All's Well That Ends Well

All's Well That Ends Well

This morning, New Year's Eve, my moving-from-California-clients cut short their vacation to the Grand Canyon, my inspector didn't take a full day of vacation, and I traveled an hour down the highway for a planned inspection. 

Yesterday afternoon my clients called to say that they were snowed in, at Williams, AZ, the gateway to Grand Canyon.  Oooh boy.  It was a tense few hours as we all waited to see if they could safely get out and on their way to the previously scheduled inspection.

It was a short sale, and the owners had moved out two days earlier.  It was a trickily-planned event, as the buyers would be traveling for work during the next two weeks, I was taking my holiday guests back to Phoenix to catch their respective planes for Alaska, Wisconsin, and Washington -- all at different times and dates -- and my inspector - well he'd like to celebrate the Happy New Year with his family as well!  This was the only morning that would work in everyone's schedule.

I was up early to meet the inspector, and took off with coffee in hand. Upon arriving, I discovered that the power was off, the gas was off, and the water was off.  GRRR! 

I called the agent to see if he had counseled his clients to leave utilities on for the inspection period, appraisal, etc.  He had, and said he would contact them immediately.  This was at 8:45 a.m.

Within 15 minutes, the seller's agent called to apologize once again, explained his clients' mis-understanding, and offered to meet the inspector there himself another time.

Pretty nice.

My inspector was in a generous frame of mind himself, and took the re-schedule with patience.  I offered to pay his trip charge.  (Which he waived)

So in the end, we extended the inspection period, and we will do take two, in two more weeks.  I was impressed with all the parties involved - everyone worked together to resolve the problem, and the utilities will all be back on next Tuesday.

So just a word of caution, sellers, when selling your homes.  You are required to have the utilities on for the inspection and appraisals, and if for some reason you cannot - this needs to be a discussion PRIOR to a scheduled event. 

KUDOS to the seller's agent - and thank goodness for a great, patient inspector on my team, as well as clients who could roll with the waves.  We'll get this baby closed yet.

Good end, to a frustrating start, on the last day of 2010.

Happy New Year