|
| |
Stop the Losses!
January 2004 - Recently one of HUD's
Prime Contractors for Management and Marketing sent out a "friendly reminder"
memo that work being hired on behalf of lenders was not being completed
according to the specification set forth in Mortgagee Letters 2002-10 and
2003-05. Of particular concern was the winterization procedures.
Part of the memo contained the phrase
"that you may not be aware of". May I assure ALL - these companies are
quite AWARE because innumerable contractors, such as myself, have been telling
them for years and they either do not care, think we are lying, or do not want
to hear what we have to say.
These pages are a heads up to all: We
are tired of not being listened to. We see the services you are hiring. Many of
us have been and are going to post what we find on our websites. These services
depicted below are robbing the taxpayer. Robbing the lender. Wasting manpower by
requiring the work be re-done. Tiring the inspectors that must report this work.
Costing invaluable time and revenues by creating an atmosphere where guidelines
and requirements must be re-phased, re-worded and made even more precise
in verbiage and penalties. Until someone in some authoritative position has the
courage to issue "friendly" reminders with the message in clear English "if the
situation does not improve through the remaining winter months we will be
forwarding this information to HUD's Lender Services Division and or the HOC
Offices, Headquarters or the Inspector Generals Office for further
investigation."
|
As a
reminder to our readers and visitors - these are services you are
currently paying for! Tustin and Company did not perform these services.
Tustin and Company can assist you, the lender, servicer, sub-servicer,
realtor, foreclosure attorney, in saving thousands of dollars per property
by performing at or above HUD and VA guidelines. Allow Tustin and Company
to assist you in ending the embarrassments that may be forthcoming "if the
situation does not improve". |
|
Above - This property
was "winterized" by a field service company in October 2003. Here it is in
January 2004. Frozen, water in the plumbing system. That is a pen standing
straight in the toilet ice.
The company that
hired these contractors "quizzes" prospective field help to test their knowledge
and relies heavily on free photos to justify all services rendered.
|
.
Here are photos of
what Tustin and Company continues to find at properties where Tustin and Company
is requested to either perform Quality Control Services for our clients or place
2nd bids.
|
 |
 |
|
Just another property that
was already winterized and secured. Have you ever seen clear antifreeze???
FHA Guaranteed Loan -
Montana Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45211 |
When the winterization
is not performed correctly and to guidelines, not only can the property suffer
costly freeze damage - but mold damage as well. Here we have both - remember,
ice is nothing but frozen water. In a vacant property - where there is water,
there will be mold!
|
 |
 |
|
The water mater has not
been disconnected, and now there is mold and freeze damage. The shower doors
are covered in ice. The basement floor is ice and mold. We scratched "good
winterization" in the shower door ice - the contractor actually placed his
name on this property - shame on you T.S. |
|
 |
|
That's not
modern art - that is lousy preservation mechanic induced mold. |
|
A devastating issue in this
industry is "table-topping" property inspections. Inspectors accept such
low fees from their clients - as low as $2.00 per property inspection
in some cases - that the inspector simply cannot perform the
inspection each time it is requested. So, they complete the inspection
from their office "table-top". This failure to actually visit the property
results in misinformation being relayed to the lender. We spoke to the
neighbor at this property. According to the neighbor, the occupants
vacated in June of 2003. When we spoke to our client - the inspector
reported the property occupied as of December 2003. That is 6 months the
property was vacant that the inspector obviously could not have visited
the property. What is the result? Here is our "award winner" not just for
the inspector - but also the servicer that believes $3.50 is a reasonable
fee to pay for accuracy. |
|
 |
|
Just another monthly
inspection that has been table topped. This has been going on for years in
this business.
This property is outside
of the Cincinnati area about 80 miles. Would you drive 160 miles for the
fee of $3.50? |
We found one
contractor that is somewhat following HUD guidelines regarding placing his firms
name on notices with the date of service provided. However, we are sure that HUD
is not interested in this type of spirit of cooperation and compliance.
 |
 |
 |
Somehow, poking
a hole in the toilet bowl ice with a table leg, removing the ice and
adding antifreeze doesn't seem like a winterization process to us.
Considering there is still ice in the tank - which when melted will dilute
the bowl antifreeze. And just exactly how did the antifreeze in the bowl
make it into the toilet trap if the trap is frozen?
We also noticed
the date of winterization - TODAY? which day would that be
J.S.??
Names have been
removed for the internet but remain on our files. |
Speaking of water and mold. We were
honestly hoping the 3000 hits we receive monthly on this page would help the
tarping situation. But, this contractor must not have a computer or internet
access. Here we are 6 months of harping over the internet about lousy tarp jobs
and along comes a contractor that has hoodwinked yet another lender. This tarp
is not stopping any water - you cannot tarp a valley! You have to repair the
valley. If you must tarp a valley, you will need to extend much more effort than
this. A roof valley naturally collects water from two roof surfaces as well as
the peak.
|
 |
|
Here is just another
waste of tax payers money. This tarp job is really going to help? Why
would a qualified property preservation mechanic, even think of doing
this? Just for the money? Why would anyone even pay for this? Just for the
money? |
|
Tustin and
Company is prepared to save you, the lender, the servicer, the
sub-servicer, the foreclosure attorney, the REO Realty management firm
THOUSANDS of dollars by offering you VA and HUD cost allowable fee
structured services that meet or exceed HUD and VA guidelines and
requirements! There is no need to pay additional revenues to have services
re-performed. There is no need to pay the same fees for sub-standard work.
If you would like services performed right the first time -
call us today! We service
26 states nationwide and will add more states as qualified contractors
are added to our vendor base.
We are
currently implementing a program where all of our contractor vendors will
be required to be
Certified Property Preservation Mechanics. If you are an experienced
property preservation contractor and are willing to become a Certified
Property Preservation Mechanic to gain our account - call us today. We are
seeking experienced property preservation mechanics who are proud of the
services they offer. On the other hand - if you performed any of the
services shown on these pages - do not call us! We verify all services
performed by our sub-contractors with a rigid quality control program. |
|
