First of all, I have to say that I have had my fair share of jobs stolen from me because someone was only shopping for the lowest price.
Once it was $5. I know it was $5, because the client called me back and told me I could have the job if I would match the other guys price. In today's market, I might have taken the job and ate the $5.........WAIT! No, the answer would still be the same. He did not value my experience. I told him that if the other guy had the same level of experience, I would meet his price, but he didn't, so I won't. Have a good day.
But back to this blog.
Got a call last night from out of state folks, buying a big house on the lake. 5000 square feet. They were not going to be able to be in town until the end of next week, but the Realtor's inspector was going to be out of town then, so he was pushing for them to have it done sooner, by his guy. They have a lot of concerns about this house, and really wanted to be there during the inspection. They told me the inspectors name and all I can say is I feel he is ethically challenged.
They got my name for a home builder they had met. I didn't recognize the name, but he said I was a picky guy. I asked them a lot of questions, and answered a bunch of theirs, a bunch. They were not comfortable that the Realtor was really pushing for his guy to do the inspection right away.
I told them that I would have to start the inspection at 9 am, because I may only do that house, since I expected to be there 5 or 6 hours, and I wasn't comfortable starting it at my 1:30 time slot. She told me the other guy wasn't going to start his inspection until 2 pm.
At the end of our conversation, she told me I had the job and they were going to call the Realtor and tell him they were NOT going to use his guy, and they WERE going to be there for the inspection. I bet he is going to be pissed. I bet the other guy is going to be pissed. Don't care!
I didn't tell these folks that an attorney has hired me to try to defend this guy in a lawsuit. After going to the house in question, I told him I couldn't support him, because I felt he really messed up, and it was very clear he did. In fact, the attorney from his office that came out to walk with me saw the problem that was not mentioned in the report. IF he saw it, why didn't the inspector?
I have to say it feels pretty good to steal a job for the right reason.
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