The biggest advantages that people look forward to most when they start working independently are flexible working hours and being your own boss. Even though it can bring a lot of financial instability and uncertainty about the future, the prospect of controlling how you work is still very alluring.
It seems that it paid off for Reddit user big-heck-nah, who was able to diplomatically avoid a job he didn’t want because of the customer and later even got to punish him for being a dishonest home renovator.
More info: Reddit
Electrician didn't allow a dishonest developer to pass inspection when he was hired to hide flaws from the inspector
Image credits: james michael thomas (not the actual photo)
The Original Poster (OP) is an electrician who works independently and years ago, he got a call from a customer he'd never worked with before. Because the OP didn’t remember his name, he called him Todd in this story and revealed that he flipped homes in lower income neighborhoods for a living.
Todd was late for their first meeting and it was already a red flag, but when the two of them entered the house, they realized it was all soaked because it didn’t withstand the heavy storm that had just recently passed. Todd started yelling at his partner and brother over the phone and this was when the electrician decided that he didn’t want to work on this project.
The OP was called to assess how much it would cost to rewire the whole house
Image credits: big-heck-nah
Because the purpose of this meeting was to assess how much the rewiring of the house would cost, the electrician chose to tell the customer such a high price that he wouldn’t want to accept because the OP really didn’t want to work with a man with a short temper.
Even though they didn’t make a deal that day, Todd called the OP later that year and wanted him to meet the city electrical inspector for him. The electrician agreed and showed up at the house 20 minutes earlier than the inspector to take a look at the house.
First of all, the customer was late, and after he found out nobody had fixed the roof, he threw a fit that the OP had to listen to
Image credits: big-heck-nah
The previous electrician didn’t do a great job and the OP saw all of their mistakes that they didn’t intend to hide from the inspector even though he knew he was hired to guide the inspector away from those issues.
The OP’s honesty earned him the inspector’s trust and later, when he forgot to do something, the inspector knew that the electrician would fix it and wouldn’t revisit the same place.
It made him not to want to work with the client, so he told him a price that surely would help him not be hired
Image credits: Matthew Keefe (not the actual photo)
Image credits: big-heck-nah
The example of Todd shows that developers don’t really care if the house they flipped is up to standard or not. It’s a good place for investors to put money into because in those lower income neighborhoods, the houses cost less, the labor cost is lower, and they can get a high profit even just for cosmetic touch-ups.
But Storeys, the page where you go for real estate news, warns buyers of these houses that, even though they are more affordable, can have some major flaws like “water leaks in the foundation and roof, or deficiencies in wiring and plumbing.”
This was exactly the case which the OP experienced firsthand and thankfully, he didn’t allow such a house to be approved by inspection before it was properly fixed.
The two went their separate ways, but the client called the OP later the same year asking him to participate in an inspection
Image credits: big-heck-nah
The investors want to get their money back as soon as possible and the renovations may be finished in a hurry, trying to save money where possible. Storeys says that “Less durable floors and countertops, for instance, will scratch and chip more easily. They’ll need to be repaired or replaced faster, especially if you’ve got kids or pets. The same goes for kitchen and bathroom appliances like the fridge, dishwasher and toilet.”
The OP realized that he was called to help the customer pass the inspection by concealing problems, but his work ethics didn't allow it
Image credits: big-heck-nah
Sometimes you may not know that you are buying a flipped house and even if it’s a newly built house, Storey advises people to remember that the devil is in the details and you should notice them while reviewing properties.
A house is a big purchase, so look at the fine details, look at what you can’t see from the surface, ask for professional advice and do some research about the constructors or developers. Then decide which flaws you are ready to live with because even the best houses have some.
While there is a risk when buying a flipped house, they are usually decently priced because the investors want to sell them quickly. Buying a flipped house is also beneficial because they are already supplied with various appliances, the walls are painted and all the plumbing and wiring is done.
Not only did the OP save some house buyers from a poorly renovated house, but earned the trust of the inspector
Image credits: big-heck-nah
Image credits: Rebecca Siegel (not the actual photo)
It doesn’t always mean that expensive things are of better quality, but paying more often proves to be worth it. Especially when you pay for knowledge and skills. Todd wanted to save some money by finding an electrician who asked for less, but later had to refix the mistakes the other specialist left, which cost money anyway.
What did you think of the story? Have you ever heard of house flipping and did you know that it’s riskier to buy a flipped house than a newly built one? Do you have any similar experiences to big-heck-nah’s? Let us know in the comments!
Redditors weren't too surprised about the situation and were glad that there are still people who care about quality
