Home Inspection... "House of Horrors"

I have a favorite expression I tell my clients when we discover "it" during the home inspection. "I never try to figure out why people do some of the things they do". "It"...is the second set of attic steps in the hallway... next to the original steps, or the electrical outlet in the shower wall (real stories) ! 

Bank sales and foreclosures have become commonplace in this housing market. Typically, the bank will have a property management company shut down all the utilities, natural gas and electricity, at the house to save money on basic utility costs. The problem arises when the basement sump pump no longer operates and the basement floods, or the heating system no longer is operating and maintaining conditioned air in the house. Mold has returned with a vengeance to these houses. I have personally inspected many houses that required substantial repair or renovations for these reasons.

New construction is not always that. I can't forget the main electrical panel in a brand new townhouse. Approximately half of the outlets and switches did not function thru the house. Three of the four "GFCI" circuit breakers would not trip with the simple "Test" safety button installed on the breaker. Yet there was a brand new final inspection sticker on the panel cover from the town...next to the inoperable "GFCI" circuit breakers !

My wife and I recently visited a house listed for sale. We are currently looking to re-locate to the barrier island. The sellers agent stood in our shadow the whole time we were looking thru the house. Now mind you, I had my company shirt on, and had identified myself as a licensed home inspector. Looking in the basement, I noted extensive termite damage and failure to the floor framing at the front of the house. when I asked the sellers agent if a termite contract was in force, his reply was...No, the homeowner said there have never been any termites ! Yikes, I don't know which was scarier...the agent who obviously knew nothing about houses, or the homeowners who must have wondered what the insects were that were swarming their house in the Spring and Fall .

Oh, and then the sellers agent was proudly showing us the shower the homeowners had installed in the basement. He seemed quite surprised when my agent questioned him about the main electrical panel that was mounted to the shower wall. Touche' Tom !

A recent debacle came about when I did a town permit history on a house my wife and I were bidding on. Seems the previous homeowner constructed 2 additional bedrooms in the house...without proper design or town approvals. Seems that the homeowners installed a heating unit in the bedrooms creating a deadly carbon monoxide hazard. That's why we have town building and mechanical inspections. The current owners now are stuck with an illegal and dangerous 3 bedroom house that can only be safely used, and appraised, as a single bedroom...a big difference in the selling price. So remember..."Let the Buyer Beware" !!  

Yes..there is so much more. I will share my stories with you from time to time. Stop in again.