Received a call from Deron Crawford at 326-467-3889 over a week ago scheduling an inspection in Hudson, FL. No answer at the door after multiple rings and knocks, Supra box on door so I opened it, took key inside to kitchen counter, left company card with key then back outside. Not too comfortable since home was occupied and nobody there. Decided to do the outside walk-around and roof, and if nobody there after roof it would be secure home again and leave. Multiple calls back to the buyer’s number were robot-answered asking me to leave an SMS message, which I did. Owner returned with me getting off the roof, was extremely belligerent screaming that I was going to jail, the home was NOT for sale, etc. He called the sheriffs and 3 responded (thank you, sanity) and I explained it all to them, procedures per company policy. Owner could not explain why he had a Supra lockbox on the door and a real estate agent assigned if the home wasn’t for sale. I was responding to an appointment to inspect.
Sheriffs did some research saying that this phone # was a reported real estate scam, not sure for what purpose, also that the home was clearly on the market with MLS number. Once this kind of garbage starts it can spread. The lying homeowner was just my bad luck, he was a straight-up jerk.
Florida inspectors - BEWARE of phone contact scams from prospective “buyers”: 18 years in business and this is the first time anything like this has happened to my company.
Couple questions here…
So you just showed up without confirming the appointment with any agents?
How did you know it was going to be a Supra access before you got there?
How did you get paid?
So was the home actually for sale?
More importantly… How was your Contract signed??
Thanks for the warning… HEADS UP.
News to me.
Did he get a check?
Reference:
Usually there is an agent, but this was direct contact by a buyer which happens quite a bit. Not a law that a realtor has to be involved and some folks want to avoid that.
- As stated, the home is on the market, the homeowner lied about that. Supra box on the door. The appointment had been set more than a week in advance, the buyer couldn’t specify a realtor.
- Pre-inspection agreement is sent prior to the report going out, along with the invoice
- I did not get paid, did not inspect the interior of the home.
- In hindsight I’m not convinced that this “homeowner” wasn’t in on the scam too. Threatens me with jail, fully belligerent and now a known lair. Setup for suing an inspector? Could be
Thanks Larry,
Pristineinspections.net used to be a great website that I personally developed. Lasted for years, then Title IX hosts went belly-up and took my 4-page website with it. I have a couple of others now. That garbage is something out of China
So, you were scammed by the same name & phone # twice?
Jeff - No, all this happened today. There won’t be another one (not for me at least)
In my little powder puff world, I’ve been sorta messed over twice. I can’t imagine if I was inspecting where the real “Florida Man” lives. You’re way more trusting than me.
If my agreement isn’t signed, I won’t go. I expect payment before I start inspecting or we stand on the curb, chat for a bit and I leave. Most pay the day(s) before, a few have paid at inspection time.
My bad, I didn’t look at the names correctly.
Appreciate your input Mark and I see you are also a “Florida Man”. My procedures have been honed over the years, been burned a few times but usually everything works out OK. Compressions in inspection windows which we are all familiar with have caused some adjustments.
How is it you are still in business??
Agree with Jeffrey, (even though he didnt say it), the agreement should always be signed before ever even driving to the site.
You are lucky the owner didnt show up when you were inside! (Or that he was already inside when you walked in), you may not have made it home that day!
I’m just surprised you showed up without making any type of contact with the seller or listing agent. And without payment or a signed contract. You have way more faith in people than I do!
We get a lot of scam email/text requests it’s usually a check or credit card fraud attempt, they want to pay to with credit card for every service you offer then get a refund either partial or full, or they ask to pay you for your work then pay you extra and pay some contractor as a sub because they don’t take card…
Typically messages have obvious grammar issues, there’s always a reason they must communicate by text/email not phone. And there’s never a real estate agent involved in the fake purchase. Don’t fall for it.
I Google every potential client that calls using an out-of-state number.
I have many such clients, and it’s rarely an issue, but… I still do my due diligence.
Had you Googled the phone number (Ohio area code)… you would have immediately seen all the posts warning about the SCAM!!
20 seconds would have prevented this issue.
Also interesting as you have recently viewed at least one thread on this MB regarding such scams.
Almost sounds as if you’re the one setting us up for a scam with your difficult to believe story and Chinese website!
Just got this today.
I am a very busy Woman, I am hard of hearing and usually stay in touch through email and text messages. I can reply to you as I get the chance too, I just want the job done urgently. I’m relocating with my family from Florida. I just bought a house in your Area, and I would like the inspection to take place before my arrival Next month, that’s the main reason why I contacted you for the inspection and I want it to be as soon as possible.
The house is a living room which is 250sqft, 2 beds 2 baths, each room is 180sqft and the bathrooms are 140sqft each and the room is 12 by 12 and.so i want the full inspection of the house and know all what need to be done in the house, I believe you can easily do the inspection and i’m having my trust and honesty in you. I know this is against your work ethic but i want you to know that i have placed some paints order for the house as well which i want you to help me out with the payment to the company which will be added with your workmanship payment because the company don’t accept check as a means of payment and i only pay through check and you will have the house keys when the materials i ordered for arrive, there’s no realtor or agent involve and i can have more to order for based on the inspection report you give me, Give me your Estimate and the Price so i can Proceed with the payment and i will like to know if you accept a check as a means of payment