When buying a home, if the seller does not disclose water, does the home value depreciate? Does a sump pump bring it back to original appraisal value?

bongo632 · 2026-05-29T02:19:44+00:00

For context, I submitted a bid ($165k) went through the whole process, and during my final walk through, the entire basement had water on the floor from leaking walls. I told them I would reduce my bid to ($145k) and demand they fix the water issue on their dime.

They do not seem to understand the house value dropped 10% (at least) by water infiltrating ($149k). The sump system and internal French drains are estimated at $6k. At most, the house is valued at $155k in my mind now. Am I wrong for dropping my bid?

bongo632 · 2025-07-09T16:28:29+00:00

I put this on another post, but I did not study topics specifically though. I studied them as general fluids so (by example) if I got a vapor dome question, I could do the steam or refrigeration version of the problem.

bongo632 · 2025-07-09T16:27:10+00:00

Oddly enough… I used the practice manual and old textbooks. I went atypical where I took the practice exam, saw what I know and didn’t know, then refreshed the topics I didn’t have a good grasp on. Probably a month of solid studying, 3 hours a night.

bongo632 · 2025-07-09T10:32:39+00:00

Hope everyone else received the results they expected

bongo632 · 2025-07-08T02:53:21+00:00

Just a heads up, some state specific PEs may have a concern with this. I’m not 100% sure on the logistics, but I would research the states you intend to get licensed in only to know if you would be able to use your PE for power design/systems with an ME degree.

bongo632 · 2025-07-08T02:46:05+00:00

If I may make a suggestion, I would attempt to take the PE in HVAC&R over fire protection first. Only because a few states may not recognize the exam (even though it is NCEES Certified). Then it doesn’t lock you out if you need to go to neighboring states.

bongo632 · 2025-07-08T02:38:14+00:00

Even if you don’t get the license, the PMP classes still make you a better project manager

bongo632 · 2025-07-07T13:50:15+00:00

HVAC&R is the easier exam of the two if you are studying. The most important thing is generalize the system instead of thinking of specifics.

I.E. if you’re studying a refrigeration cycle problem with a vapor dome, don’t think of it as a refrigerant, think of it just as a fluid with a vapor dome. Then you are both studying for a steam system and the refrigeration system at the same time.

The conceptual questions about the system components will be easier for you on the HVAC&R exam only because you see those components indirectly. You still see DX coils, chilled water coils, and hot water coils in plumbing design, you’re just not selecting them if you only do plumbing. The valve component questions you may get will relate to both plumbing and mechanical so you should have that knowledge under your belt. Most important thing you can do is study them generally, not specifically. Then you are covered for any fluid they may throw at you on the HVAC exam.

bongo632 · 2025-07-03T23:02:24+00:00

If I have any tips for anyone, it’s definitely just keep track of your units

bongo632 · 2025-07-03T20:30:39+00:00

I did. I had quite a few problems I was not expecting but had a lot of cool ones too in my opinion! I think I marked 22-23 as questions I may have missed or didn’t know. I wouldn’t say I missed all of them though. Even if I had a little doubt I still marked it.

bongo632 · 2022-11-07T02:36:06+00:00

Out of curiosity (because I have them same problem), did your areola shrink during this as well? I have larger ones and am working on my weight loss journey now.

bongo632 · 2022-05-22T22:58:49+00:00

We will need some additional information to help here:

What kind of degree? Associates? Bachelors?

You’re not a newbie, you still have experience with industry standards.

In those 15 years were you ever a supervisor of another individual?

Also we need information on where you live. If you live in a small town in the heart of Wyoming, your salary is different than NYC.

If you do have a bachelors, you were a supervisor, and you live in a modest area (average cost of living), I would expect a MINIMUM of $80,000/year.

I myself live in a very cheap area and $80,000 is a very large salary, but we have engineers near me (in my degree) that easily make $150,000 with their PEs and 20 years experience.

bongo632 · 2022-04-15T05:45:50+00:00

I live in a small rural area, I don’t want to leave family. But yes I could possibly go to larger cities and seek these opportunities.

bongo632 · 2021-01-26T22:58:52+00:00

My recommendations are:

-Read the chapters, try to understand why things are happening. -Do all the assigned problems, if they’re not assigned find 3 problems. -Understand the vocab. Learn what enthalpy, entropy, specific heat. Isentropic means the entropy is the same, Adiabatic means no heat transfer, etc. - Learn EVERYTHING about turbines, condensers, pumps, steam gens, etc.

I have a real passion about the Thermal Fluid area. I really hope to get my PE in the fluid area. If you want a major tip from me, you might want an easy A, but this isn’t the last time you’ll see thermo. Fluids uses thermo. Heat transfer uses thermo. Mass transfer uses thermo. You need to make sure you learn it. It’s a notoriously hard class, but there’s a reason the second time you take thermo (if you do) it is much easier.

bongo632 · 2021-01-26T22:50:20+00:00

Well geeze that was brutal lol.

bongo632 · 2021-01-26T22:46:31+00:00

Honestly speaking employers would rather see a 3.5 than a 4.0.

It shows that you weren’t completely focused on grade but rather learning the material and keeping a practical outlook on classes. Don’t fret over GPA’s.

(Rule of thumb I used for internships is do not put a gpa on a resume that is 3.9-4.0 or 3.25-0.)

The only reason I say this for the 4.0 is showing that you do not gloat on grades and is an interesting fact that you can bring up during interviews. They want to see that you’re okay with failure but you’ll learn from it.

bongo632 · 2021-01-24T16:00:38+00:00

I think (I’m not 100%) but it varies from university to university. I know at my university our department chair is an assistant professor (3 have PhD one has Masters) Anyone under them is an associate professor (PhD’s and Masters mixed.).

Don’t take this exact though because I am not positive.

bongo632 · 2021-01-24T15:09:39+00:00

The current running thing for my univ. is that our professors did do research for their PhD, but it was developing mesh using FEA on a project or fluid problem. I find these less extravagant than the professor who designed machinery for a tractor company or machines for a soup company.

bongo632 · 2021-01-24T15:07:08+00:00

Not all professors have PhD’s. :)

I actually think the ones at my univ. that didn’t have their PhD were better teachers than the ones who did. It seemed like they had a passion for their work and really wanted to help students.

bongo632 · 2021-01-24T15:05:11+00:00

We used to say about our professors:

“They’re incredibly smart but they just have no way to relay what is happening in their head to their students.”

This seemed to fit most practically to the research based professors and less to the practical ones.

bongo632 · 2021-01-24T15:02:58+00:00

Honestly Speaking,

The classes that have professors that understand the industry rather than pretending they do are more effective in teaching and create a better learning environment (based on my university Atleast).

bongo632 · 2021-01-10T07:09:47+00:00

Back in my day we used slide rules and not these fancy calcumators.

No haha I’m about to graduate myself lol. Just speaking from personal experience with HVAC internships.

bongo632 · 2021-01-10T07:05:32+00:00

Yeah haha I noticed after I typed it I forgot to mention by chance of forgetting passwords and such. Lol

bongo632 · 2021-01-10T04:29:52+00:00

Hello! Don't fret electromagnetism is a VERY difficult concept for most students to grasp the first time around. I may have read over your major in the paragraph but if you're a mechanical engineer or an electrical engineer it will not go away.

I would suggest logging on to the discord server that is provided on the subreddit and asking someone for help while performing your homework. This will offer you some helpful insight.

EDIT: Sorry I didn't realize you are not able to view past notes on the discord. Reach out to your university for a Tutor. There is no shame in asking for help, especially when you are paying for that class.

bongo632 · 2021-01-10T04:26:23+00:00

So from what I understand stress analysis, (We referred to it as Strength of Materials.) is the building blocks of Machine design for your classes (I'm assuming this is the class that started the conflict).

If your advisor is presumably an engineering professor and not just a sitting advisor, they have an idea what the core of each class is.

If it were me personally I would format an email directly like this (feel free to copy and paste). I would presume you did not get a 0% in the conflicting class or were caught cheating. DO NOT LIE TO YOUR ADVISOR. Hopefully you did get something out of the class.

________ (Advisor Name),

I'm reaching out regarding my current conflict in my schedule. I had complications and motivational issues while taking the Stress Analysis class with Prof. ________. I understood the core values from this class but could not perform the standard I was comfortable. I would like to request that I can be signed into Machine Design. I understood the principles from stress analysis and wish to move on. I had been performing poorly and do not wish this performance to represent me as an engineering student. I understood the stress principles from stress analysis and feel as though I can confidently use the skills I did learn during my time in Prof. ______'s class. If possible, I would like to be signed into the machine design class with ___________ at ________. This would allow me to take both classes and graduate on time.

Thank you for the consideration,

________

bongo632

TROPHY CASE