When addendum repairs are promised and then receipts are provided, why do so many Realtors get the gut feeling that Uncle Bob the Builder did the work?

In the case of this house, and the numbers of "repairs" done, that gut feeling came through in flying colors.

And, frankly, Uncle Bob's work would probably have been preferable to the guy, or guys, hired to do the requested repairs!

And all were done with "receipts" of a "professional, licensed contractor."

YUMMIE!

The Realtor did what was thought important and necessary to protect the buyer.

But, alas and alack, and despite all good-faith efforts, the requested "professional" repairs were anything but!

One thing noticed during the initial home inspection was a very bouncy living room floor.  Having investigated it underneath it was determined that the house was aging and the span from center support to foundation wall was long.

Time had done its number.  Under the weight of four people the floor bounced.

Introducing furniture in addition would have made things bounce more.

The buyers wanted additional support underneath.

The seller agreed to provide it.

And this is the "professional" result!

Inspired, no doubt, by the game Jenga, which I have played many times, this is one fanciful support!

No that's not the photo - that puppy is really leaning!

And, yes, like the game Jenga, one brick did come out easily!

I replaced it so the support wouldn't be, um, compromised.

I think they got the bricks from a pile in the back yard.

THIS IS ENTIRELY IMPRESSIVE!  Perhaps not in a good way, but ENTIRELY IMPRESSIVE!

Yes, a receipt was provided.  Alrighty then!

My recommendation:  repairs aren't always what they are cracked up to be.  "Professional" repairs aren't always what they are cracked up to be.  Receipts by a "licensed contractor" aren't always what they are cracked up to be!  Uncle Bob is usually what he is cracked up to be.  But, frankly, I think this work is even below his expertise!  Even, um, cartoonish!

 

 

 

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com


 
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53 Comments on Uncle Bob The Builder

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUL
28
389,845 Points Outside Blog

A little ingenuity goes a long way. Besides, once the furniture is in the house it will 'lock' the bricks into place with the weight. ;-)
2:36pm • #35
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Mike - there's a lot he COULD have done here!  And NOT done!

Randy - a regular Italiano architect that guy!

Debbie - you are wise to stick to what you can do best, and KNOW what to do.  A man's, um, woman's got to know his, um, her limitations!

Don - this may be the same "contractor" who did that wonderful roof "repair" in yesterday's post!
6:12pm • #36
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Richie - nothing to see here.  Move along.  Everything is fine.  Everybody go home now.

Karl - hey, it reminds you of what it reminds you!  Looks like Jenga to me!  Did you do the Jenga dance?

Doug - there are alread double beams there.  Maybe he could have sistered it so much the space became a solid!

That they did Gary!  He may have been the roofer in yesterday's post too!
6:14pm • #37
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Fred - that was one crappy crawl space, in more ways than one!  The toilet was leaking and there was a huge, very smelly puddle there.

P&S - truly a thousand words!  I tried to embellish a bit too.

Bill - this guy IS licensed and they presented the receipt!

William - and a buck saved (like this) is a buck that costs much, much more later.  I think Poor Richard's Almanac said that.
6:19pm • #38
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Charlie the Shadow - should I have tried the Smoke In A Can test?

Not a funny photo Charlie D. - that baby is really leaning. 

Clint - solid as a brick!  Not going anywhere...

C&D - this guy is "licensed," but perhaps not in engineering!
6:23pm • #39
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Valerie - the seller is not there now and maybe had never seen this, until my report that is!

Leslie - that approach is becoming more common around here.  Hopefully enough money is set aside.

Sandy - I didn't know what was there until I saw it!  Then I had a little fun!

Than - now that is thinking outside the box!
6:25pm • #40
397,657 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Oh mNa, that is a good one.  Unbelievable.
6:27pm • #41
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I am happy that you are happy Gary!  We love to please others!
6:29pm • #42
548,816 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jay:

Too bad the seller and their professional contractor did such a poor job with the repair.  Makes you wonder about the rest of the house and what repairs may have been mad.
8:54pm • #43
303,075 Points

Jay, nothing to say that hasn't already been said here but I never miss an opurtunity to learn.
9:39pm • #44
JUL
29
780,347 Points 97 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I wonder if there is a Jenga Construction Company that is getting a bad reputation out there Jay.  :)
12:28am • #45
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

It did Evelyn.  The inspection report was huge and so was the addendum.  This was the follow-up after the addendum list was said to be satisfied!

Charles - that's the idea!  We inspectors post often on AR and I love to read other inspectors' posts.

Yeah, Tom, but they are in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and probably don't see AR posts!
2:33am • #46
568,010 Points 140 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

All I can say is, I bet they had the best price on repairs. Oh, and your picture is leaning, that support looks plumb.
5:48am • #47

Jay, I looks like "licensed contractors" must have different requirements to get licensed in different parts of the country.
6:31am • #48
218,469 Points Called Shot Master

OOOOOFAHHHHHHHH Jay!!

 It was a great idea of the buyer to pay your fee to go out and investigate again and verify the repair. I would imagine most people take the receipt as verification and close the deal.
10:05am • #49
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I was the one leaning Jim!  It was hard to position things to try to get an accurate shot of that "column's" angle!

Wayne - it is easy here to get a minor license.  I explained the process a couple of posts ago - here.

I think so too Bob.  People are doing that more and more, especially when the seller or seller's people are not entirely forthcoming.

 
1:46pm • #50
134,415 Points 2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Jay,

I am actually at a loss for words on this one. Well maybe not, how about unbelievable...

-Brent
3:03pm • #51
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Brent - we inspectors see this sort of thing every day!
3:14pm • #52
221,610 Points Outside Blog

That's just nuts.  I need to gat a list of "stay away" contractors from you to give to me clients, lol.
4:40pm • #53
976,735 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Good looking stuff, huh Justin?  Don't know that I could compile such a list - I bet it would be too long for paper.
5:37pm • #54

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Jay Markanich - N. Virginia Home Inspector

Bristow, VA

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Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Address: 12315 Sherborne Street, Bristow, VA, 20136

Office Phone: (703) 330-6388

Cell Phone: (703) 585-7560

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