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Drive by Electrician will give estimates! Ever hear of anything so crazy?

By D B

Real Estate Agent

December 09, 2007 12:02 AM

from Donald Bradbury The Bradbury Team www.bradburyteam.com Coldwell Banker Heritage Quakertown PA 215-536-6777 x 329

My first Active Rain closings are this week. The home inspection of my listing, turned up some issues with the home inspection, and the Buyer's Agent requested a credit of $5,000 to make the necessary repairs.

Both sides were upset by this, and my Seller said he would "Walk" if they requested a credit of any kind. Instead of letting that happen, I suggested to the Buyer's Agent from"That big Red Real Estate Company", to get an electrician that she trusted, and have him provide us with a detailed estimate of what the cost of repairs would really be. I agreed to do the same. Home inspectors are not electricians, and they can only recommend repairs. A real professional should be the one to be specific, and give an estimate.

This agent, from "That Big Red Real Estate Company" suggested she would get an electrician friend to go to the property and "DRIVE BY" and give us an estimate. Why did I think that that estimate would be $5,000 ? How can you do a drive by estimate on an 85 year old electrical system, when you are DRIVING BY? This seems to me to be one of the most rediculous things I have ever heard!!

So my electrician friend, which whom many of the Realtors in my office have used numerous times, talked with the Sellers and myself and pointed out the shortcomings of their nob and tube wiring in their house, and what needed to happen to bring it up to speed.

The estimate of the repairs came out to $2,500

I called that agent, from the "Big Red Real Estate Company" and her buyers accepted the solution, and we are going to closing this Wednesday!

Have you ever heard of a Drive By Electrician?

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Linda Tremblay

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc, PA License #AB065488 - Doylestown, PA

Associate Broker - Bucks County, PA Real Estate Services

Next we will have drive in settlements? Or maybe drive by buyers? Home inspectors?

Dec 09, 2007 02:30 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Linda Tremblay, Bucks County Real Estate:

Next we will have drive in settlements? Or maybe drive by buyers? Home inspectors?
Yes Linda! I could not believe that that agent from the big red real estate company told me that she would have the electrician drive by. I am glad I was able top solve the problem for my sellers.

Dec 09, 2007 07:29 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

That is funny Elaine Stewart! I should ask if they wanted fries with that!

Dec 09, 2007 07:30 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Ron Parise

Very interesting story Ron!. Thanks for adding that to the story. Unbelieveable that these things can occur, AND that the consequences of these inspections can cause so much damage when the deal falls through

Dec 09, 2007 07:32 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

iI agree Josette! The Buyers agent offered to have her electrician drive by. She was representing her client. I also would bet that her estimate would be $5,000, the same as their credit request. We did it the real way and had the electrician actually inspect the property, and came up with $2,500

I did a good job for my seller

Dec 09, 2007 07:34 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Teri Eckholm, RealtorÂ® Anoka County MN :

Wow! Maybe a she/he knows a drive by plumber and HVAC person too...Not all "big red" or "big blue" agents are the same quality. :) Glad it worked out and you are going to close!
Terri that is a great comment. Can you imagine an electrician driving by the house at 35 miles an hour and doing an estimate to repair their service?

Dec 09, 2007 07:36 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Charlene Grant:

drive by electrician how silly.

I agree Charlene Grant. HOW SILLY.

Dec 09, 2007 07:38 AM

Laura Cerrano

Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY

Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Donald, It's actually sad to hear this; I've had difficulites myself this year with contractors. It's wonderful to hear that you solved the issue. It amazes me that it's so hard to find good help.

Dec 09, 2007 08:35 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island:

Donald, It's actually sad to hear this; I've had difficulites myself this year with contractors. It's wonderful to hear that you solved the issue. It amazes me that it's so hard to find good help.
Hey Thanks Carole

Dec 10, 2007 12:39 AM

Wayne B. Pruner

Oregon First - Tigard, OR

Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Drive by electricians deserve more respect. I get my dental work done at the drive up window!

Dec 10, 2007 04:11 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Portland Oregon Real Estate >> Wayne B. Pruner, GRI:

Drive by electricians deserve more respect. I get my dental work done at the drive up window!
That is funny Wayne. Did they ask you if you wanted Fries with that?

Dec 10, 2007 05:30 AM

Aaron Flook

AM Inspection Services, LLC - Pittsburgh, PA

Donald, If i read the blog correctly you did not have a problem with the inspector finding issues, correct. Issues that your electrician was able to at least partially verify. While I am mortified as everyone else that they had a drive by evaluation by an electrician (which I can for the life of me figure out) I dont think this is the occation to blame the inspector.

I may be upsetting some people, but it is the agent that is the issue. Donald, being an agent that works for his money did the right thing by having a fair evaluation and solutions determined by a qualified contractor. The other agent appears to be very lazy and only wanted to do the least amount of work. I applaud Donald for doing his job well!

By the way, the only problem with the original post was the statement of having a "real professional" give an estimate. When phrases like that are used it makes me cringe. I take pride in trying to raise my industry to a proper profession. I do not think you meant anything derogatory by it, but it just makes me nuts.

Congrats on the success of your Active Rain properties!

Dec 10, 2007 05:34 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Aaron Flook:

Aaron: I meant no harm on that. I think the home inspector did a good job, even though he was working for the other side. The content of his work proved to be accurate.

In this case, the home inspector was not an electrician. I got an electrician who showed us specifically what was needed, the seller understood, and agreed to make the repairs. The buyers are also happy, and we are going to closing this Wednesday. Thanks Aaron

Dec 10, 2007 05:59 AM

Stacy Magid

Century 21 New Millennium - Woodbridge, VA

Crazy that someone wou;ld do a drive by and call that an estimate. So glad you followed up on it and had a "real " electrician put everyone at ease. Good luck at closing on Wednesday.

Dec 10, 2007 10:44 AM

D B

Quakertown, PA

e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Stacy Magid, Prince William County Real Estate:

Crazy that someone wou;ld do a drive by and call that an estimate. So glad you followed up on it and had a "real " electrician put everyone at ease. Good luck at closing on Wednesday.

Thanks Stacy

Dec 10, 2007 11:00 AM

Vincent Coccia

Construction Services Integration - Paoli, PA

I used to sell real estate and yes it is difficult to obtain contractors for estimates and many times they would charge a fee for an estimate. Now that I am a contractor...I can view this in both ways...It could be a great opportunity for me as a contractors but sometimes there is not a gurantee that my firm would get the work, but of course that is like any other estimate. I recently helped out Realtor with some estimates for home inspections that included multiple items. As it turns out the two clients that I provided estimates for will be working with me in the Spring. A professional should be providing the estimates as they are trained in how to properly complete the project and also will price correctly. Thanks.

Dec 19, 2007 11:56 AM

Christina Bennani-Persechini

Keller Williams Realty Boston North West - Lexington, MA

Realtor - The House For You

That's great.. a drive-by electrician. How about a drive by appraisal, oops they already do those!

Dec 19, 2007 12:04 PM

Keith Perry

Coldwell Banker - Hiram, GA

REALTOR - West Metro Atlanta

Glad you where able to work it out Donald.

Dec 20, 2007 05:46 AM

D B