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Some things just don’t go away the way there supposed to unless you’re extra vigilant in their disposal. This post may sound familiar as today’s topic stems directly from the posts “Being Right & The Rest of the Story”
So why I’m I back posting on a supposedly finished relationship with Mr. & Mrs. Perfect? We’ll I’ll tell you, instead of slam dunking the ball when it was above the rim I let it come down to meet me for an easy lay-up. No killer instinct I guess. I think we all know how the story goes, yep, I dropped the ball.
Here comes another new office policy: never show up to a complaintants home without a waiver & release and blank check tucked in your back pocket. Strike your deal and seal it with a signature right then and there. Don’t be complacent and wait for a repair estimate or bill. Better to guesstimate and err a bit on the high side to get them to sign the wavier and accept the check. You’ll sleep better, I know.
So what happened you ask, it went something like this. It’s been a few weeks now and the “Perfects” haven’t sent me the bill for the stucco repair. That sort of lulled me into thinking that there not going to try and stick me with the unwarranted repair after all. Not so, the call came today and not only do they want way more than the agreed upon maximum ($500), but they have now added to there complaint list.
When the home was inspected it had a brand new coat of paint at the interior, its been raining lately and stains are now showing up at the window sills in the corners. They feel that a good inspector should have been able to detect the flashing problem by looking really close at the new paint. Exactly their words, I kid you not.
Next it seems that their sliding glass door makes a sound when it’s opened, apparently catching a bit on a warped track. This isn’t there only complaint about the door, no, it now seams as there is moisture between the panes. They have received an estimate from Home Depot for $1,000.00 for the complete replacement of the 30 year old sliding glass door assembly.
Rapid fire now, here comes a repair bill ($175.00) for the front door threshold that leaks. This was described and detailed in the report as a minor condition as the stain to the surrounding walls were very small (about an inch to each side) and no apparent rot was observed. They had the threshold removed because of its dirty/stained appearance and low and behold they found out there was a small amount of rot found on the bottom side of the trim and threshold. They felt that my report failed to adequately warn them about unseen rot at the stained locations (sounds like an attorney doesn’t it)
Last but not least, the stucco repair bill that I had been waiting to receive for the last 3 weeks exceeded $700.00 not the $150.00 to $250.00 that I had estimated. The increased cost was because they had the whole wall re-stuccoed and painted to make sure no one could tell the wall had been patched.
The “Perfects” suggest over the phone (speaker phone, two of them talking at the same time) that their attorney is now involved and that they are now seeking total reimbursement for the above costs known and unknown (attorney). It was extremely difficult not to lose my cool, I’m sure my voice betrayed me a bit as it went up an octave.
How did things end up? Not as bad as it could have and not as good as it should have. I explain to them as nice as I could that I didn’t owe them anything for the stucco damage (a small two foot long, six inch wide area damaged by an irrigation emmitter) as it was hidden by vegetation at the time of inspection, to which they expressly disagreed. I went on to explain to them that a home inspection is not a home warranty and that the glass was inspected at the time of inspection and was in good condition; remember this complaint was made 3 months after the inspection.
Next I tackled the door catching a bit at the track by saying that this is an older home and in my opinion for its age it was in generally acceptable condition just as the report describes. I surely didn’t owe them a brand new door was my stance. The door threshold may have only needed a bit of caulk, as 30 years of weather had not visibly rotted the surrounding frame. As to the window flashings I suggested that it was a matter between the seller and the buyer, as leakage was not disclosed in the seller’s disclosure.
After bringing them back a bit to reality, I proceeded to let them know I was still willing to work with them in the spirit of customer satisfaction, but couldn’t in good conscience buy them a new door assembly or door threshold and or make their entire 30ft exterior stucco wall appear brand new because they didn’t want ANY sign of repair.
They played their lawyer card and I played my more than generous card. We settled on $750.00, the wavier went out today certified mail. I pray that this is the last post associated with the “Perfects”.
Copyright © 2005 by Bob Kille. To read other home inspection related articles or to view home inspection software and book publications by Mr. Kille, click on this link. www.inspectorsuccess.com