Selling used building materials?

[Saint Nick]

I'm interested in buying this great property, but one of the outbuildings (a one car, and two car garaged merged, with heat/plumbing/toilet) is in terribad condition. Any idea if I would make any decent money selling the old stuff (wood, electrical, furnace, lights, etc) or is that a lost cause.

Mostly wondering if anyone has ever done this. I'm asking because the seller, who is a bank, countered our offer with the asking price and wants us to increase our offer. The house needs new windows and a master bath. If I could make some money back on selling the crappy out building I might reconsider. But their asking price is a little less than fair, IMO.

 

[highland145]

How old? Old wood has some value, heart pine and such. Otherwise, I would think not much.

 

[Saint Nick]

I'm not sure when the garage was built, but based on the rotting exterior wood, easily 15 years or so. They just put down a concrete slab and built on it. The wood is rotting where the concrete and wood meet. I'd probably get more out of the furnace than the entire building...but I'd like to keep it because I will build another one eventualyl.

 

[highland145]

15 years ...nix the wood idea.

 

[Jimzz]

Yea does not sound like there is much to salvage. And what there might be you want to save.

I would factor in a tear down and rebuild in your final offer.

 

[Saint Nick]

The buildings are useable at the least. What really is the selling point, is the property. It is nearly 2 acres in the middle of the city and would be perfect to start our veggie garden. Since the market is on the upswing, I think it will only be worth more in the coming years. The finished square footage in the house is around 1,000. However, there is 1,000 square foot unfinished in a very clean basement. Framing out a couple rooms would be cheap. No potential for a rough in though, as the waste pipe is above the ground currently.

 

[skyking]

They make inexpensive pump units.

 

[MonKENy]

if the hardware and stuff is vintage its possible. It also depends on where you live. If the wood is untreated it can be used as fire wood. Or chop it and let it rot for mulch. There is alot of ways to use the stuff you tear down.

In CT we have places that buy all the old demo stuff and resell it. Its a cool thing and you can find really neat stuff there.