I need some quick advice on a condo we're considering. (We're under significant time pressure mostly for reasons that have nothing to do with this property.) It's a c. 1940, c.1400sf condo in Queens being sold by the sponsor. It looks quite good as it is and having the sponsor gut renovate it (as they were planning to do) would put it out of our price range. Here's the thing: there is apparently a leak in the stall shower in the second bathroom which makes the super think it best to just gut both bathrooms because they share a main pipe. (He's had problems in other units in this line.) Not knowing more specific information, can anyone tell me what the chances are we could fix that leak without redoing both bathrooms? Is there a way we could keep these bathrooms, which are in great shape and which we quite like? What kinds of costs are we looking at? I'm going to talk to the super to get more info, but as I said, we're under time pressure, so I thought I'd get this question out there.

i renovated an estate apartment from the 50s -- it makes sense to take the pipes back to the buildings main line -- that way -- if you have issues -- they are likely to not be your liability. It is cheaper to do all the work at once while the walks are down and you are down to the concrete. New plumbing and electrical is better than a pretty "veneer" renovation that many try to fool purchasers with...

if you are planning to live there a long while -- you will rest more soundly. good luck.

Thanks, manhattanfox. We are hoping to live there indefinitely. Are you implying that the bathrooms need to be gutted to do that pipe work, and that we should have the sponsor do the bathroom renovations?