inspection update and a question

so overall the inspection went well. he found two issues:

1) the front steps does not have a railing. in your experiences, who is responsible for this? we're just nervous that the sellers are going to slap up a POS railing and drill holes in the beautiful stone steps. how should we handle this?
- this is what we were thinking.. ask them to get estimates. have them PAY us that cost and we will pay the difference and put in a railing we like. make sense??

and

2) this is a bigger issue: the chimney/fireplace(wood burning stove) was an add on. the inspector didnt like the footing (cinderblocks) and it is also slightly pulling away from the house. he said that it could be strapped to the house to stop the pulling away from the house but he still is unsure of the footing.
- has anyone experienced this? what is the cost to completely redo a chimney?

soo now we're stuck until Tuesday bc of the holiday weekend, cant get intouch with our lawyer til then..

otherwise everything went perfectly!!!

any advice/experience??
TIA!!!

Message edited 9/5/2009 8:53:35 AM.

Re: inspection update and a question

1.) I would ask they get estimates and then I would take pictures and measurements and get my own estimates and see what comes back. Then meet in the middle for them to pay you, like you suggested and put it up myself.

2.) I would have it inspected by a chimney person and see what they say. So you know exactly what you are dealing with. If it is something serious then I would have the sellers fix it or give you a credit towards it to fix it on your own.

Re: inspection update and a question

Re: inspection update and a question

1. is not having a railing against code or just what your inspector would like to see? if it's against code - then have sellers get an estimate (or maybe three and take the middle) and pay you - or more likely they might just take it off the price of the house - which means nothing for you.

2. when we wanted to extend our chimney - we were quoted $100 per foot up...that might be an estimate, with a bit more added on for the larger fireplace part.