I just recently listed and sold a listing agent's dream townhouse here in Crofton, MD. New roof, new HVAC, new HWH, new windows, great condition. Could use some updating but one of those listings where all the heavy lifting was already done. The home inspection should be a snap.
Kind of surprised when the home inspection called out the 6 month old hot water heater. Seems like the plumber neglected a few critical components required in 2009. No water shutoff valve and no gas shutoff valve. The home inspector was right of course. Since it was recently replaced, the installer was required to bring it up to code for 2009, not when the townhouse was originally built.
A call to the plumber elicited this response; "we can come out to do the necessary repairs. Our charge is $75/hour." To say that that response elicited a bit of anger by the seller is an understatement. A quick call to the County showed that they never pulled a permit to do the work.
Armed with that information, the second response by the plumber was a bit different. "No charge for the repair, we'll be out tomorrow at 1 PM, is that OK? A homeowner not getting a permit for work gets a slap on the wrist from the County, and maybe a fine. A licensed professional puts themselves, and their license, at greater risk.
That shortcut by the original installer cost them an additional four hours to make the necessary repairs. As agents, we're frequently tempted to take shortcuts during the course of a real estate transaction.
Agents should resist taking any shortcuts,
they rarely pay off, and can cause serious trouble.
It's your license and your livelihood. Don't put
either at risk by taking inappropriate shortcuts.
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Richard Iarossi, REALTOR®
Long and Foster® Real Estate, Inc.
Crofton, MD 21114
410-451-6255 Office
443-995-9595 Cell
Web: http://www.RichSellsHomes.com
eMail: Rich@RichSellsHomes.com
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Rich Iarossi is a full time licensed REALTOR®, working in Crofton, MD. My coverage areas are: Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Howard, Calvert, Queen Anne, and Baltimore City and County. I specialize in residential real estate, working with both buyers and sellers. Use the registration free search on my website at www.RichSellsHomes.com. If you’re not already working with a REALTOR®...I can help. Call me at 443-995-9595 (Cell) or 410-451-6255 (Office).
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Richard,
Shortcuts don't ususally work out well, in life in general, not just in real estate. Have you ever driven through a neighborhood you "kind of know" and thought: "I can cut across this way"? Many minutes lots of frustration later you go back to the main road...
Richard, unfortunately this happens too often. But not with licensed plumbers or tradesman. Normally with the owner trying to save a few dollars and hiring unlicensed workers, who will not come back and repair their mistakes.
Richard....I've seen so many homeowners in my area not pull a permit to finish a basement...hire all the subs himself and ask if they'll work without pulling a permit....then when they sell the house, the building inspector makes them tear down sections of wall to inspect wiring, plumbing, etc....they get a whopper of a fine and triple the permit cost and then they have to repair the damage!!!!
We see people avoiding permits all the time even in new construction.
Mike,
I agree totally. There is normally more grief at the end of the road when you do take a shortcut.
If they hadn't put the house up for sale they might never had known that they had a safety hazzard on their hands. It might still be worth reporting them to the county as how many other properties have they left the same hazzards in place?
Rich...
Nothing more irritating than a problem with an item that was recently replaced. Sounds like your sellers knew how to handle the situation!
Hi Rich:
Bravo to your sellers for doing that!
Funny how the plumber's attitude changed pretty quickly...
Unbelievable, Richard! I had a snow plow guy not show up one day to do my driveway, I missed a day of work as I couldn't get out- he offered me a 5$ discount to come the next day and do it. Hello? 5 dollars? he came back - and he did it for free! In your case, there was alot more at stake.
Debi
I watch Holmes on Homes and am amazed and sad. My wife works with an old Lady who has been ripped offf in her home. It is really angering
Your sellers were so right to challenge that plumber Richard! How do they just think they will get away with it? Wow!
Richard
A permit would be nice, customer service even better, no shortcuts would be great.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Wow, Richard! You really knew how to get this guy's attention.
Richard, it does seem silly to me that you have to pull permits for so many things today - like changing a water heater. But in the example above, it makes me think maybe it's not such a bad idea, especially when there is gas involved. We are 98% electric here.
Richard
And in extreme repeat cases the shortcut can be a shortcut to the jail house. Nice post.
If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right... the first time. Shortcuts can be tempting, but as you say they will usually come back to haunt you.
GOOD MORNING RICH! Shortcuts always seem to take longer - have you ever noticed that? -- Gabrielle
Bad permit stories (lack of getting) them are rampant, and are an awful nightmare. I had a listing where the owner had flipped a home. Said she put $80,000 into the new kitchens, baths, HVAC, etc. I asked here who her general contractor was and whether he got permits for everything. She looked at me like she had no idea what I was talking about. I told her she better check into this, or I couldn't risk my license taking the listing, and now these issues are material facts and must be disclosed. She did the right thing - got inspectors in, etc., but it cost her a pretty penny.
It's not worth it to take short cuts in real estate!
Love it! And another reminder that you just can't 'assume' - even if its something new - that it was installed properly etc.! Always get an inspection!
Richard, that is very frustrating for the home owner. Most people trust the job to be done correctly, and then when it isn't have little recourse. So this is a good story in the long run, made the guy step up to the plate and do the right thing. It was good for his soul, LOL.
I see those kind of things all the time. The worst though are when the homeowner makes the repairs themselves. Hey, all I have to do to wire that is connect 3 wires. Any dummy can do that right?
Sometimes I wounder how the home kept from burning down before I got there.
Robert Sole
REM Inspections LLC
www.REMinspections.com
www.OrlandoHomeInspector.net