Special offer

A case of nothing ventured—nothing gained.

By
Home Inspector with Charles Buell Inspections Inc.

This roof needs more than a pressure washer

Before anyone can leave a comment on my blog on my website, there are hoops the commenters must jump through.

These hoops are designed to reduce the number of spam comments but also so that I can have some amount of control over trolls and other evil beings that apparently have nothing better to do in their lives.

Once I have approved a comment, that commenter will be approved for future comments as well— assuming they behave themselves. Recently I got email notice of the following comment awaiting approval.

I have never pressure washed my roof because I don’t have a pressure washer. But in all honesty, I never thought that making sure my roof was clean would affect my home that much. Now that I read this though, and realized how important it is to keep my roof clean and clear, I’m super interested in getting a pressure washer. In your opinion, what kind do you think I should get?

The post was an older post, about why one should never pressure wash roofs, so the comment seemed innocuous enough.

With the request to approve a comment, there is typically some basic information about the commenter, including sometimes various URL’s and email addresses associated with them.

Clicking on this commenters URL revealed….. (Drum roll in the background)

He sells PRESSURE WASHING EQUIPMENT!

While I ultimately sent the commenter to the “spam” folder, I could not resist having some fun with the audacity of the would-be commenter.

I guess it is a case of nothing ventured–nothing gained.

 

By Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle

Posted by

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Seattle Home Inspector

 

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WA State, Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board

Comments (9)

Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Charlie, Some folks are just devious aren't they?  Rarely do I get a "real" comment on our WP site, and most often on face value the comments seem like they might be legit, and then I look at the URL and buh bye!!

Jan 07, 2016 10:40 PM
Charles Buell

I get a few---but I always attempt to figure out who it "really" is.

Jan 07, 2016 11:37 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Charles. Pretty funny, but not surprised. I'll bet you weren't either.

Jan 07, 2016 10:40 PM
Charles Buell

Nope, kind of comes with the territory I guess.

Jan 07, 2016 11:38 PM
Kristen Wheatley
Better Homes & Gardens | The Masiello Group - Brunswick, ME
Supporting Success - Best Job in the World!

Love these types.  I'm the same as BLiz, I rarely get a real comment on my WP site, but they are always good for a morning chuckle.

Hard to resist the urge to point out to the commenter "which part of I recommend you SHOULDN'T pressure wash just any roof, do you not understand?"

Jan 07, 2016 10:56 PM
Charles Buell

A total "jeeesssh" moment

Jan 07, 2016 11:39 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

LOL we have all been there, but I love how you responded!  Genious!

Jan 07, 2016 11:49 PM
Charles Buell

I love tweaking these chareters when I get a chance.  I love the calls for Yodel.  They always ask if I have ever heard of them and I always respond sure----I use to heat my house with a Jotul stove.

Jan 09, 2016 12:45 PM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Well I guess you've got to at least give it to the guy that he would try and troll for some business like that. 

Jan 08, 2016 01:17 AM
Charles Buell

Are there REALLY that many suckers born every day? :)

Jan 09, 2016 12:46 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Charles we used to have a lot of trolls on our old site and we shut them down - they were sneaky little buggers just like the one in your post. Total waste of time. Our new site operates without comments as it's not designed as a blog - so much easier without having to deal with all those time wasters.

Jan 08, 2016 02:50 AM
Charles Buell

90 % of troll activity gets autmatically culled---very few that I have to deal with any more.

Jan 09, 2016 12:48 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Charles ... so much deception.  That person is just not very smart ... me thinks

Jan 08, 2016 04:36 AM
Charles Buell

Nothing ventured nothing gained---what a tough way to make a living though.

Jan 09, 2016 12:48 PM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Charles - I remember your post on pressure washing roofs, mostly because no one here ever does it. That's a pretty audacious move, and it would have got by on most websites.

Jan 08, 2016 05:33 AM
Charles Buell

In this case it probably would not matter too much but sooner or later I would have caught it and then delete the URL regardless.

Jan 09, 2016 12:49 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I get those on my website all the time.  They simply don't get approved.

And that roof above is one green roof!

Jan 08, 2016 08:07 PM
Charles Buell

Does not take long for roofs to get green around here Jay.

Jan 09, 2016 12:50 PM