The Hilarious Tales of a Building Surveyor: Uncovering TheFunniest Client Experience!
Have you ever encountered a waterfall in a bathroom?
Let me share a story about a client who experienced just that.
Amelia, our dedicated customer service representative, arrived at work earlier than usual.
With the weekend approaching, she wanted to clear some pending jobs off her desk. After
preparing a hot cup of coffee and organizing her workspace, she was ready to tackle the
day’s tasks. However, the office phone rang at precisely 7:35 am, startling her. Amelia
glanced at the time, wondering who could be calling so early. She recognised the caller as
Mrs. Alex, a client who lived in the bustling city of London. Mrs. Alex wanted to lease her
apartment but required a survey and renovation beforehand. Amelia assumed that she
was calling to remind them about the inspection scheduled for later that day at her
residence.
With curiosity piqued, Amelia answered the call, only to be greeted by a child’s voice.
Surprised but smiling, their conversation went as follows:
Amelia: “Hello, may I know who I’m speaking with?”
Caller: “My name is Lily.”
Amelia: “Hello, Lily. How can I help you?”
Lily: “Mummy went out. She said you were going to come to our house.”
Amelia: “Yes, there’s an inspection scheduled for 11:30 am at your residence. We’ll be there
on time.”
Lily: “Oh, okay. But there’s a waterfall in the house right now, and Sheila is playing in there!”
Lily giggled mischievously.
Amelia: A waterfall? Outside?
Lily: No, no, not outside.
Amelia furrowed her brows in confusion as she went through Mrs Alex’s file, seeing no
mention of a waterfall in the apartment.
Amelia: “Where are you, then?”
Lily: I’m at home! Oh, and there are sprinklers in the living room too! (Their voices filled with
joy.)
Amelia: Alright, we’ll be there shortly.
Lily: (Still joyful) Okay, bye-bye!
Still feeling a mix of confusion and amusement, Amelia contacted the lead surveyor, Mr
Zaman and updated her on the peculiar call. She then made some changes to her schedule
and set off for Mrs Alex’s home. In the meantime, Amelia went through the file and
contacted Mrs Alex directly.
Amelia: Hello, Spectrum Property; good morning! Is this Mrs Alex?
Mrs Alex: Good morning; yes, it is.
Amelia: We received a call from Lily at your apartment a few minutes ago.
Mrs Alex: (Tense) Is everything alright? I left your details with them to contact you about the
inspection scheduled for later today.
Amelia: Oh, nothing is wrong. They called to say there was a waterfall and sprinklers in the
apartment.
Mrs Alex: (Laughing) A waterfall? Oh my, I suppose the little drops of water I noticed from
the ceiling must have increased.
Amelia: (Joining the laughter) Oh, I see! Well, the surveyor is on her way there already.
Mrs Alex: That’s earlier than scheduled, I’m so sorry for the disruption. I’ll call them as well
to make sure everything’s under control.
Amelia: That’s quite alright, thank you.
Mr. Zaman, the surveyor, arrived at Mrs. Alex’s home and was greeted by Lily and Sheila,
who were both soaking wet. They excitedly led him to see the “waterfall” in the bathroom.
As he approached, Mr. Zaman noticed droplets of water splashing onto his suit. When he
finally laid eyes on the so-called waterfall, he couldn’t help but chuckle at the children’s
imaginative description.
However, upon closer inspection, Mr. Zaman realised that the situation was no laughing
matter. A broken pipe, coupled with an outdated and deteriorating ceiling, had caused
significant damage. The wooden beams in the roof were weakened and infested with
mould. Evidently, the leakage had been an issue for some time, but had only just come to
light.
After surveying the apartment and documenting his observations, Mr. Zaman met with
Mrs. Alex to discuss the necessary renovations. He advised her on the crucial repairs
needed before the property could be put on the market, ensuring it would fetch a
competitive price.
