question for the pros, or even folks like me.

[Riggs]

I have the opportunity to buy two existing hives, each with 2 deeps (ten frames) and a med full of honey. I have several questions;
1. Is it a bad idea to get them this time of year?
2. What do I really need to be on the lookout for?
3. What precautions do I need to take with my hives, will robbing likely become a problem?

I live in the northern foothills of NC, likely another month and a half before frost.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[FRAMEshift]

This is the time of year when the hive has the least commercial value.  You should drive a hard bargain.  You will have to judge if the hives are going to be large enough to make it through winter.  If they don't have enough stores, you will have to feed and that's an additional expense.  If the hives are too small you may have to combine them.  

If each hive has two deeps full of bees and each hive has a medium full of honey, that sounds pretty good.

[Bee-Bop]

Not a Pro;

You do not state a price.

Will robbing be a problem ? Maybe, Maybe not this is one of the many variable of bee keeping.

As FRAMEshift says, bottom dollar this time of year, you are gambling they will make it thru the winter.

This time of year, Buy the hives the bees should be about free !

Bee-Bop

[iddee]

Check weight and age/condition of woodenware.

Less than 150 lb., good, but old wood $50.00 each
New wood, less than 200 lb. 75.00 to 100.00

Heavy and new, 100.00 to 150.00

[mikecva]

Look at the age of the foundation (how dark it is) in the brood area, look for mites, mold, mice, wood damage and any other pests that are in your area. At this point, you do not want to pay for someone elses problems and make them yours.

If all is well then I would say go for it (even though you did not say if you have other hives). I would move the hives at night and reduce the entrance way down for a day at their new site and feed the new hives 1:1 so they do not have to go out right away. Afterwards you can open the entrance to ! 1 1/2 inches with a mouse guard on.  Good luck and let us know how it went.  -Mike

[Riggs]

Thank you all for your words of wisdom. After inspecting the hives, the woodenware was in decent shape but well used, and the hives didn't appear as strong as I thought they should have been. I turned them down, and will focus on getting the bees I already have ready for the winter. Again, thanks for the input.