Specialized Knowledge Matters, Part 2
In the previous post, I shared how the results from an inspection disappointed both my client and me.
According to the inspector, my client’s dream home would crumble during an earthquake. And to make matters worse, the home was in an earthquake zone.
I didn’t know what to do. I’d been searching for months for a home that would fit my clients' needs, and I finally found one. They loved the listing, and now that the inspection was complete, I’d have to start the whole process over again.
As always, I talked the situation over with my husband. He and I work as a team, and his support is priceless. When I phoned him, he asked me about the property. He reminded me that we had encountered a similar problem with the The Hollywood Athletic Club, a building we purchased several years back.
The inspectors noted the building would need extensive structural reinforcement because it was a hollow clay tile building. Unfortunately, any such changes would alter the building’s appearance. Stephan refused to ruin the exterior of the historic building and believed that there had to be a way to make the structure safe while preserving its original character.
Stephan did his research and contacted a renowned authority on un-reinforced masonry buildings. Ken was a busy man whose schedule was filled with conferences, publishing, and consulting. His expertise was known throughout the architectural community.
Working together, Stephan and Ken were able to develop a plan to reinforce the Hollywood Athletic Club while maintaining its distinctive exterior. Through their collaboration, Ken and Stephan became friends.
My husband told me that he would ask Ken to inspect the Santa Monica home. I phoned my clients and shared the good news with them. The next week, Stephan picked up the architect from his Pasadena home—Ken typically commuted by bicycle—and they drove to the listing. They spent the next couple of hours walking through the interior, checking the attic, and crawling under the home itself.
Ken gave the property a clean bill of health. He informed us that the original architect of the historic property had mastered the art of hollow clay tile homes. He was a man who was ahead of his time and knew the potential weaknesses of the technology. Therefore, unlike many un-reinforced concrete buildings, this one was safe.
He added that in order to make the home as solid as any wood frame structure in the neighborhood, minor changes were necessary. These corrections were simple to implement.
Ken then contacted the original inspector and convinced him to retract his original assessment. This not only gave Jeff and Colleen peace of mind but in the future would also allow them to sell their home without any problems. As a result of Ken’s seal of approval, my clients’ dream home became a reality.
From building inspections and architecture to contracts and negotiation, being a real estate expert requires a broad range of skills. Your expert status means that you continually keep up with current information, and that you know how to handle difficult situations. One of the most important lessons that I learned from my client’s hollow clay tile home is that teamwork and keeping an open mind are key to succeeding in this business. ♦Digg it ♦del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves
According to the inspector, my client’s dream home would crumble during an earthquake. And to make matters worse, the home was in an earthquake zone.
I didn’t know what to do. I’d been searching for months for a home that would fit my clients' needs, and I finally found one. They loved the listing, and now that the inspection was complete, I’d have to start the whole process over again.
As always, I talked the situation over with my husband. He and I work as a team, and his support is priceless. When I phoned him, he asked me about the property. He reminded me that we had encountered a similar problem with the The Hollywood Athletic Club, a building we purchased several years back.
The inspectors noted the building would need extensive structural reinforcement because it was a hollow clay tile building. Unfortunately, any such changes would alter the building’s appearance. Stephan refused to ruin the exterior of the historic building and believed that there had to be a way to make the structure safe while preserving its original character.
Stephan did his research and contacted a renowned authority on un-reinforced masonry buildings. Ken was a busy man whose schedule was filled with conferences, publishing, and consulting. His expertise was known throughout the architectural community.
Working together, Stephan and Ken were able to develop a plan to reinforce the Hollywood Athletic Club while maintaining its distinctive exterior. Through their collaboration, Ken and Stephan became friends.
My husband told me that he would ask Ken to inspect the Santa Monica home. I phoned my clients and shared the good news with them. The next week, Stephan picked up the architect from his Pasadena home—Ken typically commuted by bicycle—and they drove to the listing. They spent the next couple of hours walking through the interior, checking the attic, and crawling under the home itself.
Ken gave the property a clean bill of health. He informed us that the original architect of the historic property had mastered the art of hollow clay tile homes. He was a man who was ahead of his time and knew the potential weaknesses of the technology. Therefore, unlike many un-reinforced concrete buildings, this one was safe.
He added that in order to make the home as solid as any wood frame structure in the neighborhood, minor changes were necessary. These corrections were simple to implement.
Ken then contacted the original inspector and convinced him to retract his original assessment. This not only gave Jeff and Colleen peace of mind but in the future would also allow them to sell their home without any problems. As a result of Ken’s seal of approval, my clients’ dream home became a reality.
From building inspections and architecture to contracts and negotiation, being a real estate expert requires a broad range of skills. Your expert status means that you continually keep up with current information, and that you know how to handle difficult situations. One of the most important lessons that I learned from my client’s hollow clay tile home is that teamwork and keeping an open mind are key to succeeding in this business. ♦Digg it ♦del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves
posted by Myra Nourmand at
6:34 PM
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