Anyone rent a house?

[pontifex]

Saw an ad on Craigslist for a house for rent at what seems like a very nice price. Here is the info from the ad.

It has three bedrooms, two bath
Full Concrete basement
Private well and septic
Oil Furnace
Very large yard
Renter responsible for utilites
Security deposit required

I have no idea what the place actually looks like or even where exactly it is. I know it's just outside a local town.

I'm concerned about providing oil for the oil furnace as heating oil isn't cheap. Would that be covered under "utiliies," which means I would be responsible for that also?

Obviously it would be best to call the people renting it but it's after midnight and not a very good time to call about it and I'm curious. Anyone rent a house with similar arrangements?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Yes, you would be responsible for the fuel oil.

 

[nsafreak]

Yep, the oil for heating would be considered a utility and you would be responsible for it.

 

[wiredspider]

Yep, you will pay for the oil, or else it would get very expensive for the owner. Reminds me that I need to fill my tank this week...

 

[ConwayJim]

yeppers...the oil...oh God the oil...

 

[ultimatebob]

I used to rent a house like that... it cost me $600 every 45 days to keep the oil tank full.

Make sure to ask if you're responsible for mowing the lawn, landscaping, and snow removal. Some places you are, some you aren't.

Also make sure to ask if that "Full Concrete Basement" floods. You would be surprised how many older houses have a big basement that is useless because it fills with water when it rains. If you see a sump pump down there, assume that it WILL eventually flood no matter what the landlord says.

Oh... and taste the water while you're there. The last place I lived had a serious problem with dissolved copper in the well water, which left nasty green hard water stains on my laundry and in the sinks and toilets.

 

[Jumpem]

Also make sure to ask if that "Full Concrete Basement" floods. You would be surprised how many older houses have a big basement that is useless because it fills with water when it rains. If you see a sump pump down there, assume that it WILL eventually flood no matter what the landlord says.

This why I'm not a big fan of basements. I almost consider it a negative when a real estate listing lists a basement.

 

[Gibson486]

Oil....ah man....run, run far way.

I lived in a apt in boston. We all had to pitch in to pay oil. the landlord only covered up $1.X0 a gallon or however they measured. The rest was equally split among tenants. the first year I lived there, yeah, whatever, it just barely got over the threshold. It cost me $120 a year. The next year, when the whole oil crisis started taking off, I was greeted a $1500 bill. Fvck.....it was like another months rent. I can't just imagine how much it would cost if the landlord contributed nothing.

 

[techs]

Houses make great places to hide bodies.

 

[pontifex]

I used to rent a house like that... it cost me $600 every 45 days to keep the oil tank full.

Make sure to ask if you're responsible for mowing the lawn, landscaping, and snow removal. Some places you are, some you aren't.

Also make sure to ask if that "Full Concrete Basement" floods. You would be surprised how many older houses have a big basement that is useless because it fills with water when it rains. If you see a sump pump down there, assume that it WILL eventually flood no matter what the landlord says.

Oh... and taste the water while you're there. The last place I lived had a serious problem with dissolved copper in the well water, which left nasty green hard water stains on my laundry and in the sinks and toilets.

paying for the oil is a no-go so no need to ask about anything else. I'd much rather rent a house than an apartment but not if I have to pay for oil too.

 

[Bignate603]

paying for the oil is a no-go so no need to ask about anything else. I'd much rather rent a house than an apartment but not if I have to pay for oil too.

Everywhere else you'll end up paying for heat one way or another. The bad thing about paying for oil is that the bill hits all at once rather than a smaller bill each month.

 

[sjwaste]

I have oil heat in a smallish house. It's fucking great. I heat approx 900 sq ft (not the basement), and go through 1 to 1 1/4 tanks a year (275 gal tank). ~$450 to heat the house last winter, and last winter was a bad one even in VA. And that's with my wife cranking it to 75 some nights (programmable t-stat kept temps low while we weren't home)