Every repair is an adventure. We asked our technicians and market managers (many of whom started out as real estate agents) for their wildest repair stories. We expected a few close calls. What we got were tales of bees and bats, cats and crawlspaces, and the kind of surprises you hope you never find over your head or under your feet.
In the spirit of the season, we’re wrapping them up for you as the 12 Days of Repairs. Pour something warm, settle in, and enjoy some of the strangest jobs Bluetape has ever taken on.
When Brad arrived at the house, the client introduced him to Sam. "This is my cat." And Sam, enjoying the spotlight, ran up and dragged itself against Brad's leg then resumed the standard feline aloofness by walking off into another room.
The goal this day was to complete a few cosmetic upgrades then remove an old tub to install a new one tomorrow. Before leaving, Brad found the homeowner and said, "There's a hole in the bathroom floor. We put a cover over it, but keep the door closed so Sam doesn't get curious." The client assured him the door would stay closed..
The next day, Brad and the team brought up the new tub, installed it, sealed it, completed all the cosmetic work, thanked the owner, and left. Later the night, his phone rang. It was the homeowner. "I can't find my cat." She was near tears. "I swear I hear faint meowing but he's nowhere. It's like I'm going crazy." Brad had a feeling, so he asked, "Did you keep the bathroom door closed last night, like I said?" And the owner paused. A long pause. "No..."
So Brad got back in his truck and returned to the site. As he pulled into the driveway, he saw movement. The dryer vent on the home's second story. And flicking in and out from beneath the vent flap? An orange paw.
He grabbed his ladder, went up the side of the house, and, sure enough, there was Sam. Once the vent cover was removed, Sam put his head through and clambered out into Brad's arms. Sam was safe and healthy. The homeowner was happy. Brad replaced the cover, collapsed the ladder like a knight sheathing his sword after an act of valor, gave Sam a scratch, and went home.
(Yes, that's the real Sam in the photo).
Have you ever had a pet “help” with a repair? Share your story in the comments.
Join us tomorrow for Day 2: The One With the Bees
“We thought we were just painting the interior of the house. Easy. Standard operating procedure before listing, right? I’ve done a hundred of these. But this one woke up the bees. There were so many we had to call a local beekeeper to come out. We cut the exterior siding open at two different spots so the keeper could remove the large beehives built between the home’s walls.”
-Susie Goad, Bluetape DFW Market Manager