Realtor Story - Warm Fuzzy

[Mark R. Long]

Just wanted to share this story, for what it’s worth. Sometimes on the message board, comments are made regarding realtors, that are, let’s say, less than complimentary. I for one, however, have found most realtors I’ve dealt with to be fairly pleasant, decent people. After all, they’re just people trying to make it in this world, much like the rest of us. They do serve a purpose in society, say, just like lawyers have a purpose. If I’m not mistaken, some of you even have realtors for spouses/domestic partners and may actually sleep with them.

Anyway, last week I inspected a small, 100 year old townhouse, rental property in a nearby, mid-size city. My client/buyer was a young, single mom, first time home buyer, with very limited resources.

The house had some fairly serious issues. Had a stone foundation, with most of the sandy/dirt mortar missing, which isn’t unusual, but some of the stones had been removed for an opening and the structural integrity of the foundation had been undermined. It had a Federal Pacific electric panel.

There had been some recent roof leaks in a slightly sloping metal roof, but at least the owner/landlord had attempted a repair. In fact, the asphalt on the metal roof was still wet at the time of the inspection, which thankfully I realized before climbing onto it. There was still interior plaster damage from the roof leak The asphalt shingles on the main part of the house are beginning to crack and curl slightly, but may have a few years left.

There also had been a leak in the 2nd floor bath, which had destroyed half of the kitchen ceiling. One of the bathroom leaks had been repaired, but I found another, on-going one. The ceiling had been half a-- repaired. There had been another leak in one of the radiator water lines that had been going on for so long that it rotted the floor beneath the radiator and the legs fell through the floor. The fix was to disconnect the radiator, leave it sitting halfway through the floor, and cap off the line feeding it. Needless to say, the plaster beneath it was destroyed and half a _ _ repaired.

In addition, the tenants were there the whole time for the inspection, ******** and moaning about the landlord not ever making repairs, but these guys were hogs. There were many areas I couldn’t see, because of all of the clutter and the house reeked of cat pee. In fact, at one point I pulled the realtor aside, (the client had to leave before I completed the inspection) and said to her, that even if all of the carpeting is removed, some, if not all of the wood floors and baseboard may need to be stripped and re-finished, and even then it may be difficult to get the stench out.

Anyway, without belaboring this, I thing you get the idea of the condition of this house. My report didn’t have much good to say.

To get to the point of this story, about a week after this inspection, the Seller’s realtor called me. She introduces herself, starts to say that she had read my report, and I’m thinking, oh boy, heeere we go. But then she goes on to say how impressed she was with my inspection and my report. (OK this may sound like a pat on the back for me and Report Host, but that isn’t the point). She goes on to say that she was very pleased with the thoroughness of my inspection and that she was very concerned about the buyer getting herself into something she couldn’t really handle. After I composed myself, I said something to the effect, that yes the house had a number of rather substantial issues, which I thoroughly and objectively described. And yes, I too was concerned about the buyer but that she has to decide, hopefully in conjunction with her realtor, as to what she wants to do with the information. The realtor went on to share that the seller was already starting to repair many of the defects, and she was hoping and encouraging him to take care of everything.

She then went on to arrange for me to inspect a home for clients' of hers, a young couple, first time home buyers. How about that! We then spent another half hour or so on the phone discussing such things as how tough it is in today’s real estate market for people to find decent housing at affordable rates, especially first time buyers, with perhaps limited resources, etc, etc, etc.

It just gave me kind of a warm fuzzy.

[dgriffith]

The real estate profession is like any other, you'll find the good the bad and the ugly. I think the good realtors around here outnumber the bad and the ugly. Did an inspection last week on 52 year old 2 story colonial that I was told was a 4 bedroom 2 story colonial by the realtor. I give my price, she wants it done the next day, I get there and its a duplex. I mention I was told it was a single family and quoted my price for a 1850sq.ft. single family dwelling. She said it shouldnt matter and didnt want to pay for a multi family dwelling inspection. I didnt argue because I've been trying to get into that office for a while. When I finished she never even thanked me for not charging more and when I walked the buyer through and pointed out the bad, leaky plumbing, very screwed up electric panels and a hole in the roof where the chimney plus put a tag on the service line to the furnace because of a gas leak, the realtor told this poor sap that every old house has some problems, they just it character. I suggested calling the gas co. right away for the leakthe realtor said itd been leaking for some time and nothing has happened yet. This person bought the house anyway and I told the realtor dont call me I'll call you. I found this realtor to be the exception to the rule around here as most of them are very nice and receptive once you get to know them and do look out for the clients best interest.

[William J. Decker]

Mark;

You did good!

"talk soft, write hard, miss nothing"

Wise words.

Do you best to serve you clients, even if they are 'like totally' in love (really, infatualtion) with the property. Stay true.

G-d will take care of the little details.

Works every time.

Here's to you. You do us all proud.

[Michael R. Boyett]

Originally Posted by wdecker

even if they are 'like totally' in love (really, infatualtion) with the property.

I think Beano helps with that.

[cmccann]

What is the G-d thing? Can't you just put God? Just wondering.

[rcantrell]

I agree with you Chuck

[William J. Decker]

Jewish tradition. Never write the name of G-d. So we write G-d, L-rd and so forth. It's called blasphamy. Check out the first three commandments.

Hope this helps.

[tneumann]

No offense...but if you are thinking it when you are typing it and you leave out a letter.doesn't "he" know you are typing it regardless of whether there is a letter missing?


Beca_se Lo_rd kn_s, I le_ave som_e lett_ers ou_ of _y shi__y post_ ev_ry n_w an_ aga_n. double winks ...thanks for the templates!

[Mark A. Timpani, CMI]

very nice

[William J. Decker]

Tony;

Sometimes tradition is illogical, but it still tradition and should be respected.

Not that you weren't.

Tradition comes down through history and has a certain time tested quality to it. Those who want to change tradition have the burden of proving that the new is better than the old.

Unfortunately, today, the vouge seems to be to chuck out the tradition simply because it is tradition. 'Challange Authority' the popular cry goes.

If it bothers people, I will use it only in the "not for everyone" post area.

Another substitute would be to use the name 'HaShem', which is Hebrew for 'The Name'. That is the tetragramaton (4 letter name) that the Almighty reserves for himself. It is never spoken and the Anglesized version is Jehovah.

Anyway, enough with this boring history / culture / religion class. I have a taxi, a plane and another taxi to catch.