Sometimes, buyers just need a little more hand-holding than others.

Sometimes, buyers just need a little more hand-holding than others.

As a parent, I'm not shy about touting my sons' accomplishments. I love watching them set goals and then achieve them, and most of my friends are the same with their kids. I guess it's a proud parent thing, but what about those proud kid moments? 

This week, my older son went with me to check out some plumbing problems on one of our rentals. Within minutes of being there I diagnosed the problems and sent him to the supply store for parts. When he returned, I had just finished repairing a French door in the foyer. I had also fixed one of the plumbing problems.

When I was fixing the kitchen sink he was kneeling down beside me watching, and he said those magic words, "I'm amazed at how many things you know and can do." Music to a parent's ears. Just when you start to think your kids think you're a total goober, they surprise you. I guess if you've lived as long as I have it's easy to acquire a lifetime of experience and skills. 

Today, I got another chance to put those mad skills to work. I always attend every home inspection. Being a contractor, I can pick things up that an inspector might miss, and I've had a number of instances where the inspector was ready to document a flaw that wasn't. On this home inspection I was also doing my own inspection. My clients are a young nervous couple who love the house and want it very much, but they are skittish. It doesn't take much to make them want to run. 

In one case, a door wasn't hung, and of course they assume that meant there was something wrong. So, I hung the door. I kept telling them that most issues were cosmetic, but what does that mean to an inexperienced couple who is already having second thoughts?

Another issue was a locked crawlspace door. Why would they lock the door? There must be something wrong under there. Not really. They may have locked it to keep people and critters out. I had to pick the lock to show them all was well. I even did some time in the crawlspace to confirm that there wasn't any problem hiding under there in the dark. 

A little later a door wouldn't close. Oh no, the house has shifted on its foundation and the doors are out of whack. Not so much. A poor tradesman with a tool belt installed the lock-set and strike-plate improperly. I disassembled it and installed it correctly. Again, minor repair.

The attic light fixture didn't work. Oh no, there is something wrong with the electrical system. On this inspection, I took one of my company trucks with me which was loaded with electrical tools. There was nothing wrong with the electrical system. Someone had pulled the chain too hard and broke the chain off. Another $2.50 repair. 

What I find with most couples and individuals like this is that they just need a steady person to stand with them to show them how simple some home repair issues are. I have talked clients into giving up on a property if I saw something I knew would be dangerous or expensive to fix. This home is a short sale, and the owner hasn't been there since February 2014. It needs a little deferred maintenance. I was able to show them how simple most of those repairs are. We left with them confident that they can take care of the rest of the repairs. 

Sometimes, buyers just need a little more hand-holding than others. I'm thankful for my skills because I am able to defuse panicked buyers from jumping out of great deals. When you can help these nervous buyers avoid a bad decision to run when they should stay, you help them create a family future that will be filled with great memories and stories that will be shared for years.