‘They want some poor stooge to risk arrest for trespassing’: Couple offers $50 for a quick 'errand' they need run, is just a sneaky way to get a cheap home inspection of a remote property they want to buy

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Jul 5, 2024 7:00 AM EDT

Surprise, surprise—nobody wants to do professional work for nickels and pennies. 

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  • Does anybody know where all these people are getting their audacity from? How can we purchase some of this blissfully unaware Karen entitlement? Because, from the many stories we read on the internet (specifically Reddit) it seems like there is a very large warehouse stocked full of audacity somewhere. 

    Just take this entitled couple in Arizona. They want to purchase property that is remote from them. However, they don't want to put in the work or the money. So they have placed an ad online asking for hundreds of dollars worth of professional home inspection work for only $50. Of course, they don't word it as if they're looking for a home inspector. They say it is just a “quick errand.” Except, what they are asking for is technically trespassing and the ticket for that is WAY more than $50. Trust me, I know, I got slapped with one of those in college after agreeing to a picnic date with a boy that turned out to be in a constriction site. Read the story yourself below and please, let us know where in tarnation this audacity is coming from.

  • 01
    "Biggest purchase of their life and they're trying to pay some random stooge $50 to make sure it's up to par? This is one of the wildest ones I've seen...' "
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    u/earlg775

  • 02
    $50 to creep around someone's house because why pay for an inspector? So far, no takers
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  • 03
    Looking for someone to run a paid errand for me ($50) Hello! Looking for someone to help out in my house buying search. My husband and I are looking to buy our first home; we live in arizona so its a bit hard to see houses in person and there is one we are interested in 1463). We are looking for someone to go to that address and (not do anything illegal obv) take videos of the house and property as best you can. In general I am looking for videos/photos/answers/observations to the below ($50 in
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    . • [$15] GOOD Videos + Pictures (as good as it can be with a phone) • Please take your time with this (quality videos/ photos deserve a tip!) [$8] Horizontal cracks in the siding or stucco? ▼ ks in foundation? ⚫ [$6] Indications of termites? What things look like they are made out of wood? What is the house made out of would you say (Ex: 50% brick/stone? 20% wood? 30% metal sheets?) · • [$4] Any indication of mold/black mold? [$4] Condition and slant of the roof. Rust or holes in the roof?
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    [$4] Sofit/eave/siding issues? (You can google sofit/ eave but it is like the sealed tin between the roof and the outer walls) [$3] How are the people? Are they out and about? Is it families? Are they friendly? [$2.75] Is the kitchen intact (if can be seen through windows)? Are any appliances or anything ripped out like torn out pipes or sink? What about bathroom? [$2] General condition of the neighborhood. Does the architecture match the neighbors? Is the house the most run-down on the street?
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    • [$1.25] Exterior/interior paint conditions? Will it need a new coat? Compensation is per complete answer for each question/ prompt provided ALONG WITH SUPPORTING PHOTOS/ VIDEOS AS PROOF OF TRUE ANSWER WHERE APPLICABLE. Total compensation for all prompts is $50 (easy money). The amounts are non-negotiable because we can fly ourselves out there for that much money but just want to save the time. Let me know if you're interested! :)
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    . My_state_of_mi... 16h ago Edited 16h ago . The payment breakdown is absolutely hillarious. How though does one check for indications of termite damage, mold, and the condition of the kitchen (among others) without going on the property particularly when they claim in the ad they don't want anything done illegally? Bonus laugh: that they will tip if pictures are really good. Based on the nickel and. dime approach to just the $50 I can only imagine what kind of tip these people would give. ↑ 566
    via My_state_of_mind
  • 08
    iheartomd OP. 16h ago They are claiming that this can all be done from the sidewalk. 237 + More replies Reply Lyrehctoo 15h ago It says good photos deserve a tip, not that they will pay one. 41 Reply
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    Saint Mi 16h ago • "First house" my a Judging by the time of year, this is about to be a tax foreclosure. These bloods ckers want to gage the condition of the house, to see if the house is abandoned, etc... "How are the people"? They do this all the time and flip the home that they buy for the $10,000 in tax arrears. 105 Reply Songlcy4058 • 16h ago Yeah, specifically asking if the kitchen is torn up indicates to me that there are no interior photos on the listing and this is one of those as is a
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  • 10
    KetoLurkerHere . 16h ago Easy money? Yeah, number one, that is hours worth of work. Number two, I know the owners of the property (and their neighbors) will be just thrilled for some unlicensed rando taking pictures of and inspecting the place. That's totally how it works; anyone can do it! /s And from where are they flying two people out for fifty bucks?? 161 Stormy_Wolf Reply 16h ago That was my biggest question person fly anywhere for $50?? 51 Reply -- how can ONE
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    LadyMegatron • 15h ago Test out the washer dryer, any good? $5.50 Open child's diary $1 per page photographed Inspect septic tank, do they flush tampons? $2.50 But don't do anything illegal. ↑ 78 Reply
    via LadyMegatron
  • 12
    Ok-Recording-4840 16h ago • Absolute insanity. Initially I thought this person was asking for someone to go to an open house and take pictures which is more reasonable I suppose. But to do this from the OUTSIDE? Also crazy how you can make a decision like buying a house from a few pictures a stranger from the internet provides you of said house from the outside. ↑ 45 45 Reply
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  • 13
    No_Amoeba_6476 · 16h ago we can fly ourselves out there for that much money but just want to save the time There are professional home inspectors they can hire to do this properly. Sourcing a home inspection for $50 off CL is clearly a way to cut costs. Also, who can fly anywhere for $50? Their photographer would have to inspect at least 4-6 properties fully for that to make sense, and that would take more than a day, so the buyers should factor the cost of a hotel into their trip. 27 Reply
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  • 14
    . quartzguy 15h ago There's an extra nickel in it for ya if you measure the grass length! 23 Reply Itool4looti 17h ago That's not an errand. 순 21 Reply
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    Scottiegazelle2 • 16h ago Man if only they had people who would assist in the buying process, check conditions, and be your advocate... I'm going to create this field and call it...a real estate agent! Heck I would even have them check the conditions of MULTIPLE houses. I'm gonna be rich. 20 Reply ...
    via Scottiegazelle2
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    Wistful-Wiles 16h ago As someone who has moved across the country, I understand this general premise. You want someone to check out the house/apartment, give it a vibe check, and take some new photos? Reasonable to an extent. Itemizing the request with cash allotments for questions an actual inspector or professional would need access to the property to answer? Ridiculous. ↑ 17 Reply
    via Wistful-Wiles
  • 17
    mishma2005 15h ago • $500: bail for trespassing 10 ☐ Reply EarnestBaly · 17h ago . I need to know where they're buying round trip tickets at $25 a pop...and they seem to have forgotten to mention you'll need to bring a ladder to get those shots of the roof and info about it ↑ 7 3 Reply
    via mishma2005
  • 18
    Childhood Jolly . 17h ago The nickel and dime pricing is absurd. I would be really irritated if someone was creeping around my property photographing and videoing my space. If it's for sale, I'm sure the listing agent has ALL THAT INFO and will also be more than happy to schedule a time when they can be less stalker-ish and actually take their time to see the inside and outside. And I know in my state, you have to pay for an inspector for most all real estate transactions, at least ones that are
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  • 19
    SockFullOfNickles 18h ago Hopefully the Seller's realtor asks for preapproval letters & doesn't allow people not on the letters to visit without the borrower present. Thats what I'd do if the Seller was my client. Photos By a Random does not a home inspection report make. 6 Reply
    via SockFullOfNickels
  • 20
    OkOutside5517 9h ago Edited 8h ago They are offering at most 10% of what an inspection costs. When you consider what they are likely to pay for a house, their approach is penny-pinching at best. Unless they are coordinating the visit when the inspection will be conducted with the listing agent, they are trespassing on the property. Once you want to enter the house, even into the crawlspace, you'd better have permission.
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  • 21
    Most real estate agents put 15 or so photos of the home on the listing, both interior and exterior views. I consider it a red flag when a listing has no interior photos. It is likely to be a foreclosure or an occupied property. I've seen evidence of black mold in some of those photos. There is enough information available online that they could use it to eliminate a lot of possible homes. Many states require termite inspections to be paid for by the seller and proof that the termites were exterm
    via OkOutside5517

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