TOPIC: You Can Do It Cheap, Or You Can Do It Right

An entire inspection of a foreclosure recently was spent with my buyer client and her "contractor."  I use the quotes around the word contractor intentionally.

Not realizing I speak Spanish, in each room they were discussing the best way to hide this, or cheaply repair that, or cover this or clean the mold off of that.  I listened and understood.

I did my thing, they did theirs.

Please understand -- my thing is to provide the best service I can, no matter what the outcome.

Their thing was something entirely different.

Finally, in the master bathroom, there had been serious leaking through the extremely filty, rickety shower doors.  The water had gotten under the vinyl flooring, staining it purple and causing it to peel upward.  There was similar staining around the tub and toilet.  Typical.  There is only one way to fix it - replace the product and any damaged wood beneath.  They watched me press my weight all along the edge.  Nothing seemed to buckle, so perhaps it isn't terribly rotten.  But who knows what is under that vinyl.

They discussed tacking the vinyl back down with small nails, hiding them with caulking.  She asked my opinion, in English.  Being sure both would understand, I answered in Spanish.  You should have seen their eyes widen!  I said:

"You can do it cheap, or you can do it right."

"That would be much more expensive than fixing and caulking the flooring.  I'd have to replace the flooring, and fix the floor, and remove the toilet, and replace the shower door.  It would cost."

"Yes."

"There is a lot to do here in this house.  I have to watch my pennies."

"Would you want to buy a flipped house from someone who had done substantial repairs, all cheaply?  You have discussed hiding things, covering things up and I for one would not want to buy that.  Have you ever heard of the Golden Rule?"

Long pause.  "The Golden Rule depends on one's budget."  That is a direct quote.  Big smiles from both.

"No.  It doesn't."  Smiles gone.  "Would you fix things this way if your children were going to buy this house?  Of course not!  Why would you do less for someone else?  Why did you hire me?  Because your realtor told you I would do a very good job.  You expect me to do that for you.  Would you have hired someone to do less?"

The conversation ended at that point.  She got it.  She didn't care.  Buy it, flip it, get out of Dodge.

What happens after my inspection really isn't my purview.  But it coooouuuuld be...

Oh, as I was leaving, the "contractor" happily offered me his card.  All smiles!  "You are a very good inspector.  Please refer me to your other clients!"

"No thanks.  I have a very small group of people I refer.  I have known them all for many years.  My experiences with them have proved to me that they do very careful work, with pride and professionalism.  I care about my clients and would not refer less."  Smiles gone.

My recommendation:  You can do it cheap, or you can do it right.  Do it right!

Good job Jay!

I just did an inspection the other day (at 4:45 PM) where a broker was present representing the buyer.  At the end of my inspection, she asked me if I saw the moisture between the pains of glass in all the windows.  I said no I hadn't noticed any (as she starts showing me all the window).

She told me they fog up and I need to put it in my report.  I told her, I didn't see any fogging, or evidence of, (she is still showing me windows) and if I don't see it I cant put it in my report (she got upset at this).

She then tried to ask/tell me that I came early enough that I should have seen this problem and that I need to come back the next morning.  I said Ummmmmm... (getting ready to say okay I'll come back for $85).  They buyer then spoke up and said they were going to have a window guy out there anyways to fix a cracked window and they could have him look the windows over.  I said that's a great idea! (I wanted to get outa town at this point)

Long story short, they were trying to find any and all reasons to spend the $750 the seller put in the contract for repairs.  I did not put the window in the report!

That was a first for me.  I have never heard anyone talk about an RE trying to add to the report!  lol

John,
was that your first run-in with a "super" agent? You just have to make sure that you stand your ground, like you did.  Tell them that the time of day doesn't reflect when broken thermal seals are going to show themselves. There is always a tell tale sign when the seals are blown. Make sure you follow up with "your" client, which was the buyer.

Rob

lol I don't think I would consider her a "super" agent.  It was my first run in with a broker representing a buyer though!  lol  I shined my flashlight in the glass and the only thing I could see was dirt on the outside of the window.  This house was only 9 years old.  It could be possible but I  doubt the seals were broken.

Has anyone showed you the ice cube trick?  If possible, get a piece of ice and hold it on a lower part of the window, moisture(fogging, water drips) should not appear between the glass, if it does, seal is out. If you have double pane windows, try it.  Old timer showed me that a while back and have used it a couple of times, it worked.

Rob

Hmmm no I hadn't heard of that before.  I do carry those frozen blue ice packs to keep drinks cool.  I could probably use those instead of ice.  Seems most of the houses I have done don't have refrigerators in them.  I'll try it out on my house.  I know my windows leak.  lol

Thanks for the tip.  One Karma for you!