Boxers in Old Houses

[brindlemom]

Hello!
Here is my question.
I am still in college, one more year, and living in a townhouse apartment. I have found an old house (think 1936) for a reasonable price about 10 miles away with 1/2 an acre, plenty of room for Striker to run. However, my boyfriend was looking at the place, and it has the old radiators against the wall, and it appears there is lead paint, but it's been painted over many times. The realtor kept telling me that we don't have kids so it won't matter. But she knows we have a pup. Do you think this place will be bad for Striker? He may lick the walls or something. The old radiators sticking out kinda scare me too, even though they have covers over them. And the electricity is really old. I have never lived in an old house. Can any one give me advice on what I should do? We have to decide soon, and can't find anything else. The yard will be nice, if we could put a fence up. Thank You!!!!!

------------------
Cindy
Striker's Mom
7 month old Christmas baby, born 12/25/99. Brindle with white "socks", chest, blaze. Cute as can be!!!

 

[brindlemom]

By the way, I would not ever buy this house, it's only a rental.
And rentals seem so hard to come by, especially with a dog.

 

[Guenola]

Lead is not a problem as long as the paint is not chipping off. You have to make sure first that the wall paint is in good condition. On your rental agreement you should require that the landlord pay for any repair when the walls have to be drilled or cut. Lead abatment is costly and needs to be done by licensed professionals (it's the law in NY). How bad is the electrical? Does it need to be updated? Will it support the load of a air conditioner, washer, dryer etc without tripping the fuses? Old houses are great (personaly I love them) but one of you has to be a handyman (handywoman).
It is hard to help you here because I don't know much about the house condition. You seems to have mixed feeling about this house. I'd say go with your guts instinct.


------------------
Proud Mama of NIKITA
2 years old fawn female
Natural ears, docket tail

 

[Tanyia]

Cindy-
We had radiators in our house in Germany. They never seemed to cause any problems with our two. I would have to agree about the lead paint. As long as it's painted over, you should be ok. I would find a home inspector (make sure they're licensed in your state) and have him go over it (just to have an idea of what you are looking at!)
Good luck

 

[Ona]

My boys Derek and Tylar never had a problem in our 250 year old house. We owned the house and my mom repainted all of the raditors.(sp) I loved those old heaters, they are great to sit on.


------------------
Ona
Derek-rainbow bridge at 14 and 1/2
Tyler-rainbow bridge at 10 months
Currently dogless

 

[brindlemom]

Thanks for all the help!
You guys are great.

I think we're going to rent it, with some things written into the lease (contingent on an inspection, etc.)

Cindy


------------------
Cindy
Striker's Mom
7 month old Christmas baby, born 12/25/99. Brindle with white "socks", chest, blaze. Cute as can be!!!

 

[brindlemom]

Just got an email from the realtor.
It turns out the house had a full inspection prior to being sold last year to the new owner. The only thing that was wrong was the radon level. So the owner installed some type of radon device outside the home. She said that there is one electric outlet in the basement with reverse polarization. I don't know what this is, will have to chat with her. So hopefully this means the electric is good. By the way, do any of you have any experience with the plug adaptors for the two pronged outlets to make it into the three pronged plugs. This house has the two pronged outlets mostly, and most of my stuff is new, especially surge protectors need the three pronged outlets. If I have confused you, sorry! Let me know what you think, and thank you so much! Cindy

------------------
Cindy
Striker's Mom
7 month old Christmas baby, born 12/25/99. Brindle with white "socks", chest, blaze. Cute as can be!!!

 

[Pat]

Cindy, I am a "do-it-yourself women" but here is what I know. In all receptacles you buy now, one slot is longer than the other. When the receptacle is correctly wired, the shorter slot is hot, the longer slot neutral. These plugs can be inserted only one way since the appliance circuts require a
foolproof match of hot and neutral wires.Most equipment you buy now has "polarized prongs". Before installing a grounding adaptner plug in an older receptacle that has no ground slot, check to be sure that the cover plate is properly grounded. Set one probe of the voltage tester against the mounting screw of the plate and insert the other probe into each of the straight slots successively. The tester bulb should light when the second probe is placed in the hot slot. If it does not light in either slot the cover plate is not grounded and the wiring must be corrected.

 

[brindlemom]

Thanks Pat!!
I will have to get my boyfriend to try that, LOL.



------------------
Cindy
Striker's Mom
7 month old Christmas baby, born 12/25/99. Brindle with white "socks", chest, blaze. Cute as can be!!!