Job Security

If you want job security, it would be hard to beat being an exterminator in New York City. Got roaches? Call the exterminator. Your problem is solved but now your next door neighbor has it. And the cycle continues.

Lately, I have come to the realization that I have pretty solid job security myself. Here’s a small sampling of the vermin that I have recently had to exterminate with extreme prejudice.

A couple of weeks ago, one of my ClaimIntercept™ subscribers consulted me about a claim that one of his clients was bringing after having discovered a bat infestation in his attic, some ten months after the inspection. And of course, the client is shocked, shocked that the home inspector did not manage to notice this when he inspected the attic.

Needless to say, the only batts in the attic at the time of the inspection were fibreglas insulation batts, as the photos taken at the time conclusively demonstrate. Not only are there no bats visible in the attic where the nocturnal creatures would be roosting during the daylight inspection, the fibreglas insulation batts were completely guano-free. Thus, it was a mortal certainty that the infestation developed some time subsequent to the inspection.

Is there any chance that the homeowner didn’t already know that? Of course not, but that didn’t stop him from making the claim.

Another inspector did an inspection for a client and, among other issues, pointed out the leaking shower to the client both orally and in the inspection report. The client dismissed the concern because “I’m going to remodel the bathroom.” Eight months later, workers removed the tub as part of the renovation project and found leaks under the tub. Now the client wants the inspector to pay for the bathroom renovation.

After patiently and politely explaining to this out-of-control client why he was not responsible and why he would not be refunding the inspection fee, the client became increasingly hostile. Relief was just a phone call away.

In another case, the inspection report had pointed out a number of issues which the client was able to use to persuade the seller to effect needed repairs or to reduce the selling price. Additionally, the seller had procured a one-year warranty. As the warranty expiration date neared, the client, who had been experiencing some heating and cooling issues, called for service. The servicemen found issues inside the ductwork and that the installation was not up to code. Now this ungrateful twerp wants the inspector to pay for the upgrade. Sorry, Charlie, not on my watch.