What I'm Seeing Now

I am self employed.  This means that I:

• Work longer hours for myself than I would ever work for someone else.  MANY more hours.
  
• Do very careful work.
• Have to think about all aspects of my business and how each affects the others.
  
• Wear more hats than I would working for someone else.
• Do NOT get to set my "own hours" as so many who aren't self employed think I can.
• Very, very much consider the client and the client's needs.
• Do NOT get all the terrific tax write offs everyone thinks I get.  It ALL comes out of my pocket!
• Am responsible for all the money and how and where it goes.
• Always looking for ways to improve and offer a better product.

I could think of more, but I want to get to the parable.  Centuries ago, when I was a missionary in South America, we came up with many parables to teach the mountain Indigenous people, to whom I was called.  For them, Spanish was their second language, as it was mine.  They had to teach me their language - Quechua.  They came from a far different background than I and teaching them required creativity.  We all know who employed parables to great effect.  And we followed that Example.

A parable is a story, or poem, which is used to illustrate a moral or spiritual point, and reveal a hidden meaning.  It comes from the Latin word, parabola, which means comparison, discourse, or placing side-by-side.

We used lots of parables.  I published one in a different post, in January, entitled, "We Build To The Minimum Standard, Part 2."  Parables can be used in many different contexts!

When parables are employed, different people understand them on different levels and arrive at different interpretations.  One reason for this is background, but another is feeling.  Sometimes we simply feel the spirit of something and it touches us.

I am interested in what you see and understand and feel from this parable.  I will not comment as this might stultify your expression or understanding.  If I tell you what I see, or feel, well, it might influence what you see or feel.  The rest now is left to you...

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THE PARABLE OF THE TWO TREES

There once were two trees who lived side by side. 

The one had a very comfortable life.  It lived in a greenhouse.  It was very well cared for by an elderly gardener.  The gardener knew just what to do to help the tree to grow and develop.  It was given plenty of water that included lots of nutrition.  It never wanted for water.  The temperatures in the greenhouse were controlled.  Windows were opened when it got too hot.  Heat was provided when it got too cold.  Shades were drawn when the sun grew too uncomfortable.  Its limbs were regularly pruned and it was beautiful.  It did not have to struggle for anything!  It lived in a pot and did not have to send down deep roots.  It never experienced strong winds so its limbs were weak.  Its bark was thin because it had plenty of water, had no enemies and was never too hot or cold.  The elderly gardener loved the tree.

The other tree's life was very hard.  It had to care for itself as there was no gardener to care for it.  It had to send down long roots to search for minerals and water.  That was sometimes hard to come by.  It experienced the very cold of winter and the very hot of summer.  Its limbs were never pruned and it had a somewhat disheveled appearance.  It developed bark that was necessarily thick and hard, needed to battle disease, insects and the elements.  All in all, it had learned to cope with all of that.  And it took care of itself, as best it could.  The tree was happy.

The two trees were close enough that when the windows were opened they could talk.  The tree in the greenhouse would often mock the other.  It would brag about its comfortable life and living conditions.

"Look at me!  My life is very easy.  I am well cared for.  I want for nothing.  My needs are all provided.  The gardener loves me.  I am happy.

And you - look at you!  I watch you struggle and strain for water.  I watch you fight against the heat and cold and strong winds.  You are besieged by insects and animals and birds.  You are never trimmed and some of your branches go this way and that way.  You never get a rest.  You should be in here where all is well!"

The other would answer.  "Yes, it is hard here.  Sometimes I envy you.  But it is not all so bad.  I have strong roots and a good foundation.  I send my limbs this way and that to get more light, and to protect against the strong winds.  True, my life is more difficult, but I am happy.  I am able to provide for myself."

Things went on like this for some time.  The one tree derided and scoffed and the other patiently went about insuring its survival.

Then, one day, the elderly gardener died.

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I was invited to and attended a very special military graduation today.  It took place at a U.S. Naval base on the east coast.  And it involved a small group of United States Marines who graduated from, to speak generically, a U.S. military intelligence training school. 

My son was one of the graduates.

This group of young men, and one young woman, volunteered for this school.  After a series of fitness interviews and various forms of testing, they were hand picked to attend this training.  Even though they were hand picked, only a percentage who began actually graduated.  It was said today, by someone who has been involved in the intelligence service(s) since 1974, that this school is considered to be the finest, and this program the most difficult, offered by any military anywhere in the world.  I believe it.

In one of the rooms of one of the many buildings, there are a number of photos and plaques of past graduating groups.  One thing stood out to me.  It was a quote, by Thucydides, a Greek historian, which said,

"He is best who is trained in the severest school."

This is a severe school.  You should know that our military young men and women experience everything you have been hearing about in the news, so called "torture" and more, as a part of their many phases of training.

As a part of the training for today's graduating group, there is a village on site.  This "village" is reminiscent of something you might expect to see in Kosovo, or somewhere near there.  It is beat up, shot up, and various scenarios are experienced by the trainees in preparation for their next deployment. 

Today's group will be deployed soon, and all over the world.  They will experience various scenarios.

To the right is me hamming it up in the Sheriff's jail.  Inside and out it is not a pretty place.  Can you imagine, no TV, no air conditioning, no bed (well, there's straw), no toilet, no blanket - really, not much but a room with bars.  And bullet holes.

These graduates are young men and women who volunteer for very dangerous assignments.  One comment by today's graduation speaker was that their jobs will be nothing like James Bond.  No dinner parties, no tuxedoes, no luxuries.  He said, "These are the blue collar James Bonds.  That is where the real work is done."

And it is very dangerous work, made imminently more dangerous in the past couple of weeks by an "administration" bent on making it more dangerous.  Despite counsel and objections to the contrary by many previous CIA chiefs, and the current one, information about "torture" was released.

Actually only the part of the story the "administration" wanted released was actually released. 

The intent of releasing intentionally partial information is to defame and embarrass, all in the name of advancing an "agenda."  More information will come to fore in the coming weeks, released by this "administration" and its minions in the "private" sector.  Nothing constructive can or will be gained from this infomation.  The only people to gain from it are our enemies.  Personally, I consider it treasonous to aid and abet our enemies.  Certainly their reaction to this information was, "That's it?!"  Then they went about planning on how to train for it.  And they have been emboldened. 

Why is it that this enemy, so intent on our destruction and demise, is not recognized by so many in this country as the danger it really is?  Why is it that there are so many in this country who want to aid and abet that enemy?

General Washington, of the Revolutionary War, had no patience for those who aided and abetted the enemy.  His justice was administered swiftly and definitively.  For him, it was all or nothing.  He didn't like rendering justice.  But he especially didn't like countrymen - "Americans" - who went about intentionally endangering other countrymen - Americans.

My how things have changed!!

George Washington must be turning over in his grave about now. 

As I watched this group go out today I thought how it might be that the vast majority of a population, who does NOT get it, would have to be saved by a vast minority, who does get it.  And if they are saved (a salvation being made harder, it seems, every day) the naive, appeasing, don't-get-it-ers will claim a part without gratitude or understanding.

A graduation is a commencement.  I was invited to and attended a very special military graduation today.  And now, for them, it commences.

You should be on your knees, expressing how grateful you are that such people are among us.

I have the bad habit of arriving everywhere early.  To me it isn't a bad habit, but it does seem to rub others the wrong way!

Arriving early to an inspection in a high-rise building, I was told to go on in and directly to the apartment.  After making my way through the security gauntlet, I went to the unit I was to inspect.

I was met at the door by an elderly woman, who somewhat reluctantly allowed me inside.  After all, she did not know me from Adam.  Visibly nervous, she began chatting and tried to portray a very happy mood.  I think she wanted me to know she was a nice person so I would be less tempted to do her in...  Her discomfort was understandable.  I have a pleasant manner and it put her somewhat at ease.  And I have some practiced jokes that let my silly, off-the-wall humor come out.  Then came the question:

"Do you inspect everything in the house?"

"Yes, I do."

"Even my closet?  Do you inspect my clothes closet?"

"Yes, I do."

"Goodness!  Why in the world do you need to go in my closet?!  How long will you be in there?"

"Oh, not long ...  (two, three ...) "unless your clothes fit."

You need to understand, while I like floral prints and dark blue with small, white polka dots, her blouse would hardly have fit over my head.  She was very small.

She gasped!  Her eyes got huge!  She was shocked!  Then, slowly, a smile creased her face, she pointed and shook her finger at me and said, "I liiiiyyyke yooouuu!"

After that she was my good buddy.

My clients arrived some time later.  We had a nice visit.  It was an easy inspection.  After I was done working on my report, and as we were finishing, she brought us out a plate of cookies. 

Very, very cool -- I got cookies out of the deal!

My recommendation:  Arrive early.  Get let inside.  Say something outrageous.  Disarm them with humor!  And eat your cookies...  And try to make a new friend.

Well, spring has sprung in most of the country.  I realize some of you have had summer for a while, and others are still getting snow.  But it is time for the Spring/Summer Home Maintenance List.

We could call it "Some and Summer."  Works for me...

These are in no particular order of importance, and if some item doesn't apply to your house, show the list to your spouse anyway and say, "Wow, look at all the things I had to do to get the house ready for spring and summer.  I'm really on top of it!"  He/she will be impressed with your due diligence...

• Carbon monoxide detector - try the test button
• Foundation Drainage - be sure water from downspouts, the garden and any rain properly drains away from the foundation.  Ideally your yard and gardens should be graded at least 1" for every 4' away from the house.
• Exterior - clean the siding, caulk cracks and gaps that have opened up during the winter, clean the yard of debris and fallen branches, do a safety examination, cut vegetation at least 1' away from the siding, etc.  (Note:  caulking is a very cheap and effective way of making the home more energy efficient.)
• Paint - look for mildewy, peeling or blistering paint.  Check for cracks which can be sealed with putty or caulking.  Wipe your hand over the paint to see if the powdery chalk comes off.  Clean it up, prime it and paint it!
• Air conditioner - if you don't have an annual tune-up, check your filter (which you should do monthly) and clean or replace as needed, clean bushes and growth from around the compressor so it can breathe properly and adjust your ducts to send more air pressure to the upper level.
• Boiler - surprisingly, now is a good time to have your annual tune-up on a boiler because it is often cheaper now than in the fall and your technician is likely to not be so busy.
• Fire - practice your fire escape plan with the family.  Check the charge of any fire extinguishers.
  
• Gutters - clean of debris.  The helicopters from Maple trees and fuzzy seeds from Oak trees clog gutters as much as leaves do in the fall.  Check for loose spikes, seal leaky joints and assure the downspouts are attached to the house.
  
• Water heater - drain a little water from the spigot at the bottom to remove sludge and sediment.  The burners need to be checked and perhaps cleaned.  Be sure you know what you are doing!
• Window and door framing - check for rot and if wood siding is too close to the soil, get the soil off.  If you see evidence of termites, like chewed up or powdery wood, call a specialist.
  
• Trees - trim branches that hang over the house or chimney (especially if large or dead), and where they might rub on the roof.
• Smoke detectors - test!
• Roof - check flashing around the chimney or where shingles abut brick or siding, check the chimney mortar cap for cracking, and check for broken, cracked or missing shingles.
• Chimney flue - check for debris, water staining, soot build up.  Have the flue swept if the soot build up is 1/8 inch or more.
• Garage door - test the mechanism and adjust as needed.  The down-force interrupter can be checked with a 2x4 on the garage floor underneath.
• Check floor drains in an exterior stair way or inside the house.  If evaporated, replace the trap water.
• Indoors - repair caulking around tubs and showers, test GFI outlets, check out the crawl space, check for condensation in the basement, crawl space or collecting on foundation walls.  Dry out appropriately.
• Kitchen - Clean grease from range hood or ducts, clean the refrigerator coils, clean the disposal with baking soda/vinegar and chase it with lemon peels that you grind up.
• Decks - treat with stain or paint.  If you use a stain, use one that provides UV resistance in addition to water-proofing.  The sun does more damage to decks than rain and snow.  Replace loose nails with galvanized deck screws.  
• Foundation - outdoors - if you are experiencing a drought, be sure to water around the foundation to fill in any gaps created when soil dries out. 
  
• Termites - check inside for wet wood, visible mud tunnels, flying termites, frass, etc.  This is a good time to check for carpenter ants.  The little sugar ants can be controlled with small traps or a sprinkle boric acid in cabinets, under the dishwasher or fridge.
• Main Water Shut-off Valve - check to make sure it is limber and not leaking.  The same goes for the interior hose shut-off valves.
  

While I don't pretend this is the most comprehensive list in the world, it is at least a great start!  So go and do that voodoo that you do so well!  I hope this list helps!

My Recommendation:  Regular maintenance is the best way to sustain a home's value.  In the long run, it costs about 1% of the home's value annually to keep up its value.  That includes maintenance, repairs, remodeling and renovations.  So get started - what are you sitting there for?

This is another difficult post to write.  Because of its content.  It is frightful, for which I apologize.

The beat goes on and on regarding the 500 million pounds or so of poisonous Chinese drywall.  It is affecting more and more homes, now estimated at over 100,000, and more and more people, and was apparently used for over four years.  Its damage continues.  If you missed my first two posts on it you can catch up here:

January 29 -- http://activerain.com/blogsview/895160/I-Think-We-Need-To-Recall-China

March 21 -- http://activerain.com/blogsview/994937/Update-Chinese-Drywall-The-Lawyers-Have-Landed

It is a very serious problem.  It has made the mainstream news.  Most recently, AP, 11 April 2009, reports that bills have been "introduced a bill in the House calling for a temporary ban on the Chinese-made imports until more is known about their chemical makeup."  I'm thinking we aren't that smart, but we'll see.  A friend of mine said that the Chinese would probably regard a disruption in America's purchasing of their products as an act of war.  After all, a full 20% of their economy relies on the American consumer.

Why do I say that at least we aren't eating the drywall?  Because we ARE eating other stuff!  The recent epidemic of kidney failure in both humans and animals has prompted medical researchers to find out why.  They did, and the culprit is melamine.

Remember the pet food that was killing animals a short while back?  Melamine.

What is melamine?  It is a chemical which was discovered in 1830.  It is derived from coal, is a white, crystal powder and is two-thirds nitrogen.  It has been used in manufacturing everything from plastics, utensils, laminated flooring, cleaning products, furniture, kitchen cabinets, pesticides, herbicides - well, you name it.  Most recently it has been discovered in food products.  Yes, food products produced in

CHINA.

But why would they put it in food products? Profit - 33% profit and more!  That old Communist staple - profit!  How do they do it?  Many food prices are based on their protein content.  The quick and easy way to measure protein content is by measuring the nitrogen levels in food.  In 1999 the Chinese Academy of Sciences (the CAS), which is funded by the Chinese government, discovered that by adding melamine to foods the nitrogen content is boosted.  Especially dairy products.  They found that they could dilute milk products, add melamine to pick up the nitrogen, and that picks up the profits!  They call it "protein enhanced."  But, is there more protein?  No, that is the fake out.  So, melamine makes things look like they have more protein, when they don't.

It also kills.

To make it viable for food production, melamine is combined with cyanuric acid to form melamine cyanurate.  As this gets absorbed by the blood, it forms yellow crystals which block renal cells.  Enough blockage and the kidneys and bladder malfunction, eventually failing.  Baby formulas use milk products.  Of course babies are very vulnerable to such blockage.  People with weakened kidneys and bladders are at risk also.  Scientists think that long-term exposure to melamine will lead to cancers and reproductive damage.

This is what caused the deaths of so many pets a couple of years ago.  The Chinese got caught because one company, Menu Foods, got so greedy and put so much melamine in their pet foods, that dogs did not suffer gradually but died immediately when they ate the food.  Then the United States FDA discovered melamine in 100 brands that contained wheat products from China, then in pig feed, and poultry feed, then in dehydrated milk, and then in eggs.  All these have been "protein enhanced."  Remember that term!

As I have said in my other two posts, the Chinese are NOT incompetent people.

Could China have test marketed its discovery on Chinese babies?  A reported 50,000 baby illnesses or deaths have been reported (more?) from drinking melamine-tainted milk and formulas.  Hong Kong reported similar problems.  Then there were problems caused by milk and other products in many other nations.  Now in many, many food products.  Melamine has been discovered in fish foods used to feed a variety of fish and shrimp in "farms."  The next time you buy a seafood product, read the label.  If it is "farm-raised," think again before buying it.  Many nations have taken to destroying Chinese food products before it gets into their markets.

Take the hint!  WISE UP!

Our government has known about the melamine introduction in foods for a long time.  It took pet deaths before the FDA reacted.  Do you think these bills in Congress will go anywhere?  I am not hopeful.  Chinese food products are everywhere, even in foods "produced" in other countries.  The label may say Canada, but they are just putting the product in cans or frozen containers -- the food products come from China.

What should we watch out for?  Wow, what shouldn't we watch out for.  Here is a list I found compiled by Maneka Ghandi, in the Bihar Times.  She admits it is probably a partial list.  But, here 'tis:

Pet foods ** Fish food ** Farmed-raised seafood ** Wheat gluten ** Corn gluten ** Rice protein ** Biscuits ** Over 31 brands of powdered milk including Lipton, Glico, Ritz and Heinz ** DHA+AA baby cereals ** Egg products from Cadbury ** Cadbury dark chocolate eclairs and dairy milk hazelnut chocolates ** Coffee creamers ** White Rabbit Creamy Candy ** Dove chocolate Dreyers cake mix and ice creams ** Dutch Lady candy ** First Choice crackers ** Ritz snacks ** Kraft Oreos  and related products like wafer sticks ** M&M's ** Mars chocolate products ** Magnum ice cream ** Mentos ** bottle yogurts ** Snickers fun size ** Yili Hi-cal milk ** Youcan sesame sticks ** Instant coffees ** Milk teas - like Lipton green milk tea, Unilever Tea ** Nestle chocolates ** 305 Chinese dairy-based products such as coffee creamer, vegetable creamer, and powdered deserts ** bakery products from China such as caramel tarts, cream buns, honey buns, meat buns ** Chinese-made cheesecake ** Eggs from Hanovo Foods and Green Living Beings ** Mr. Brown coffee products

I would have to say, if it is from China, avoid it!  That is a frightful list!  What other foods are so tainted!?

My recommendation:   Read labels carefully!  If a product says "PROTEIN ENHANCED," don't eat it!  If the label says, "Made in China," don't buy it!  The sooner we American consumers figure this thing out, the better.

Don't wait for the government to protect you.  Act for yourselves before you are acted on by others.  Wise up...

Can I suggest a recent post on the same topic from an agent in the middle of this problem?  Check here:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1130911/chinese-drywall-not-always-being-disclosed

On an inspection a couple of weeks ago, a house had been added to and the addition and upgrades were sensational.  In the older part of the house, though, the outlets had been painted so many times that some were simply not usable.  On others the holes were all visible but somewhat closed off so I could not insert my testing device to see how they were.

There are many problems with painting outlets:

1. The holes close off and eventually, as I said above, they are unusable.  I have seen many outlets where the receptacle holes are painted so much they are barely visible.
   
2. The paint sticks the cover plate to the wall and the receptacles to the cover plate.  If work needs to be done on that outlet, the cover plate needs to be cut from the wall, and the outlet fixture cut from the cover plate.  That can, and will, damage the wall, and that can, and will, often break the outlet.
3. When plugs are pushed into the holes, paint can get pushed in at the same time.  Paint is not a very good conductor.  In fact, latex is a pretty good prevent-er of electrical connectivity!  The electricity cannot flow.  It has been impeded and resists flowing freely.
   

That is called "impedance" and causes "resistance."  Electricity moves throughout the house in an alternating fashion.  It comes and goes.  Anything that impedes that flow throughout the house, or any appliance or object that causes it to resist movement, can cause heat. 

It can also cause a voltage drop in an outlet, which means that appliances plugged into it are not being provided the amount of electricity they are designed to receive.  That can cause them to overheat as well.

Over time such latex build up can cause the insides of the receptacles can load up more and more with latex and create enough heat to cause the wiring insulation to burn away.  And that can cause a fire.

All in all, I don't like seeing painted outlets.  Once painted, people are tempted to paint them again, especially if the wall color changes.  I identify them on the report in the condition they are, and indicate that they are potential fire hazards.  In the report I say that ideally, all such outlets should be replaced.  Someone, after all, is buying that and inheriting the associated problems.  I think it is fair that the seller not turn over to a buyer what they don't want to have to correct themselves.  Some would call that the "Golden Rule."

That is what I did on the house above.

A few days later I received a call from the irate seller.  She has had her electrician look at the outlets and he told her that there is no problem because they are all grounded.  He said that her responsibility is to sell a house with properly-grounded outlets.

Me:  "But Ma'am, the grounding is not a problem and it is not what I identified."  And I went through my spiel.

Her:  My spiel made no dent!  "But the electrician says they are grounded and fine."

Me:  "Some of the outlets are not usable.  You certainly know that, you live there.  Doesn't he consider that to be a problem?"

Her:  "He didn't say it was.  He said that to replace them he might do damage to the wall and he does not do drywall repairs."

Me:  After my mind went !!!!! -- "But all of the problems I explained to you are left to the buyers.  They will have to do all those repairs and if I understand the addendum correctly they do not want to inherit all that.  Are you willing to sell to someone else a problem you don't want to have to fix yourself?  Would you want someone to knowingly sell you the problems on their house they don't want to fix themselves?"

The silence was golden.

Her:  "Well, my electrician says they are grounded and that's all I am responsible for.  And I trust HIS opinion."

She was pretending not to understand what she understood completely.  And trying to mask it with an angry attitude to boot.

Me:  "We are back to square one.  That is not the problem I identified.  You understand that is not the problem I identified.  You merely don't want to have to take care of the problem.  I think it is unkind of you to push off onto someone else a problem you created.  And some of what you are pushing off is dangerous.  And I trust MY opinion."

My recommendation:  Sometimes you simply can't plug into people.  Or they pretend that they haven't been plugged into!  When you see painted outlets, identify them to the sellers as the problems, and potential problems, they are.  And go from there...

I could have taken 30 pictures of this small, front porch and roof. The seller, not from here, nor anywhere above the southern border, proudly proclaimed to the Realtor, not me, that he had built the small 6'x4' roof over the front porch stoop. I would have never guessed differently.

Driving up I noticed the two small, turned columns, 3"x9', splayed interestingly and no where near plumb. They were bowing somewhat under the load, and the load was not terrific. The "trim" on the front would best be described as "not symmetrical," or "not professional," or even "not done by an adult..." The trim on the side merely abuts the vinyl siding. One piece of side trim is a 1"x3" and the other 1"x4" - nearly the same! I can only imagine how this roof was attached to the house. The buyer and I guess probably with something other than a 2"x6", and perhaps with a couple of nails in each. Hopefully the nails hit a stud. It appears to have been painted yesterday, perhaps to hide staining.

All in all, just standing beside the porch and looking up, even before I set up my ladder, I knew this was going to be another typical inspection of another typical foreclosure where the owner is renting rooms by the day to a house full of squatters who moved in and have taken over until they are forced to leave. These squatters are ruining the place, perhaps on purpose. It was a mess, surely not a strong enough word. We had to ask the 16 people inside the house to leave. Pretending not to understand English, they had no choice once they heard and understood my very polite, very firm, and very adult Spanish. I spoke to them like a teacher would speak to elementary school children. One said, "You Argentines think you can tell anybody to do anything." What does that tell you about my Spanish, and, well, and my blond hair and blue eyes? They left without response. I did find another person sleeping in one of the 7 "bedrooms" later, whom I asked to leave so we could conduct an "official" inspection. He left quickly when he saw four people standing in front of him.

I selected these two pictures to show how this roof was shingled and how the porch was installed.  

There is no evident flashing. If you don't know how to flash, well, what's next? Silicone!  The disobedient and bulging siding was simply nailed to the house - with interior nails.

Both sides looked just like these two pictures. And, you will notice, there are (at least) two fine layers of shingles. There had to be because if they are not properly staggered shingles will leak quickly. There was no evidence of tar paper. And no gutters or drip edges on the sides.

The rear roof had sustained some wind damage to the shingles. We had a terribly strong wind storm about a month ago. The repairs to those missing sections, perhaps a total of 50 square feet, look very similar to the shingles on this front porch roof. Not staggered, pieces here and there, the ends of some not nailed, and put right on top of the upper course they are intended to repair. There were broken pieces all over the roof and yard. I could treat you to another 50 or so posts regarding the interior. But why spoil your day any further?

Two of my three inspections yesterday were like this.  These inspections are tiring, tiresome, and have gotten real old.  The beat goes on.

Unfortunately, I think the beat will not only go on, but get worse. This is a problem we are just beginning to experience, as a nation and as a home inspection industry.

Oh boy...

My recommendation:  This particular buyer is in building remodeling and construction.  He is capable of not only understanding the problems that exist in houses like this but also how to handle them.  He has bought many such properties, and calls me every time for an inspection.  The average buyer would be overwhelmed with the conditions that exist in many foreclosures.  Be sure your clients understand that what they cannot see can be as bad as what they can see.  Maybe worse.  And sometimes things intended, however well intended, to improve a property, can make for expensive and extensive future repairs.  This house was built in 1996 and this buyer's plan -- gut it and start over!

This goes back to 1989 or 1990 or so.  I was finishing up an inspection on a very nice house.  The inspection went very well.  As we were walking out of the front door, my client, an elderly and exceptionally polite Asian gentleman, asked me if I had a compass handy.  "Sure!"  As I am always somehow Boy Scout connected I am prepared!  I actually have two.  So I dug one out of my tool kit.

"What way house point?"

"Northeast."

"Oh no!  Cannot buy house!  Cannot buy house!"

The realtor's jaw dropped!  I did not understand either.

"Bad Feng Shui!  The house, bad Feng Shui!"

I had never before heard of Feng Shui!  I had heard of, and often enjoyed, Chow Fun, but not this other thing!

Neither had the realtor...  She stood right in front of him, looked directly into his eyes, and politely asked what in the world he was talking about.  He had a hard time explaining in English.  It went something like:

"This much bad luck!  Very, very much bad luck!"  He was pointing toward the way the house was facing.  "It small.  It not strong."

He was making no sense.  Neither of us understood.  And should we have?  She shot me a wicked glance that said, "Look what you've done!"  Gee, all I did was answer a question.  How could I know it all meant the house pointed away from Marriage and Romantic Happiness, had a vanilla color and was Small Earth?  My brother's name is Ken -- doesn't that count for something?

I now understand that Feng Shui has a fascination to some people.  It is basically folkloric and mythical.  But there are those who follow that sort of thing.  I know interior designers who follow it in case their clients have such inclination.  Certain "bad" things can be counteracted by the placement of plants and mirrors and and furniture and so forth.  But it is complicated and doesn't assure a good outcome.  Even the direction the head faces while lying in bed can be significant.  So even a house that faces what you want may not be the right house depending on the interior architectural design!  The elderly client either did not consider the direction before making an offer on the house, or did not understand that so many things would happen, involving so many people, tying up the house for many weeks, and cost so many people so much money, him included.

Long story short, he canned the deal.  The Realtor canned him as a client.  She also canned me I think because I have not heard from her since.  The word got out though.  Even to this day, there are Realtors who put the direction of the house on their listing information.  And not just the Asian Realtors!  I have had the direction question many times since, but never resulting in that outcome. 

My recommendation:  It seems to me that if Feng Shui is that important to you as a buyer, you should have a compass in your pocket so when you pull up to the house the deal could be canned at THAT point!  But since they might not always have one handy, YOU as a Realtor should have one too.  My house faces due north.  How about you?

GOT COMPASS?