A NEW homeowner was left shaken after a neighbor pressured him to pay $50 to have his patio washed.
The man rang on the new neighbor’s doorbell and waved through the window.
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In a story set to columnist and editor of MarketWatch, Quentin Fottrell, the new homeowner recounted his experience after just moving into his new neiborhood.
Thinking he was another neighbor, the new resident answered the door expecting an introduction or welcoming.
However, the man was instead wanting to powerwash his patio.
He also claimed to be powerwashing the next door’s house, and offered a price of $50.
The new homeowner recounted the occurrence, thinking: “My patio isn’t that bad, and, while it could do with a wash, I wasn’t interested.”
He politely declined, but that didn’t work.
“[The man] went on and on and refused to take no for an answer.
“I started to feel uncomfortable and almost just said yes to get rid of him,” he added.
The man urged: “Please, it’s only $50,” seeming to feel obligated to receive $50 just for knocking on the neighbour’s door.
He just closed the door.
“I still feel quite unnerved,” the homeowner said.
“I feel shaken and vulnerable in my own house.
“Is this a ‘thing'”?
In response to the submission by the new homeowner, Quentin added: “Extortion happens on a sliding scale.”
It is not uncommon for new homeowners to experience significant issues like this.
This story comes after another new homeowner was fined by the HOA the minute she moved into her house due to an issue with her driveway.
The HOA slammed fees because of an oil stain in her driveway, which not even a powerwasher would remove.
Another resident wrote into Quentin, recounting how their daughter’s boyfriend offered to wash part of their house, then demanded money.
This is despite the mother having prepared dinner for him during his visit.
“If the roles were reversed, I would not have asked him for money, especially after chowing down on $50 worth of salmon,” she explained.
Tips on spotting property scams
These five tips on avoiding real estate scams have been shared by The Bellamy Law Firm.
Fake Owners:
- This is where properties are listed for sale by scammers who do not own them.
- They may ask for a deposit to “hold” the property until you can view it to lure in prospective buyers.
- Be wary of people who ask for money upfront and before signing any documents ensure you ask to see the tax records and deeds.
Fake Real Estate Professionals:
- Scammers pretending to be real estate agents.
- Prospective buyers can check the Board of Realtors website for the individual and their real estate license to confirm their story.
Cash Offers:
- Warning phrases for this are: “We pay cash for homes” and “We buy ugly houses.”
- This often sees people sell their homes for much less than the going market value and those who are hard-up are often victims.
Predatory Lending:
- Some mortgage lenders may urge borrowers to repeatedly refinance their mortgages when it is not needed so they can get more cash on hand.
- It is also important to be suspicious of lenders who come to you before you have requested help.
Bait-and-Switch Moving Companies:
- This is where the moving company gives you an estimate for your belongings and then increases the cost when they arrive which pressurizes customers to accept the new offer.
- Another version of this is when movers pick up your belongings but hold them hostage and refuse to deliver them until more money has been paid.
- People moving homes should ask for a license number from the moving company and check for complaints with official companies like the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- It is also worth shopping around by getting multiple quotes and holding off on paying until the move has been completed.
Source: The Bellamy Law Firm
