I’m kind of with your agent on this. My house in PA had a heater put in in 1957 (before I was born) – it still worked. It was an oil heater so I bought a maintenance contract for it from my oil supplier. They replaced the blower, burner, and some other thing in the 8 years I owned the place. It was still running when I sold it.

Our current house had the original heater until 2008. The house was built in 1964.

Just cause it’s old doesn’t mean it’s going to fail in the next couple of years. It could, but it’s not necessarily going to.

I’m kind of with your agent on this. My house in PA had a heater put in in 1957 (before I was born) – it still worked. It was an oil heater so I bought a maintenance contract for it from my oil supplier. They replaced the blower, burner, and some other thing in the 8 years I owned the place. It was still running when I sold it.

Our current house had the original heater until 2008. The house was built in 1964.

Just cause it’s old doesn’t mean it’s going to fail in the next couple of years. It could, but it’s not necessarily going to.

[quote=UCGal]Just cause it’s old doesn’t mean it’s going to fail in the next couple of years. It could, but it’s not necessarily going to.[/quote]

andymajumder, I agree with UCGal. I don’t see how you would have the leverage to ask for a credit from the seller in escrow unless your inspector was able to prove the heater didn’t work. If you really want the property and don’t want to insert a monkey wrench in the deal, why not just ask the seller for a home warranty?

You would be suprised at some of these older furnaces. For instance, it’s not uncommon for Gaffers & Stattler brand furnaces to last 40 years.

Now, if the property is in a high-foreclosure or higher-crime area or is otherwise in less than optimal shape and your agreed-upon price is not significantly under market, than I might get my inspector to elaborate further on his report and negotiate this item.

You didn’t state if you are buying the property for your principal residence.

[quote=UCGal]Just cause it’s old doesn’t mean it’s going to fail in the next couple of years. It could, but it’s not necessarily going to.[/quote]

andymajumder, I agree with UCGal. I don’t see how you would have the leverage to ask for a credit from the seller in escrow unless your inspector was able to prove the heater didn’t work. If you really want the property and don’t want to insert a monkey wrench in the deal, why not just ask the seller for a home warranty?

You would be suprised at some of these older furnaces. For instance, it’s not uncommon for Gaffers & Stattler brand furnaces to last 40 years.

Now, if the property is in a high-foreclosure or higher-crime area or is otherwise in less than optimal shape and your agreed-upon price is not significantly under market, than I might get my inspector to elaborate further on his report and negotiate this item.

You didn’t state if you are buying the property for your principal residence.

[quote=UCGal]Just cause it’s old doesn’t mean it’s going to fail in the next couple of years. It could, but it’s not necessarily going to.[/quote]

andymajumder, I agree with UCGal. I don’t see how you would have the leverage to ask for a credit from the seller in escrow unless your inspector was able to prove the heater didn’t work. If you really want the property and don’t want to insert a monkey wrench in the deal, why not just ask the seller for a home warranty?

You would be suprised at some of these older furnaces. For instance, it’s not uncommon for Gaffers & Stattler brand furnaces to last 40 years.

Now, if the property is in a high-foreclosure or higher-crime area or is otherwise in less than optimal shape and your agreed-upon price is not significantly under market, than I might get my inspector to elaborate further on his report and negotiate this item.

You didn’t state if you are buying the property for your principal residence.

My heater is also around 20 years old. There’s a constant buzzing sound coming from it, but it has been working fine for the last 2 years. So, old isn’t always = soon to die.

My heater is also around 20 years old. There’s a constant buzzing sound coming from it, but it has been working fine for the last 2 years. So, old isn’t always = soon to die.