Local Businessman Expresses Interest In Purchasing, Repairing, Selling Dilapidated Warsaw Property
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Gene O’Hara, a local certified public accountant, attended a hearing Monday at city hall to discuss his plans to purchase the property at 1405 Ranch Road, make repairs to it, then sell it.
The city held hearings on the property in June, July, and August where issues with the property were discussed such as a tarp on the roof to prevent water from getting into the home, insulation falling from the ceilings and water-damaged floors.
Donna Shaffer and her husband, Mark, were advised at the July hearing to post a $3,500 cash performance bond for the home that Donna owned. During the July hearing, a demolition order was postponed until Aug. 12 with the condition that the Shaffers post the bond.
The Shaffers did not post the bond, and a demolition order was issued by Hearing Officer Lawrence Clifford.
Clifford mailed the Shaffers an order of demolition on Aug. 1. The home has been vacant since 2007, and the Shaffers now live in Fort Wayne.
At the Aug. 19 hearing, Clifford reset the hearing for Monday to allow O’Hara to review his plans to make improvements to the home.
During Monday’s hearing, Clifford ruled that the prior demolition order on the home that was set Aug. 1 for Shaffer is still in effect. The order was modified to state that if O’Hara purchases the property and makes repairs to it, then the city could waive the demolition order.
If O’Hara makes repairs to the home, the $5,000 civil penalty will be waived. O’Hara will not be required to pay a cash performance bond.
Clifford ruled Monday O’Hara must make roof repairs to the home by Nov. 4 or he will order demolition. Siding, window, soffit and gutter repairs must be completed by Nov. 25; and all remaining repairs to the home must be made by Feb. 1.
Clifford also ruled the home’s exterior must be kept clean and in good condition with grass cut and roof debris removed from the home.
Nonoccupancy of the home remains in effect until it passes inspection by the building and planning office.
During Monday’s hearing O’Hara said he has plans to purchase the home, rehab it and sell it. He said he hopes to close on the home by Oct. 4 and make repairs to the home once he purchases it.
O’Hara presented a purchase agreement during Monday’s hearing.
O’Hara said he received the title search for the home and it has several liens on the property, and since he has received the title he is waiting for the last title search to be released this week.
“I hope to close on the home two weeks from this Friday and it will take five to seven days for the title company to finish their closing,” O’Hara said.
O’Hara said he has previously made repairs to four other homes in Warsaw and feels the home could be repaired in four months.
“I feel confident the home can be rehabed and the contractor estimated four months to do so,” O’Hara said.
O’Hara said he has been working with contractor Sean Bruner Construction, Palestine, who has estimated home repairs to be $60,000.
He provided Clifford with a cost of repairs, some of which include $5,000 each to replace the roof and windows; and $7,000 to repair siding, soffit, and gutters.
Todd Slabaugh, building commissioner, had previously estimated home repairs to be $35,000 to $40,000.
Clifford said he had concerns with a cost estimate to make plumbing and electrical repairs to the home not being on O’Hara’s list.
O’Hara said he does not yet have a cost estimate for plumbing and electrical work.
O’Hara said the roof would be the first thing that would need to be repaired, and estimated it would take two weeks to repair.
O’Hara estimated an additional three weeks to repair windows, siding, soffits and gutters.[[In-content Ad]]
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Gene O’Hara, a local certified public accountant, attended a hearing Monday at city hall to discuss his plans to purchase the property at 1405 Ranch Road, make repairs to it, then sell it.
The city held hearings on the property in June, July, and August where issues with the property were discussed such as a tarp on the roof to prevent water from getting into the home, insulation falling from the ceilings and water-damaged floors.
Donna Shaffer and her husband, Mark, were advised at the July hearing to post a $3,500 cash performance bond for the home that Donna owned. During the July hearing, a demolition order was postponed until Aug. 12 with the condition that the Shaffers post the bond.
The Shaffers did not post the bond, and a demolition order was issued by Hearing Officer Lawrence Clifford.
Clifford mailed the Shaffers an order of demolition on Aug. 1. The home has been vacant since 2007, and the Shaffers now live in Fort Wayne.
At the Aug. 19 hearing, Clifford reset the hearing for Monday to allow O’Hara to review his plans to make improvements to the home.
During Monday’s hearing, Clifford ruled that the prior demolition order on the home that was set Aug. 1 for Shaffer is still in effect. The order was modified to state that if O’Hara purchases the property and makes repairs to it, then the city could waive the demolition order.
If O’Hara makes repairs to the home, the $5,000 civil penalty will be waived. O’Hara will not be required to pay a cash performance bond.
Clifford ruled Monday O’Hara must make roof repairs to the home by Nov. 4 or he will order demolition. Siding, window, soffit and gutter repairs must be completed by Nov. 25; and all remaining repairs to the home must be made by Feb. 1.
Clifford also ruled the home’s exterior must be kept clean and in good condition with grass cut and roof debris removed from the home.
Nonoccupancy of the home remains in effect until it passes inspection by the building and planning office.
During Monday’s hearing O’Hara said he has plans to purchase the home, rehab it and sell it. He said he hopes to close on the home by Oct. 4 and make repairs to the home once he purchases it.
O’Hara presented a purchase agreement during Monday’s hearing.
O’Hara said he received the title search for the home and it has several liens on the property, and since he has received the title he is waiting for the last title search to be released this week.
“I hope to close on the home two weeks from this Friday and it will take five to seven days for the title company to finish their closing,” O’Hara said.
O’Hara said he has previously made repairs to four other homes in Warsaw and feels the home could be repaired in four months.
“I feel confident the home can be rehabed and the contractor estimated four months to do so,” O’Hara said.
O’Hara said he has been working with contractor Sean Bruner Construction, Palestine, who has estimated home repairs to be $60,000.
He provided Clifford with a cost of repairs, some of which include $5,000 each to replace the roof and windows; and $7,000 to repair siding, soffit, and gutters.
Todd Slabaugh, building commissioner, had previously estimated home repairs to be $35,000 to $40,000.
Clifford said he had concerns with a cost estimate to make plumbing and electrical repairs to the home not being on O’Hara’s list.
O’Hara said he does not yet have a cost estimate for plumbing and electrical work.
O’Hara said the roof would be the first thing that would need to be repaired, and estimated it would take two weeks to repair.
O’Hara estimated an additional three weeks to repair windows, siding, soffits and gutters.[[In-content Ad]]
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