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Home Inspection Discoveries

It’s fascinating to see what homeowners, handypersons, contractors, and god knows who else do to homes. 

Here’s a selection of things that make this job so interesting. 

This house is very secure. Even the alarm has an alarm. Baseboard heaters and extension cords are a fire hazard, hence the warning on the heater. Good thing they labeled the attic. Otherwise we would have been lost. A bee colony in transit, taking a breather. A lone weed managed to grow through a crack in the slab and through the carpet With enough time and wind, this little branch managed to wear through this roof shingle. Next stop: leak town Home repair with recycled materials... Home repair with recycled materials... Dear TV installer: This is a downspout, not a conduit. It is meant for rain water, not for TV cable... Now that's a cool doggy door! And it matches the style of the house, too Why fix a leak when you can just put a bowl in there to catch the water? This dryer vent pipe malfunctioned a long time ago and has been blowing dryer lint all over the attic This house apparently comes with a special appliance for the ladies... A light fixture with a metal pull chain directly in front of the electrical sub-panel. What could possibly go wrong... Somebody apparently did not read the instructions on how to correctly install these garage door sensors This home owner did a nice job building this fake wall to hide the water heater in the garage There is something missing from this garage We have no idea why somebody glued a golf ball to a vent pipe cap There was honey oozing out of the bottom of the laundry room walls in several places and dead bees everywhere! We walked around the house twice before we found this cleverly hidden hose bib and water shut-off We have absolutely no idea what's going on with the plumbing in this house. Recommend calling a plumber for further evaluation... This convenient beer tap at the kitchen counter leads to the Kegerator in the garage on the other side of the well This photo was taken in July on a Tucson roof in direct sun light with an ambient temperature of well over 100 degrees. Yes, that is a thick layer of ice on the refrigerant lines of the AC. Need more cabinet space in the kitchen? No problem! Just zip-tie some magnets to your water line and the magic of magnets does the rest - or not... This home owner was very thorough in organizing his kitchen Dedication found under a kitchen range from Jose to his Pamcakes This previous home owner was apparently a Harry Potter fan Just some minor moisture damage at this wood beam... Nope, just a bottle of Pine-Sol with a wick in it stuck in the HVAC system of a manufactured home as a futile attempt to mask the smell of cigarette smoke in the house. Thank you for your service Cactus growing in a roof valley Cactus growing on a patio cover Cactus growing on a car port cover Cactus growing on a patio cover Broken skylight? No problem - duct tape fixes everything... The skylight repair with duct tape didn't work? Just cover it up and move on... This is a two-inch long termite tube hanging from the ceiling. The temperature in the house was about 68 degrees but the thermostat showed 78 instead. Wonder why... We are not sure whether the previous home owner was a fan of fast cars or hot food... Just the bare essentials We have no idea what lead somebody to construct this contraption found in a backyard. We hope the poop is from the resident pooch. We regularly see security bars on windows and doors. This was the first time we saw them over the air vents to the garage. Bad neighborhood or scared home owner? No chintzy PVC or wooden dowel for this window: A piece of steel rebar. It even has a lanyard to easily lift it out of the window track This home owner takes their security serious: an alarm sensor plus four window locks - on a single-pane window Nobody is going to open or clean this kitchen window ever again World's smallest gutter Top left: factory installed gusset plate. Top right and bottom: Handyman special gusset plate... The hand sprayer might work but is not exactly installed as designed... What they tried to say is the house is heated with gas that the HOA pays for... Siding does not have to be ugly Is there anything that duct tape cannot do? It even fixes walls! When your asphalt shingle roof is leaking, painting it is not the solution When there is mold growing on the bathroom window, it is a sign that you should open it when showering Think there might be a pest problem here? Dryer vent clogged with lint and blocked vent cap = fire hazard You know you have moisture issues when there are mushrooms growing out of the fascia Found this piece of art in an attic What you see here connected to the hose bib is the water supply to a separate studio in the back The lovely and talented Kaety Byerley providing live music during a home inspection A home inspector always has to watch his step Ever seen black spider webs? Think there might be a leak here? This roofer decided to sign his work Rocks piled loosely on beam ten feet high over front entry This takes window security to a whole other level: a shotgun and a rifle barrel in the window track For when a regular shower head simply ain't enough One man's trash, another man's ... retirement plan? Another person who chose not to install the sensors as intended Found these candles in an air return behind the air filter Warning! Do not leave the toilet seat up. or... This bathroom comes with a built-in scale! This roof (and almost everything on it) is completely covered in foam. Home inspections can be dangerous. There is a good chance you could get gored while inspecting the electrical panel. This house apparently has been on fire. How's this for a custom toilet seat? If you don't have a dowel handy to secure the window track, in a pinch a piece of tile will do just fine. Only people living in the desert will understand why the markings on the faucet are accurate. Common in Europe - rarely seen in the U.S. Most guys would love to have a mechanic pit like this in their garage. Now this is a serious deck! Roller shutters are awesome! They protect your windows, secure the house, and block out light. Bomb shelter? Serial killer lair? Secret sex dungeon? You be the judge... We all have a little mystery in our lives... We think we discovered where the body was buried... They actually replaced the sky light dome with a cheap plastic trash can lid. The polite description for this is "deferred maintenance"... "What's all the racket out here?" "Oh, just a home inspection. Sorry to disturb you..." Now this is an impressive hat collection. Is it a spa, a planter, a sandbox? You decide. Not only were many of the walls covered in OSB, they even built a dresser out of OSB! A budget variation of the bidet: Hose with a hand sprayer to clean your butt Dismembered dolls and toys found in an attic Another attempt to mask bad odors - dryer sheets in the air return Apparently this is a load-bearing shelving unit helping to support the subflooring No loitering tolerated in this bathroom Massive padlocks to secure the electrical main panel This is not how you use plumbers tape Shower head with built-in disco light show for extra shower ambiance For the ultimate water flossing experience Two deadbolts for twice the security That is one furry fan blade. Close enough. What could possibly go wrong? Now that is some stylish wallpaper! Maybe not, but why take the risk? Why? Your guess is as good as mine... Another use for 5-gallon buckets: homemade sediment trap A shiny blue Bentley. Something went horribly wrong inside this electrical panel. We find many floor safes in old houses. We found this greasy gross mess at a vent hood over a range. We found this greasy gross mess at a vent hood over a range. Now that's a termite tube! It appears there is an essential piece missing here. If your water heater is leaning, would you fix the pedestal or prop it up with a fragile glass object? Washer hoses for shower Home Insecurity DIY home repair Duct tape fixes everything! Missing vent connector Attic bucket Custom bath fan Mineral build-up at TPR pipe Hidden stash Hand sprayer under sink Motivational sign Aim true! Dryer vent disaster Chihuahua portrait Underground bunker Tomato shrine Star Trek Missing switch Alternative shelf liner Gargoyle Firearms Disconnected attic dryer vent Mushrooms at fascia Leaky shower diverter Cosmetic fixes What's that smell? Super secure house Upside down light Door gap Power strip outdoors Kitchen vent not connected Toilet nightlight - a colorful way to help you aim in the dark Self portraits - everyone's a critic You might want to have a chat with the neighbor... Found next to the master bath toilet Not real, but convincing enough for a double-take The homeowner installed an alarm contact at the electrical main panel Taking toilet stains to a new level Grass growing from a window One hose bib is good, so two must be better Discovered in a dishwasher: ammo casings and ear plugs Random art discovered in a back alley You will never have privacy in this bathroom This fence might have a structural problem Is that toilet flirting with me? Finding this under a sink is never a good sign And the award for best laundry room decoration goes to... Now that's a sexy sink The baseball bat- a versatile home security tool Why fix the leak? Just put a tub under it Another hidden floor safe found That's one way to critter-proof a roof vent More toilet humor Plantation shutter mounted on ceiling at skylight A touching message from a daughter to her mother Secret booze stash found in attic over garage Extension cord at shower head? Why? Signs of a lazy painter #2 Signs of a lazy painter Bullet holes in an electrical main panel Found in the crawlspace of an old home Eek! This house has crabs! Another house with a hidden underground bunker Major defect: This roll of toilet paper is installed incorrectly This "repair" was probably not done by a licensed plumber... Not quite clear on this: Which one is hot and which one is cold again? Another creative light installation Really bad neighborhood or a canine Houdini? Who needs a dishwasher? Priorities! Credit for the clean filter - deductions for the installation method Close but no banana Perfect robot vacuum nickname Dollhouse with incredible detail Random find in back alley - Looked like an urn. Not sure I want to know... Bedroom door upgrade - because why not? Who needs drywall - HMB and watch this... Professional blind repair Don't let nature get in the way Deadbolt mounted extra low to make it easier for the toddler to escape That's a bold choice for bathroom mirrors Old floor safe Roof bones Potty phone Deadbolt is not enough Closet concrete message Bathroom beer fridge Now it makes sense Message from the easterbunny Fire extinguishers hidden in garage What else would you possibly plug into the ceiling outlet? Downside of living on a golf course Interesting pool shape Odd place for a trap Did they chew the trim to make it fit? Another very secure window with alarm sensor and four window locks! If one shut-off is good, two must be more betterer, right? Fake rock hiding tree stump Flipper shortcut in bathroom Garage-to-bedroom conversion done wrong Chimney built by drunken toddler This dual-pane window had about 4 inches of water inside. Another home remodel master piece: A closet within a closet within a closet The connection for the dishwasher drain hose at the garbage disposal was open but there was no dishwasher. What to do? Just glue a permanent marker in the hole. Problem solved! Damaged charger cables plugged into cheap USB splitter plugged into cheap outlet splitter plugged into cheap ungrounded extension cord - what could possibly go wrong? Reason #217 why barn doors are stupid: You can either use the outlet, or open the barn door - but not both. This looks like a relic from the Cold War era. Wonder who it will ring? If you ever wonder what colors your house was previously, just pull out the range and look behind it... Closet rod? Whatever. Just paint over it... Yup, that's a totally legit asphalt shingle roof repair... Light fixture? Whatever. Just paint over it... Tree in the way of house painting? Whatever. Just paint over it... What do you think will happen next time the fan gets turned on? Costco pizza plush dog toy. How and why did it end up on top of the chimney? Notice anything wrong with this plumbing job? This attic created a hostile work environment for me Easy baseboard repair - follow me for more useful home repair tips What was going through the drywall contractor's head? Custom etched shower door seen in a home of a retired firefighter The hose bib already has an anti-siphon valve built in. There is no need to screw on a second one. This is a $400 box of snake oil. The only way to shield your home from an EMP is a Faraday cage around it. Irrigation system control - inside a bedroom Cheaper than a plumber This fridge has seen a lot of action and is still going strong The Rorschach shower: For your daily cleansing of both your body and your mind. Something is off with this outlet... Interesting floor lamp design Wall art covering thermostat Opened the microwave to test it in this vacant home I was inspecting, and found this petrified abandoned burrito. Thanks, but I brought my own snack... The GFCI reset for all exterior and garage outlets was at the garage ceiling! Tripped it? Good luck finding it. Hope you have a ladder. PSA: Clean your dryer vents! This is a fire hazard! Convenient drawer to store a little extra water, just in case... Apparently the garage door looked too boring, so they put fake hinges and handles on it. Bad grading/drainage leads to erosion, which led to this gaping void under the foundation of this home! Nice job insulating the water main outside to protect it against freezing. But why did you insulate the handle??? "This light absolutely must go here! No compromise. Rafter in the way? Don't care. Cut it out." - The light might be brighter than the person who installed it. A lonely small sledge hammer, abandoned on a roof, for reasons we will never know Backyard fire hydrant for your pooch After removing the swamp cooler from the roof, they capped the air duct with the cooler side panel, shrink wrap, and painter's tape. Someone forgot to lock up the dog when pouring this concrete sidewalk Duct tape fixes everything - even broken trusses Inscription found at an attic truss - a couple memorialized their first house Give me the matching skillet and I'll make pancakes Stainless steel security spatula Unique Texas-style drawer pulls Funny sign cracked me up - not sure dogs can read it though... If one is safe, two must be safer, right? That's one way to support your window AC, I guess... There is something wrong with the lock on this bathroom door. Can you tell what? Tell me you have two dogs without telling me you have two dogs... In the laundry room of this house was a built-in dog washing station. That was a first! This piece of cardboard was screwed into the laundry room wall behind the dryer. It covered a rather creative dryer outlet installation. No, this is not the eye of Sauron. This is what a fancy heated toilet seat looks like with an infrared camera. The owners of this new construction home hired me for a warranty inspection. Their teenager left this note for me on their closet door. Is this how rich people live? Crystal chandeliers even in the garage? Fancy! Now this is truly a throne! This bathroom floor tile layout gave me an aneurysm. This is just wrong. There's something missing at this bath tub. Can you tell what? Another underground bomb shelter Educational children books I didn't realize we need Fake garage door handles Fan blocking attic access hatch Hair salon shampoo sink in garage Learned a new word today: Garburator DIY shovel Music lovers will appreciate this light fixture Things I find on roofs Nicely labeled wall switches Awesome Caterpillar machinery collection Somebody cut off the handles to all patio doors in the house Yet another garage door installation fail - do you see it? Geekiest home inspection defect photo ever? A little too attached to the throne? Every laundry room needs a coffee maker Pack rats in meter box Pop quiz: What decade was this house built? Random voodoo doll encounter Super-duper secure window It might be time to replace this fire extinguisher with a slightly newer model... This switch turns on the boob. Amateur drain line "repair" German Kitsch souvenirs Where there's a hammer, there is a way... Yup, that should do it Note from seller found stuck in door with missing door latch That's one way to support a swamp cooler... Roof art piece by creative roofer Who needs garage outlets anyway Cool restored car Creative shower head setup Doggie door bell Built-in doggie wash station Good to know Door hinge installation in million-dollar home Fridge with the good stuff Golf ball harvest on roof Furnace vents into attic Kitchen vent into cabinet Window to nowhere Worst way to install a light fixture Another abandoned tool found in an attic. I've found so many over the years, I could open my own hardware store... Never a good sign if you see this sticker on the front of a home you're about to inspect... Another disgusting air filter - barf! So this is where those missing dryer socks go! They get blown out the roof. Modern doors: made of cardboard, styrofoam, glue, air, wishful thinking, and sadness Another fire hazard made from the finest chinesium Covering a leak with a paper towel will sure fool the home inspector! This is not how you use plumber's tape The redneck ShamWow! Perfect place to park your F-150. Plantation shutter for skylight I always love finding funny decorations in homes They're two tumblers away from needing a showroom and a financing department Not so safe key safe
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