Do You Want the House or Not?

That was the question a contractor told my buyers while we were under contract. These particular buyers were a dream the wife was expecting their first child and the husband was the owner of a successful boat dock company in our area. I had shown this building site to them but all that was visible was the foundation for the lower area, the home was a walkout. We went under contract and my buyers selected the siding, the type of rock highlights, the cabinets and upgraded the home in a couple of areas. Instead of carpet they wanted hardwood floors in the kitchen and dining areas. The lower area was to be left unfinished. Everything was going like a dream, at first. The home came out of the ground and things looked normal. The framing and trusses went up and the roof was being sheeted. We were in the dry when we notice the dining area was about 2 feet short. Matter of fact the entire upper level of the house was 2 feet short. What gave it away was the second floor was cantilevered over the first floor by 2 feet. So the upstairs was 2 feet and the lower area was 4 feet short. So not only were we short but the builder new it and didn't say a thing. That meant we had a builder that if left alone was going to sell what he built not what he promised.  We brought the shortage to the contractors attention and he said "well that's why we cantilevered the upstairs". I replied  but your still 2 feet short on the main level and 4 feet on the lower level. Well we negotiated to have the contractor build a large walk out deck on the second floor and concrete in the lower area to make a patio with footings so the buyers could frame in the second floor patio in the future. We were back on track or so we thought. It was one thing after another, they put on the wrong siding, the rock was the wrong color, the stairs to the down stairs had a gap of about 2" on each side and when they put the carpet down it just hung over the edges. In the living room the carpet laid over one of the heating and air conditioning duck openings. In our final walk through my clients wife just about fell down when she stumbled in the hole. One thing that really got my goat was in the plans the house had a large storage room off the garage and a small master walk-in closet. The buyers wanted to nix the storage room and make a larger walk-in. We negotiated a $100 fee for the added work. I came over about 2 days later and the framing and electrical hadn't been altered. I called the contractor and said what's up. He said he forgot to tell the framer and electrician and oh by the way the price is now $400 because the house is now dry walled. I'd like to point out now that my client's wife is looking like she needs a wheel barrel to help her hold this baby. No time to look for another house she is about 8 months alone and will need a nursery real quick. That is when the contractor said "Well do you want the house or not"? That is when I earned my commission. The art of negotiating has curtain rules. 1. Never corner a rat. They always bite when they think there is not avenue of escape. 2. Always let your adversary thinks the solution is theirs.  3. Remember who you represent at all times. 4. Never loose your cool. Some times the only difference in a debate and an argument is the civility of the conversation. 5. You have two ears and one mouth because you should listen twice as much as you speak. You adversary my just give you your solution. They feel real uncomfortable when they preserve themselves as the only speaker. At the end all went well. Was it a blemish free transaction? No. Were the buyers happy with their new home? Yes. Did I miss a couple of nights sleep? Yes.  Will I ever bring a buyer to this contractor and put a contract on his unfinished homes?  NO.  Why should you get a Realtor when buying a home, even a new home? Ah, read the story again.       

In Your Service, Russ Prothero