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Shoddy Construction?

cowboyjosh

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Mar 11, 2010
Messages
1,066
Maybe this topic should have been placed in FREE PARKING, if so, my apologies to the moderator.

So I got a call the other day from a guy who just bought a house second hand I built 5 years ago as he had a couple questions and concerns about the house. So like the reputable local builder I am, I go out on a Saturday morning to meet him and to see whats up.

First thing, the electric. He was told by his home inspector that he should bring the house up to current code, by installing AFCI's where required in the 2008 book, replace all the outlets with tampers, install a intersystem bonding termination, the list goes on. He wanted to know if I would facilitate this and if I would help cover the cost. :headscrat My answer was a huge "f*ck no".

Another thing. Concrete cracks. There are maybe a dozen or so hair line cracks total in the flatwork (that we could see) like in the driveway slab, the back patio, the garage floor, the basement floor. He wanted each area that had a crack ripped out and replaced, again at my cost. I cannot emphasize enough on how small the cracks are, and that there is no change of elevation in any of the cracks, they are merely shrinkage cracks. This fool is convinced that even though the Home Inspector told him that the cracks are "nothing to worry about" the concrete is junk and its structural stability has been compromised.:headscrat

Third issue. Fade. The composite deck has faded from 5 years of being exposed to the elements, as has some of the vinyl window frames. He wanted to know if I would again correct this, at my expense.:headscrat

I asked to see the Home Inspectors report and just flipping thru the inspector found very few things to nit pick about, many were wear and tear items from the original owner, like the furnaces and a/c needing cleaned and serviced, nail pops in several walls, missing tile grout in the showers, a couple missing exterior cultured stones, a broken bath fan, etc; yet this fella once I told him the house is out of warranty and there is no warranty what so ever on the house since he is the second owner, he took the liberty to chew my *** out and call me every name he could think of, at which time I made my way to my truck and left.

I told him a couple times if you want a new house, buy a new house, and he told me several times he got a "helluva deal" on this house; yet he expects it to be cherry w/o any wear and tear.

Seriously? Whats wrong with folks? Anyone ever have a similar experience or been the unreasonable one? Im done venting. Rant over.
 
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Mowerpan

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Jun 21, 2005
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116
Location
Sarasota, FL
Before I was a service adviser I sold cars and many people were like that with used cars. Wanted minor scratches, scuffs, dings fixed. Wanted the used car price but new car condition.
 

Doc

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Joined
Feb 19, 2005
Messages
195
Location
St Johns, Forida
I cant even imagine thinking of calling anyone for that. If he wanted it repaired, he should have had the original previous owner do them.
 

c/o say

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Mar 8, 2011
Messages
322
Location
Indiana
My guess he is f#&*ing nutts. Some people just don't get it nothing is perfect and if it is it won't be for long. Now he will probably call you and try to hire you to do the work he wants done lol.
 

jlckmj

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Dec 7, 2009
Messages
732
Location
SE Wiscosin
YOu have to read between the lines,

I am betting that after the home inspection he used all those minor flaws to get some more money out of the seller. I have seen it time and again where people use the inspection as a trump card to get he price down, hoping that the owner is between a rock and a hard spot and can not let the deal fall apart.

This guys is a leach, and I am sure that he and his Realtor have parted ways on bad terms also.

I would not loose much sleep over this one.
Jim
 

Bill Crowell

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Jun 10, 2011
Messages
167
Was there a wife in the picture? This is typically how married guys behave because they're trying to impress their wives with how tough they are. The wives put them up to it and expect the husband to be a big A.H. to everyone or else the wife thinks he's a wimp.
 
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volvo

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Feb 19, 2006
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1,304
Location
PNW 45th Parallel
.. Call him back and let him know that if he had called you last week before the five year warranty ran out that all would have been covered , labor and materials. All he has too show is the transferable written home warranty plan and pay the transfer fee. What a nugget.
 

russlaferrera

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Joined
Nov 24, 2006
Messages
2,035
Location
Central Virginia
As a builder was the 1st owner offered a 10 yr HOW Warranty? The house had all the required inspections and was granted a CO. Your done!

The 2nd owner had a home inspector evaluate the structure. The buyer received the report. They relayed the info to his/her attorney who dealt with the sellers and their attorney. An agreement was reached.

Guess he needs to call Mike Homes.
 

70redbee

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Joined
Dec 31, 2008
Messages
494
Location
Knoxville,Md
I have built houses all my life and this does not suprise me. For new home buyers, they want you to maintain their houses forever. They feel they are entitled to never do any maintenance. For used home buyers, they sometimes are told by the 1st owner...just call the builder, they will take care of it for you. If the person is respectful, sometimes it goes a long way to do something small for them or give them advice. These are the same ones who want to beat you up on the price or haggle. Good for you to say F%#@-off and don't call me even if you want to pay me...it just isn't worth it. I like, you could probably rant about this for weeks, but what is the use. You or I will still be the *** wipes in their stupid little brains.
 

rvr6000

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Joined
Oct 3, 2010
Messages
1,072
Location
St. Paul, MN
Some people are just schysters but they always seem to get theirs.....albeit never seems to come soon enough.

And I'll just throw this out there too.....Maybe it's because of how and where I was raised but I just don't think many people know how to maintain (or build) stuff anymore. For example....Based on the size of the trees growing out of my neighbors rain gutters I'm probably saving $40.00/year on my electric bill from the extra shade. Sure some of this can go back to laziness but if you follow the pattern, the gutters aren't clean so they don't collect any rain.....the rain overflows onto the ground and now runs into the basement of their house through the 60 year old windows that are rotted out and half way below grade. If they would've just corrected one small problem they wouldn't have several big problems now. But it always seems to be someone elses problem.
 
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Norcal

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Mar 16, 2008
Messages
13,767
I think the OP stated his case quite well, the home buyer seems to be living proof that rectal thermometers cause brain damage in some people.
 

GrandmaSideways

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Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
221
Before I was a service adviser I sold cars and many people were like that with used cars. Wanted minor scratches, scuffs, dings fixed. Wanted the used car price but new car condition.

Now I see why you're in service. That's normal and somewhat reasonable as long as the price is agreeable. But I work for a bit of a different company in terms of standards...
 

Conn'swhiterose

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Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
75
Location
Calgary AB Canada, 3rd rock from the sun
YOu have to read between the lines,

I am betting that after the home inspection he used all those minor flaws to get some more money out of the seller. I have seen it time and again where people use the inspection as a trump card to get he price down, hoping that the owner is between a rock and a hard spot and can not let the deal fall apart.

This guys is a leach, and I am sure that he and his Realtor have parted ways on bad terms also.

I would not loose much sleep over this one.
Jim


I agree 100%, this ***** is playing both ends to the middle...use the home inspection to drop the price then get warranty to boot.....tell him to take a flying f&ck at a rolling donut!!!
 

wssix99

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Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Messages
5,162
Location
Chicago, IL
Send him a bill for your time :)

Then you should lien his house when he doesn't pay!!!

My experience is the majority of home inspectors ****. They have no regulation or ethics and should be educating their customers about what they are describing. The vast majority of home owners know nothing about structures and think every little nitpick is a safety issue. (In reality, its more of a service to value real estate.)

My wife is a GC and 90% of her customers are like this. She's also gotten similar calls. Her rule of thumb is to never even take the call of a second owner!
 
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