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Do You and Your Contractor Speak The Same Language?

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Home Builder with Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 CSL#642819

 

Do You and Your Contractor

Speak The Same Language?

 

When I get calls from clients or potential clients and listen to what they are describing as the problem, I have to remind myself that we don’t always speak the same language. I not talking about languages like English, Spanish, or French; I only speak English. What I have to take into consideration is that the words you use to explain the problem may mean something entirely different to me, the contractor.

Here is one of the most common mix-ups that I run into.

I got a call from a woman who had a leak in her kitchen sink. Leaks can be something that can cause all sorts of water damage, even dry rot if not detected and repaired in the early stages. Leaks can be in the water line which will be a constant stream of water. A water running not leaking.drainage leak can cause moisture to get into things when the drain is being used and stop when the use ends.

So the word “leak” has a certain meaning; moisture is getting into places where it should not be.

Often times the word, leak, is used in a different fashion. This woman assured me her kitchen sink was leaking but wasn’t able to understand and answer the questions that I had: Is the water on the floor? Is the moisture always there? Have you shut off the water?

I thought it best to just drive by and see it myself. Grabbing some tools that I would likely need, I thought I was prepared. She showed the problem to me – the faucet was dripping! It was dripping out of the faucet into the sink and down the drain.

 

Her understanding of a “leak”, I would consider a “drip”, or “running”, or “won’t shut off”. So it is important that we try to best describe the problem, as well as the solution to the situation. Good communication will go a long way in getting and keeping clients.

Comments (49)

Gerard Gilbers
Higher Authority Markeing - Asheboro, NC
Your Marketing Master

Our potential clients do not always use the correct terminology and as a professional we need to verify the meaning.

Nov 21, 2013 01:13 PM
Ralph Gorgoglione
Metro Life Homes - Palm Springs, CA
California and Hawaii Real Estate (310) 497-9407

Tom, great tip. Communication is a skill that is refined with time. When working with a new contractor, checking for understanding goes a long way to bridge any would-be gaps in what what said and heard.

Nov 21, 2013 02:52 PM
John F Muscarella
RIVER FARM PROPERTIES, LLC - Venice, FL
Broker/Owner, Venice, FL, Florida's Suncoast

Tom this is a great post as it is so important for people to get this right.  Thanks for sharing.

Nov 21, 2013 08:50 PM
Mike McCann Nebraska Land Broker
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Farm & Commercial Land Broker-Auctioneer Serving Nebraska - Kearney, NE
Farm & Commercial Property For Sale 308-627-3700

I had to laugh because I have had almost the same thing happen.

Now mind you...I am pretty handy with a wrench or most other tools and rarely have to use a contractor.  (No I am not a contractor but I did recently stay at a Holiday Inn Express)

Anway the (older) tenant called and she said the shower quit working...right in the middle of the shower.  I asked if the water worked in the sink or toilet...she said verbatem "I am taking a shower not going to the bathroom or using the sink...how would I know!"  "Ma'am...can you go check for me please?"  She walks in to the bathroom and I can hear the tub running on the phone.

To make a long story short...she was shall we say a little tipsy...and when I got there she was sitting in towel on the couch by her (inebriated) husband. I went into the bathroom and............................................wait for it................................

she had hit the water saver button on the shower head that shut off the head's water.

One hour of my life gone but at least I got a story out of it.... until next time....

Nov 21, 2013 09:58 PM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Tom, this is a point well taken.  Recently, I had a leak under my pier and beam house on a Friday afternoon.  I had to be specific about the signs indicating there was a sudden leak to get the attention of plumbers on a Friday afternoon: sound of water running water, water meter moving with no water on, hardwood floors cupping and more. Communication is essential when describing an issue to anyone about anything.  I love Jim Patton's (#28's) description!

Nov 21, 2013 10:09 PM
Dana Basiliere
Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT
Making deals "Happen"

I like the idea (#6) of taking a photo of the "leak" and text or email it. No need to guess.

Nov 21, 2013 11:51 PM
Travis "the SOLD man" Parker; Broker/Owner
Travis Realty - Enterprise, AL
email: Travis@theSOLDman.me / cell: 334-494-7846

Some of the examples mentioned sound like me when I take my car to the mechanic.....I just tell them now to drive it and they'll see/hear/feel the issue..

Nov 22, 2013 12:23 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I think in real estate we often have this problem with the general public not speaking our language.  

Nov 22, 2013 12:41 AM
Annett T. Block
NextHome Connect Realty - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Your NextHome in Fort Lauderdale Beach

We always should keep in mind that we are speaking the "profession" language. You speak like a contractor, we are speaking real estate. It is like a "foreign" language to many buyers and sellers. you are so right. It is like I would speak in my national language to somebody who doesn't understand it. 

Nov 22, 2013 01:11 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team
Great point time, common vernacular is a leak a leak and you just pointed out that's not always the case.
Nov 22, 2013 08:52 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Hmmm... I'm no plumber, but I think that'd be a drip. 

So - did you have the right faucet washer with you to fix it? 

Nov 22, 2013 12:28 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I know there is a joke about a plumber’s butt crack in there somewhere buy I just can’t find it.

 

Nov 22, 2013 01:33 PM
Jim Harper
Atlanta Communities Real Estate - Marietta, GA

I thought my painting contractor and I were speaking the same language. That was only true when I watched him and his men every minute(!)

Nov 23, 2013 12:34 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Yep, it is about the terminology. For people, who do not deal with these things, they just do not know the terminology. And you might have even a bigger problem with immigrants, who know it in their language, but do not know how to say it in English. So instead of the exact word, you would get the one they know, and this is how you can also get a "leak" from the faucet.

Nov 23, 2013 12:07 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Andrew - My weight in plumbing washers is quite a bit.  :)

We do have to realize that we deal with different matters then the general population.

 

Richie - Sounds like you have the perfect plumber!

 

Clint - I have gotten the same sort of calls, I wonder if they just say those things to get me out there.  :)

 

Michael - I learning to be more investigative!

 

Donna - I think part of the problem was that I assumed that they were understanding what I was saying.  :)

 

Drick - Maybe I should just learn to go and see for myself when people call. I just like to be prepared before I get there.

 

Suzanne - That may be a good idea, start from scratch and let them tell me what is happening.

 

Tom - You are right. Once I believed that I know what she was saying, there was no need to ask better questions. Never assume!  :)

 

I too am bi-lingual Jay; I say "level"when "plumb" is the right term because that is what others understand. "Plumb" involves water right?  :)

Gracias, mi amigo.

 

Nov 23, 2013 10:11 PM
David Demangos
Keller Williams Realty Carmel Valley / Del Mar - San Diego, CA
REALTOR

I like using words like "specifically" where and how is it leaking. Ah, yes languages can be very confusing.

Nov 24, 2013 04:32 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

This may help out a bit David, I'll have to give it a try.  :)

Nov 24, 2013 07:41 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Actually, I am Russian, but I know "plumb" and even know what "gracias mi, amigo" means :) And I figured that your comment was to me, even though I am Jon, not Jay (LOL)

Nov 24, 2013 08:13 AM
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Gulf Breeze, FL
Buyers Agent 800-309-3414 Pace and Gulf Breeze,Fl.

Good evening Tom, stopped by to read your post and hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving. 

Nov 28, 2013 11:59 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Thanks for stopping in Joyce.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov 28, 2013 09:08 PM