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Catching Rain And Sucking On Hoses

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner CalBRE# 01433049

When I became a real estate broker, I pretty much thought that my arsenal of toys would look like this:

  • - Cool cell phone
  • - Laptop
  • - 4-door, 4-wheel drive SUV with GPS

Oh boy, was I wrong. The back of my SUV is filled with, among other things, a noisy wet-dry shop vac, old towels and a garden hose. Storms have been blowing through here for the past week and almost every deal I'm involved with is leaking! OK, so now for the "catching rain and sucking on hoses" part.

My clients wrote an offer on a PUD and there was, what we thought, a slight leak in the roof drain in the garage. There was a slow drip ... drip ... during a light sprinkle so I searched for a bucket to catch the rain. The only thing available to me was a blue 55 gallon recycle bin from the local disposal company. I thought at the time that this huge bin was overkill, but this was all I could find.

Fast forward 5 days. After our offer was FINALLY accepted, I scheduled a home inspection and met the inspector at the property. When I opened the garage door I couldn't believe my eyes. The recycle bin had not only filled up, it had overflowed.  OK, now what? The listing agent is going to kill me! There is no way to move this bin in order to empty it. It was the inspector who suggested siphoning the water out using a hose.

I know how to siphon (I had a waterbed in the 80's and moved all the time, what were you thinking?), I just didn't realize this was a learned skill that I would use during my real estate career. Siphoning requires that you put one end of the hose in the water, extend the length of the hose to a lower elevation and ... suck. I don't remember seeing this question on my real estate exams.

The home inspector thought that this was a perfectly normal thing to do. Evidently the neighbors didn't. It seems that every dog in the complex needed walking (just at that very moment) so I had a lot of company while I was doing this. Needless to say I was a bit sheepish when I explained that I was a real estate broker!

I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who is utilizing a skill set that wasn't mentioned in our real estate text books. Anyone else care to share?

Posted by

Ā 

Cynthia Larsen (707-332-2560) is an independent real estate referral broker in Sonoma County, California as well as a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist.

CA Broker License #01433049

Comments (25)

Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Jim - this was a first for me, but I seem to have many "firsts" every year!

Conrad - thanks to the inspector, I wouldn't have thought of it.

Carla - oh no no no!

Nancy - I can't believe all the things I have in the back of my SUV. Marbles, hammers, screwdrivers, gloves, knives, compass, rope, smoke detectors, electrical cords ... and that's just the everyday stuff!

Dec 20, 2010 08:46 AM
Ilyce Glink
Think Glink Media - Chicago, IL
Best-selling author, award-winning TV/radio host.

Whoa, Cynthia, you're like a real estate MacGyver! They definitely didn't teach that in Girl Scouts. 

Dec 20, 2010 08:54 AM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

Wow...You are creative..Thanks for sharing.

Dec 20, 2010 09:04 AM
Charita Cadenhead
eXp Realty - Birmingham, AL
Serving Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Alabama)

And you thought selling real estate involved opening a few doors, writing up a few offers and getting PAID big time.   Hellooooooo!  The things we do in real estate.

Dec 20, 2010 09:37 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Cynthia....I never did any of that handyman stuff.....Lorraine does everything....she takes out trash...cleans out cabinets....goes above and beyond....maybe that's why I liked new construction so much....I didn't have to deal with siphoning....OMG...you're lucky you don't have hoof and mouth disease from putting your mouth on that hose.

Dec 20, 2010 09:54 AM
Brian Rugg
Rugg Realty LLC Sun City Texas 512-818-6700 - Georgetown, TX
Sun City TX Real Estate - Georgetown, TX Real Est

Hello Cynthia:

Leaky roofs and flooding sucks. Not sure if the pun is intended or not. Hope you get this under control and get a break from Mother Nature.  Good luck.

 

Dec 20, 2010 10:10 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL.......

Dec 20, 2010 10:13 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Ilyce - I like that! A real estate McGyver!

Ginger - the home inspector gets the credit for the idea. I was going to get a smallish bucket with a handle and bail it out. That would have taken forever!

Charita - yep, the things we do.

Barbara - it was my hose ... otherwise, YUCK!

Brian - LOL, puns are acceptable and appreciated on my blog.

BLiz - I wasn't laughing then but I'm laughing now.

David - oh, the things we haul around!

Dec 20, 2010 11:02 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I'm thinking it was better to have the garage door open so everyone could see what was going on between you and the home inspector during the 'alledged' sucking.  IMLMAO reading what I just wrote :-)

I remember it was question 132 on the broker exam in IL.  I'm sure of it.

Dec 20, 2010 11:04 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

LYN!!!! OK, now I'm laughing ... that was FUNNY!

Dec 20, 2010 11:53 AM
Peggy Hughes/pha logistix, inc.
pha logistix inc - San Francisco, CA
SF NYC LA

Way to go SSSSSynthia... well above and beyond the call of duty. 

Dec 20, 2010 12:44 PM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Peggy - I thought so too until I read Lyn's comment. Now THAT is above and beyond the call of duty! Maybe that is an effective way of getting a clean inspection report? Did I just say that? I'm going to go wash my mouth out with peroxide right now!

Dec 20, 2010 01:13 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

OMG what's happening here!   The journey of a broker.......don't we all have stories to tell. And this is quite amusing and interesting!!!!!    

Girls be good or Santa isn't showing up this year!!

Dec 20, 2010 01:41 PM
Ken Barker RealtorĀ® GRI, E-Pro Certified
Dilbeck Real Estate - Burbank, CA

Cynthia - We do what we have to do. And you did what needed done but I am not sure I have ever gone that far. I cannot top feat this but we have been having a downpour here.

Our California resorts are loving it.

Dec 20, 2010 02:18 PM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I had to get rid of a mirror that was all that was left of the Seller's furniture once.  It was in the garage.  The only way I could think of was to smash it.  Took me hours to clean up the mess.  Oh, that's why my luck changed.

Dec 20, 2010 04:02 PM
Dan and Amy Schuman
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Solon, OH
Luxury Home Specialists

We keep a flashlight, tape measure and camera with us at all times, but your list is way more creative. Did the water bed stage of your life coincide with the rock band ( yes, I read your profile and thought that was cool ).

Dec 20, 2010 04:19 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Ha, I had a waterbed, too, since the 1970s, and only upgraded to a "real world" bed about 10 years ago. Then I traded that for a Sleep Number or whatever they are calling those things these days. I think the company can't make up its mind what to call them.

Dec 21, 2010 01:30 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Anna Banana - you were referring to Lyn, right? Because I'm always on my best behavior :)

Ken - I am not sure I have ever gone that far ... Now that you've said that, something is going to come up!

Jane - that must have been a big mirror!

Dan & Amy - LOL, the waterbed came after the rock and roll. I bought a regular bed 12 years ago.

Elizabeth - same here, the waterbed started hurting my back. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a commercial for a sleep number bed in years!

Dec 21, 2010 02:46 AM
Lucille Botos
Lighthouse Properties - Temecula, CA

Cynthia, it sounds like we have similar vehicles.  I see agents driving around in clean cars with just their laptop and Thomas Guide and think why is it mine (a small SUV) has trash bags, bins, cleaning supplies, and yes even a wet vac on occassion, always stuffed in the back.  On most days I feel more like a trash collector than a real estate agent.  My mind might be slipping, but I too, don't remember this being on the real estate exam or in the text books.  You have to keep a sense of humor in this business.  

Dec 22, 2010 04:40 AM
Cynthia Larsen
Cotati, CA
Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Lucille - I know what you are talking about! There are those spotless shiny cars that sparkle and my SUV looks like a home cleaning and repair service at times!

Dec 22, 2010 04:57 AM