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Rolling Along Can Be A Bad Thing Too.

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

This cartoon reminds me of a time or two when I was waking up from a nightmare only to find I was still in the nightmare and it continued. I've seen movies like that as well, like Carrie. 

Getting the ball rolling can be equally scary in Real Estate, especially when it comes to home repairs. Whether you are a do-it-yourself'er or if you hire a professional one great idea can lead to a whole string of nightmares. Something very similar to the picture below has happened to both myself and my neighbor.

You never know what you are going to get when you remove sheet rock, especially in a basement. In my case it was my first home and it was not nearly as bad as the picture but it was bad enough that it caused the basement to leak and it was that leaking that lead me to look deeper. For my neighbor it was an obvious cover up.

After Minot ND experienced a devastating flood in 2011 a lot of "cover-ups" were reveled. The City experienced a similar flood in 1969 and when sheet rock was removed in 2011 a lot of shoddy, if not out right scam, work was reveled. The worst case was at an elementary school where it was obvious that the contractor just sheet rocked right over dirty, moldy walls through out the school.

Please note that most home inspectors exempt themselves from this kind of a surprise saying they can not see through walls. Many home Sellers have no idea because the damage was there when they bought the home and somewhere along the line someone deliberately omitted this information on a home disclosure report.

The moral of the story: Take a VERY good look at the home disclosure report. If there are reports of the basement leaking at times expect the worst as to what is behind that sheet rocked wall.

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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Absolutely Bob "RealMan" Timm - read the reports carefully and "map" what is in the report to what the seller discloses ... and connect the dots. Then start asking the seller questions.

Anyone who would knowingly cover up water damage/mold I am betting is not going to disclose it. 

I love the tie-in here with waking up in a nightmare.  

Jun 15, 2023 07:12 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Excellent advice, Bob... but I can tell you that in North and South Carolina the disclosure statements are not so detailed as to catch serious issues.

Jun 15, 2023 07:12 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

FEATURED IN CRAP-TACULAR

 

Mr. Crappy Says

Beware of “Cover-Ups”

They Cannot Be

Flushed

💩💩

💩

 

 

Jun 15, 2023 07:15 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Estate Specialist and Mr. Crappy. 

 

Jun 15, 2023 08:25 AM
Bill Salvatore - East Valley
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Bob I get myself into these binds frequently. I find it surprising to go to smooth. Have a super fantastic week!

Bill Salvatore, Realtor- Arizona Elite Properties

Jun 15, 2023 07:40 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Expect the worst for sure Lise Howe as I have seen it time and time again here in Minot as well as where I grew up in Fargo/Moorhead.

Jun 15, 2023 07:57 AM
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Good Morning Bob "RealMan" Timm 

Putting home repairs off or plain procrastinating can be a problem as well as makeshift repairs that you mean to get back to

Jun 15, 2023 08:01 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

It's not my picture Will Hamm but I've seen situations just like it. My first house had more of a buckle to it so I had a contractor dig all around the house, install drain tile and brace the walls. It worked perfectly but it was expensive.

Jun 15, 2023 08:05 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Thank you for the many kind words Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Estate Specialist and for Mr. Crappy's approval. Unfortunately when a cover up is discovered the contractor is long gone. It is great when they do catch those scam artists.

Jun 15, 2023 08:08 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

They are quite detailed here in Minot Nina Hollander, Broker but that doesn't stop lairs from lying. The report I was handed to fill out when I lived in a 100+ year old home in Underwood I refused to fill out. NOT because I wanted to lye but because the house was 100+ years old and I wasn't going to let the form be used as a weapon against me. I told the Realtor what I knew but god only knows what all happened in the 100 years before I owned it. 

Jun 15, 2023 08:13 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Bill Salvatore - East Valley it is especially disappointing if you feel you paid top dollar for the house of if you spent all your credit to buy the house and you have nothing left to make the needed repairs.

Jun 15, 2023 08:28 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Doug Dawes I learned a long time ago that make shift repairs are not worth the time as they just allow you to put off the real fix longer.

Jun 15, 2023 08:30 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Hmm, makes me wonder how he fell asleep on a skateboard on top of a table, haha.

Jun 15, 2023 08:53 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Good question Brian England . I ask myself a few questions like that every time I read the cartoon section in the paper.

Jun 15, 2023 09:07 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Water in a basement can be very problematic, sometimes not having one is a bonus.

Jun 15, 2023 12:28 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

That is for sure Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 . We have lost a lot of belongings due to water in the basement. The first heartache was with a sewer backup that destroyed my families slides dating back to the early 1950's.

Jun 15, 2023 02:00 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Bob great advice we have many seller's disclosure, nevertheless we have many forms that warn the buyer to do their own investigations.... so I am not surprisec, Endre

Jun 15, 2023 11:12 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Must Buyers and Agents overlook a great source of information... NEIGHBORS. Had I asked one of my neighbors I would have quickly learned about a history of sewage back-up in the neighborhood. Have a GREAT weekend Endre Barath, Jr. .

Jun 16, 2023 05:56 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Bob "RealMan" Timm  yes the neighbors know everything and they tell it too:)Endre

Jun 16, 2023 11:03 AM
Jane Chaulklin-Schott
TEAMCONNECT REALTY - (407) 394-9766 - Orlando, FL
TeamConnect Luxury Homes - Orlando, Florida, 32836

Bob, unbelievable the concealing of serious problems in a school.  How can a contractor do this kind of work and sleep at night?!? But also, coverup repair in homes.  Ones name, as previous owner, is always available.  

Jun 16, 2023 10:01 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

It is hard for me to believe as well Jane Chaulklin-Schott whether it be a government job or private. I am sure most of those who did this were fly by night contractors and are no longer "legally" liable. As you may imagine, when a disaster this large happens charlatans come running from everywhere across the country to "help".

Jun 17, 2023 05:32 AM