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What Part of BOX Did I Not Understand?

By Cynthia Larsen

Real Estate Broker/Owner CalBRE# 01433049

February 16, 2011 05:26 AM

You know that old saying ... Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus? Well that seems to be the case when it comes to communication.

I'm selling a house where the A/C wiring did not pass the inspection for a FHA loan. The house had been plumbed for A/C when it was built in 2001, but the original owner never had it activated. The wiring for the external unit had been duct taped and was sticking out of the rear wall.

I quickly asked for an estimate from the listing agents contractor to "BOX" the wiring and submitted a request for repair. The estimate read "Box the AC electrical wiring, materials and labor included". The repair work was approved and I called the contractor to proceed with the "fix".

I drove to the property today to check on the work before asking for the FHA appraiser to return to the home. Box? What box? The contractor cut the wiring and capped the ends with copper piping.

What part of BOX did I not understand?

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Marian Goetzinger

Pine Knoll Shores Realty 252-422-9000 - Pine Knoll Shores, NC

Crystal Coast Real Estate NC

Cynthia, This is too funny! I don't think it was you who did not understand box. In fact, I doubt very seriously if anybody truly "misunderstood." Is that contractor off the preferred list?

Feb 16, 2011 07:13 AM

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400

HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD

Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Someone is playing with the cards and for sure it is not a full deck! I've seen that guy from Mars...should I detain him?

BTW...wonder how our AR inspectors would have made this "box'' situation a bit clearer?

Feb 16, 2011 07:34 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Cynthia and Anna - And when I'm not saving the world from the evil that lurks in dark corners, I'm in my Plutonian comfy clothes....

Feb 16, 2011 07:47 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Anna Banana - just got back from you post ... too funny!!

Susan - I'm not sure that all contractors know what the FHA appraiser is looking for. They are not all created the same (contractors or FHA appraisers).

Marian - LOL ... I think I just need to learn how to draw when I work with him. I should have shown him my planter. Here see this? Take out the plant and dirt, stand it on end, nail to wall. Done. Crap, I could have done that!

Margaret - good question, I was hoping Michael, Charles, Jay et al would stop by.

Craig - see, I knew you were from Pluto all along.

David - I don't know yet ... this happened this morning. The inspection had been ordered.

Feb 16, 2011 08:45 AM

Kim McMahon

Executive Realty Group - Skokie, IL

Cynthia~ As most have already said... (Anna & Craig are nuts, but certainly livin' things up) Contractors have their own language forget about the Venus/Mars things. There is an entirely different galaxy... trust me I'm married to one. LOL

Feb 16, 2011 09:50 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Kim - ha ha, and here I thought is was only engineers you had to worry about.

Feb 16, 2011 10:51 AM

Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

Cynthia, obviously I can only go by what I see but I would gues that the "box" for the wiring would be terminated at the disconnect for the unit. If it had never been installed there might not be any wiring at all or it might be inside. Those copper lines look like the ac lines have just been crimped over---the odd use of the vent pipe flashing is interesting:)

Feb 16, 2011 11:27 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Charles - thanks for stopping by. What I wanted them to do was build a wooden box and affix it to the siding to cover the wires/hoses (whatever they are). As you can tell, I'm not an A/C person, we don't really need A/C here with the cool breezes we get off the Pacific. Yes, it looks like they crimped over the lines and there is solder at the ends as well. Darndest "box" I've ever seen!

Feb 16, 2011 11:38 AM

Rodney Mason, VP of Mtg Lending

Guaranteed Rate NMLS# 2611 - Atlanta, GA

AL,AR,AZ,CA,CO,FL,GA,IN,MI,MS,NC,NV,SC,TN,TX,VA,WA

Its almost like you need to draw a picture sometimes. I often have the issue with someone dropping the ball on making sure all utilites are on prior to the appraiser's visit.

Feb 16, 2011 12:13 PM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Rodney - exactly! I should have taken my planter box!

Feb 16, 2011 12:51 PM

Anna "Banana" Kruchten

HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ

602-380-4886

Cynthia.....I look forward to posting the results of the inspection we had late this afternoon. I'm thinking Mr Mars aka Mr Pluto Dude could have been of assistance...apparently the space man has a real 'way' with the universe!

Feb 16, 2011 03:54 PM

Larry & Jacque Ficek

Alaska Dream Makers - Wasilla, AK

Realtors - Wasilla Alaska

The cardboard box blew away before you could get there. They did the work, you just showed up late.

What did they charge and what is on their final materials list? Wire cutters, copper pieces, cardboard box...Chevy truck, lunch at McDonald's? How long did they estimate this repair would take? 15 minutes (including the fries)?

We have to say that you are awesome to double check prior to the appraiser going out. Great job Cynthia in case we have not told you lately. :)

Jacque & Larry

Feb 16, 2011 07:35 PM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

D'oh!!! And now the wiring is so short as to be unusable too!

Feb 16, 2011 10:41 PM

Malcolm Johnston

Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON

Trenton Real Estate

Cynthia, did you pronounce the word box properly? Maybe it sounded more like C-U-T to the contractor. Other than that, I'm not sure why he wouldn't have understood what you meant. It seems simple enough.

Feb 17, 2011 03:05 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Anna Banana - Pluto or Mars ... not sure which but I think we can be safe by saying "Alien". Although I DO like the sound of Pluto-Boy. Looking forward to your inspection results.

Jacque -would you believe $300 bucks?? Thanks for stopping by and nice to meet you!

BLiz - that's the first thing I thought ... what will it take to install A/C now that the wires will not reach the external unit? What a doofus!!

Malcolm - Box, cox, dox, fox, lox, nox, pox, rox, sox, tox, wox ... I'm not sure WHAT he heard. No box to be found though.

Feb 17, 2011 03:50 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

That is just sad.

Feb 17, 2011 04:29 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Chris - that's exactly the way I feel about it.

Feb 17, 2011 05:17 AM

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Box, cover... Geez, gotta spell it out for a contractor? I don't think so. They know what box is. I guess you were lucky to get em cut and capped....he may have just BOXED it without capping off!

Feb 17, 2011 05:48 AM

Larry & Jacque Ficek

Alaska Dream Makers - Wasilla, AK

Realtors - Wasilla Alaska

You too Cynthia! We are relatively new here (not in real estate but new to AR) and definitely in the wee beginnings of AR addiction. Thank you for noticing!

Jacque & Larry

Feb 17, 2011 09:26 AM

Cynthia Larsen

Cotati, CA

Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA

Sally - I didn't think that "box" could be so misunderstood either! Especially for a contractor!

Jacque - I thought you looked pretty new, welcome to Active Rain! Addiction is right ... doesn't take long. Wasilla? Hmmmmm :)

Feb 17, 2011 10:41 AM

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