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"That's A Real Quiet Fan!"

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

Some new bath vents are real quiet.  In order to make sure one is working, I usually take a piece of toilet paper and place it up there to make sure it sticks.  But sometimes the fan is really, really quiet.

On a recent inspection, the "flip" that was so much fun, we went in to test the "newly remodeled" basement bathroom.

I turned on the light and the fan.

My client said, "That's a real quiet fan!"

It was quiet.  Too quiet.  Even with the quiet ones you can still sense a little vibration.

This was dead.  So I took off the cover.

The "newly remodeled" bathroom had a new cover over an OLD fan casing, with the old wiring wrapped up neatly in the corner, and the fan blades removed.

And ...  it was very quiet!

This fan, the wobbly toilet and the interesting plumbing to the "newly remodeled" fixtures made for a wonderful new bath!

You might ask, "Does Flipper really think that putting a brand-new cover over a hole in the ceiling will make people think there is a new fan in there?" *

I might ask, "Do you really have to ask that?!"

My recommendation:  When the sign says "Newly Remodeled!" or "Gorgeous Inside!" be sure to get a home inspection.  Why?

Because if the house ain't a rockin' you shouldn't go a knockin'...  and flips usually ain't rockin'.

* Markanich's Theory - there was no fan because new fans require a different, usually deeper, and often larger, fan casing, than the old ones.  Flipper doesn't have enough experience to know that.  He thought all he had to do was buy a new fan and slap it in there.  I think he found out differently. At that point the new drywall was up and he didn't want to have to cut things up to reconfigure a new space to accommodate a new fan casing.  So he covered the hole with a new cover!  "Newly Remodeled!"

 

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments(61)

Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Twern't a few Michael!  There were many, many, and the subject of a couple of my most recent posts!  Some of them are really serious!

Nov 16, 2010 09:13 AM
Jeremy Wrenn
Winslow Homes - Youngsville, NC
VP of Finance, Winslow Homes

Lame!  I can't believe...well, yes I can.  

It's work like this that keeps me employed (fixin' work like this, that is!).

Nov 16, 2010 10:22 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Lame is the word Jeremy!  Coupled with a little deceipt...

Good that it keeps you employed!

Nov 16, 2010 10:32 AM
RhondaHeaslip NanaimoRealEstate
RE/MAX of Nanaimo - Nanaimo, BC

Sounds like a real "Red Greener" to me! Don't know if you've ever watched the "Red Green"show, but it's a comedy about a handyman who's answer to everything is duct tape...sometimes miles of it. His motto at the end of the show is about how your wife should perceive you. "Remember, if they don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy!" His work was always a nightmare and this silent fan made me think it must've been Red's house! Thanks for the laugh!!

Nov 16, 2010 11:20 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Well, that show just about describes it Rhonda!  I have seen that show and it is pretty funny!

Nov 16, 2010 11:26 AM
Jon Quist
REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ
Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

Until I read the body of the post, I was going to check for the name of the whisper quiet fan. The things I learn on AR.

Nov 16, 2010 05:15 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

I think your theory is right - replacing older models of anything can be frustrating.

We just spent 3 weeks waiting for a special order wall heater for my son's rental - after he stopped at every hardware store in the vicinity and couldn't find the right size. I guess the flipper didn't want to waste time (or money) on special orders.

Nov 16, 2010 07:03 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Jon - if I had that brand I would post it!

Marte - I think he thought a new one would just fit in there, and found out later it would not!

Nov 16, 2010 09:53 PM
Dennis Neal
RE/MAX, Big Bear - Big Bear Lake, CA
Your Home Sold in 21 Days or We Sell It For Free

Your posts are very entertaining AND informative. Thanks!

Nov 17, 2010 06:38 AM
DeeDee Riley
Lyon Real Estate - El Dorado Hills CA - El Dorado Hills, CA
Realtor - El Dorado Hills & the Surrounding Areas

Thanks Jay for the heads up.  I pretty much let my buyers know the home inspection will be one of the costs they will have to be responsible for.  It is crazy not to have one done!  Sneaky flippers!!!

Nov 17, 2010 11:02 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

D&T - I think that is what AR is all about.  Happy to be of service!

DeeDee - it really is as a home inspection can save thousands of dollars of unknown stuff.  Or a bad purchase altogether.

Nov 17, 2010 11:12 AM
Kale Wright
Keller Williams Realty Metro Atlanta - Decatur, GA
Associate Broker, REALTOR©, IMSD©

That's just plain sad. It would make me want to know who Flipper is and what other projects he/she is involved with so I can stay away. As an agent, I'd make a friendly call to the agent and ask if they knew what they were representing. Shame.

Nov 17, 2010 11:43 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Kale - flippers are my life right now.  they are everywhere, too many to identify on particular properties and their work is very similar all around town!

Nov 17, 2010 08:26 PM
John Whittinghill
Keller Williams Realty First Atlanta - Marietta, GA
Marietta, GA Real Estate Agent

Flippers can be so crafty!  Ha...you always wonder....what all is behind those walls, and if they could talk....I doubt we would want to know.

Nov 18, 2010 05:02 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

John - some things we can see, like moisture, with a thermal camera.  But other things?  Well, you know...

Nov 18, 2010 10:06 AM
Tara Cummins
Stratagy4SuccessNow - Mesa, AZ
Marketing Concierge, Strategy4SuccessNow

Good catch!  Unbelievable what some people will do and think they can get away with.

Nov 19, 2010 04:21 AM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

This flipper was deceptive. It really puts everthing in doubt.

Nov 21, 2010 12:39 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Amerifirst - well, yes!  Kind of like children, when they think you are not looking!

Wayne - Flippers put everything in doubt.  Is it fair to make such a blanket statement?  Yes, based on my experience the past few years.

Nov 21, 2010 10:28 PM
Liane Thomas, Top Listing Agent
Professional Realty Services® - Corona, CA
Bringing you Home!

Now we have to know what else you found! That is just crazy, it would be very hard to pass that off as an oversight. Glad the buyers and their agent had you!

Nov 24, 2010 11:01 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

A couple of the previous posts are about this same house Liane!  It's a flip and typical there of!

Nov 24, 2010 11:10 AM