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With
a termite inspector like this who needs enemies? (check
out the photos below)
By the way this is not the 1st time something like
this has happened with one of our buyers and it
won't be the last. Anyway, I got back to the home
right near the end of an inspection. The last time
I was there I had made a mental note to re-examine
an area in the bathroom where I saw a couple of
tiny little holes in the wall just below the
toilet paper holder. I hadn't given it much
thought at first, but over the years, all my
experience in the building and Florida real estate
business has taught me to pay attention to what I
call my "what is going on here?"
thoughts. When I got back to the house the termite
inspector and the home inspector told me
everything looked fine except for a door that
needed adjusting and a couple of other minor
problems. Those little tiny holes were still
bugging me, it made no sense for them to be
there. Heck, no one is going to hang a picture
underneath a toilet paper holder! I went into the
bath and got on my hands and knees and looked the
area over closely. AH!! .. I spied a bit of dust
on the floor right near the toilet and in the
corner was one small remnant of an insect ... a
wing. My suspicions were definitely aroused, but
the so called expert was here in the house. I
called out to the termite man and asked him to
come and look at what I had found. He immediately
declared " yup!, got termites here ... hmmm
... it'll cost $700 to treat this house." I
asked him, "How much damage do you think they
could have done? This home is barely 18 months
old." He said, " Oh not much at all
" they just finished swarming, they ain't
been here long" He saw no reason to
investigate any further. Well I didn't think to
much of that answer. The buyer was my client and
was an of town buyer. For his protection, I
insisted that a small hole be cut in the wall. It
turned out that 75% of a 40 foot wall had
been severely infested and suffered significant
structural damage. It cost the seller over
$7,000.00 to put this home back together.
Search
for homes by price click HERE!
The
next time you think that experience doesn't matter
I want you to think of this story. This could have
been your new home. Would you want to spend
thousands of dollars after you move in?
We
aren't perfect, no one is, but with my experience
in construction as a carpenter, cabinet maker, and
builder along with all the years in real estate,
in total over 30 years now ... we see these things
that others don't. As I said before this wasn't
the 1st time and it hasn't been the last. We could
tell many more stories. They all have happy
endings. Why not do all you can do to protect
yourself, hire the best Buyers Agents in
Pensacola.
I
am told by the home inspectors in this area that I
am the only Realtor here in Pensacola who inspects
the home being purchased right along with the home
inspector. In fact most agents just open the
door and leave, they don't want the responsibility
or liability! Well, the way I feel about it is ...
It's the least I can do for my Buyers! SO
THE QUESTION TO YOU IS .....
DOES
EXPERIENCE COUNT??
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