticed I still had an old car battery sitting by the foundation, at the rear of my house.

Yes, I'll admit it's not right, and quite environmentally insensitive for me to have it there. However, even though I know I should have disposed of it by now, that fact is, it's still there. Seeing it there prompted me to think about, if I was selling my home, how easy something like that would be to 'forget' about and leave behind - for the buyers to deal with.

It also prompted me to recall the 3-4 spent automobile tires, and rims, that I found in a basement closet - after we had moved in!

It reminded me of all the paint cans, stain cans and a host of other household hazardous waste that was left behind for me to deal with and dispose of properly.

All innocent looking, sitting there on a shelf or in a corner of the basement, in a closet, under a sink, in the attic, or in the garage - stored neatly between the wall studs. There are lots of places such household hazardous wastes (HHW) can be found.

I don't believe they were left here intentionally or with malice. Rather, I imagine they were left here as a gesture of goodwill - that perhaps it's something I would be able to use. Problem is, the sellers likely hadn't used any of the stuff during the waning years they were here. What made them think I would use the stuff?

Luckily, the municipality I live in has a "Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program" that homeowners can take advantage of without having to pay. I urge you to check out the link above and see exactly what qualifies or is considered to be HHW - I guarantee it will be an eye-opener for you.

Although I was able to dispose of the typical HHW without being charged, I did have to take time out on the designated Saturday to do something that the sellers should have done - before they left.

I also didn't get out of it without having to pay anything. I was required to pay for the disposal of the tires the seller had so graciously left behind since those needed to go directly to the landfill.

Which brings me to the point of this post...

Not many homebuyers even think about this when they're looking at a home.

This is one of the reasons why, as a prospective - and eventually serious buyer - you should not be simply herded through the home you're looking to purchase like lost sheep.

You should insist on spending as much time as you can, investigating as many nooks and crannies as you can. Take notice of what you see and really process it. Seeing tires in the basement isn't an uncommon occurrence. But assuming they won't be there after you buy the home is.

Don't assume anything!

Be specific in your questions and concerns - no matter how trivial you think they may be.

I strongly urge you to visit: http://www.homebuyerdefenseguide.com/home-buying-strategies/hazwaste.html

and see what HHW consists of, become familiar with the many items included as HHW and what you will need to do to dispose of any that is left behind.

Maybe I'll bring that battery to the landfill right now...

Become a real estate insider and don't be at the mercy of unreliable real estate agents or untruthful sellers.

Discover just how easy it is to get all the information you need on the home you want to buy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Don Berthiaume gives you the questions you need to ask when buying a home. For more details, and for a free 4-part mini-course in home buying, visit this site now: Home Buying Guide

---

Budgeting Your Log Home - Creating a Checklist

If you've read my first article, BUDGETING YOUR LOG HOME:... Read More

Secrets of Making Money from Real Estate - Part 4

Analyzing and finding the right property deals:Firstly read my other... Read More

Homes For Sell By Owner ? FSBOs and Buyer Brokers

You're selling your home as a FSBO (for sale by... Read More

Achieving Positive Cash Flow from Your Real Estate Investments

Even if you're counting on rising property values to eventually... Read More

Selling Your Home ? What Can Go Wrong With Pricing and Loans

So, you're selling your home (house, townhouse, condo, apartment, land,... Read More

Real Estate Professional in the Palm of Your Hand

GETTING THE MOST FOR THE LEASE-TRACKING YOUR REAL ESTATEIf you... Read More

For Sale By Owner: The Inside Scoop On Selling Your Own Home

If you're thinking about selling your home perhaps the 'for... Read More

The Real Estate Bubble-When Will it Burst?

More and more individuals are realizing that real estate is... Read More

What is a Foreclosure?

A foreclosure is an action taken against a property owner... Read More

10 Tips to Sell Your House Faster!

Here are some Handy wee Tips to help you Sell... Read More

Purchasing Property With No Money Down: My Personal Experience

Have you ever seen those infomercials about buying houses with... Read More

Customer Service ? The Real Estate Revolution

Traditionally, real estate has been viewed as a sales industry.... Read More

Five Things to Help Sell Your Home Fast, and For More Money

Selling your home requires some thought and a clear plan... Read More

You Have 15 Seconds to Sell Your Home! 11 Steps You Can Take to Sell Your Home for Top Dollar

Selling your home? Here are some suggestions to help you... Read More

European Second Home Prices Wilt in Drought

Spain and Portugal have suffered one of their worst droughts... Read More

Greed Can Cost You Your Shirt!

The proper action when things are going well is to... Read More

How to Get Financing after Filing Bankruptcy

If you're thinking about buying a home but have declared... Read More

How Can I Stop Foreclosure on My House?

We understand the being in foreclosure is a scary thing.... Read More

Selling a House is Easy

The thought of selling a house strikes fear into most... Read More

Tax Assessment/Appraisal: How Do I Know What My Home is Worth?

If you are in the home buying or selling market,... Read More

Realtors Brainstorm For Business

Even though rates are down opening up the market for... Read More

How to Decrease the Value of Your Own House

Owning a house is part of the American Dream. Depending... Read More

Investment Real Estate Made Easy ? Make the Most from Each Investment Dollar

When it comes to buying investment real estate, there are... Read More

How Professional Property Investors Interpret and Use Capital Growth Statistics

Understanding and using yearly price growth statistics in an area... Read More

Wealth Building ? An Advantage of Home Ownership

As you grow older, the issue of wealth building comes... Read More

Horses In My Back Yard

Horses In My Back Yard by Jody Hudson, with Extensive... Read More

Should You Buy Hud Homes?

Buy HUD homes are sometimes the cheapest option available for... Read More

Investing in Real Estate & REITs

Real estate investing runs the gamut in terms of risk... Read More

If Your House Is a Mess, You Dont Have To Sell For Less

Don't be tempted by "We Buy Houses" or "Sell Your... Read More

What Does It Take To Be A Donald Trump in Real Estate?

Since you are a business oriented person, you might be... Read More

Expenses of Home Ownership

Hopefully all goes smoothly when you purchase your home. In... Read More

California Home Seller Disclosure Duties

Property Condition - Seller's What to Expect During the Inspection... Read More

Selling Property - Valuing Your Property

Selling property privately has many advantages over using an estate... Read More