“The Fine Print”, by Michael Schrader

IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK AN EXPERT

(Written 31 March 1999. Published in the Neighborhood Journal. Posted 06 October 2009.)

The normal person will not wait until he has injured himself or broken a bone before seeing a doctor. If we feel a pain or notice something that doesn't seem quite right, we will go to the doctor to find out what is the matter before the ailment evolves into something more life-threatening, because the doctor is the medical expert and knows much more about curing ailments of the body than we do.

Unfortunately, the same does not apply to engineering ailments. There is a misconception that an engineer is only needed for big things, like subdivisions, streets, highways, bridges, and buildings, and while it is true that the majority of engineers are engaged in such activities, it is the small issues, such as drainage or traffic accidents, that affect many more people directly. Yet, most people will try and address these issues on their own, without seeking the advice of an engineer, with sometimes catastrophic results.

Any "do-it-yourself" engineering solution brings with it the real possibility that the solution chosen will actually exacerbate the problem. I have been personally involved in a project where the home solution could have resulted in the loss of lives. In addition to making the physical situation worse, "do-it-yourself" solutions tend to worsen one's financial situation as well. You see, one could spend much more money trying various (incorrect) home remedies than would have been spent hiring an engineer and getting the correct solution. In addition, there are unscrupulous people out there who think nothing of swindling others out of their hard-earned dollars on erroneous home remedies. These predators will continue to give bad advise and encourage the expenditure of your money until you run out of money, and then they will move on to their next victim, leaving you "holding the bag."

The best way to protect yourself is through knowledge. The more you know, the less likely you will be duped by some "fly-by-night" outfit. First and foremost, ask questions of engineers to gain a better understanding of some of the principles of engineering. Second, and equally important, don't try and give your own prognosis of a situation, for there are things that you might overlook. I know that engineering fees can seem rather hefty, but an investment of a few hundred dollars in seeking an expert's opinion can, and does, result in the saving of thousands of dollars in the end.

One of the underlying tenets of capitalism is the principle of "caveat emptor"--buyer beware. In other words, once you buy it, it is yours, and the seller is not responsible. It is one thing when the item purchased is only worth a few dollars; it is quite another when it is worth thousands. For example, I know of quite a few novice computer buyers who buy systems of dubious quality or full of "extras" that they don't really need because they don't know any better. Same with cars. Same with real estate.

The difference between computers, cars, and real estate is their monetary value. It stings investing a thousand dollars into a piece of junk computer system. It hurts to see the car you just spent five or ten thousand dollars on go kaput. It is downright painful to realize that the fifty thousand dollar house you bought is a lemon.

It has happened. It does happen. And it will continue to happen. I've known of cases of home buyers who have discovered things about their dream house after they have closed the deal and moved in. By that time, it is too late--the seller has the money and has moved on to new things. There is not much that a homeowner at this point can do. However, something as simple as a pre-closing house inspection by a third-party engineer could have revealed these deficiencies before the property changed hands.

Remember--"caveat emptor." Once you buy it, it is yours. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

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