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Like new and completely updated!

Well I'm sure we have all seen this type of statement on a brochure or on a listing before. Over the years I have learned that 75% of the time this is CODE for "Buyer beware" and it just makes me look a little harder to see what I can find that was covered up.

Today's inspection was on a 125 year old home in historic East Nashville, TN. I have looked at many homes in this area and for the most they are all in the 100 year old range and those that have been updated are really fine homes. But, I have also found many that the owners or agents claim that they have been updated when I'm sure they meant to say that they have been freshly painted!

The next few pictures are what I found in the basement of this updated home:

Sump pump not working

This is a 6x6 post newly installed!

New High Efficiency HVAC split system sitting in mud from being flooded because the sump pump was not working. Unit was distroyed and will need to be replaced.

Posted by Scott Patterson - Middle TN Home Inspector on 09/10/2009 02:50 PM

Comments (6)

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6 Comments on Like new and completely updated!

SEP

Scott, sometimes it is dang hard to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

That looks like a real problem! Love those old East Nashville Homes ( I am from Nashville originally).

SEP

Had a call last night from the listing agent saying that I must be mistaken, as she was sure that everything in the home had been updated. I told her that I bet that the home was updated, in 1975!

That did not go over very well! Then I asked her when was the last time she had been in the basement? She paused and said that she did not know the home had an accessible basement!

Oooops. Did the owner hide the basement access from the listing agent or did she just not look.

I've seen it both ways. And did the steam roll when it turrned out the owner hid it. Never did fine the outcome of that one! But I bet it wasn't pretty. Erby - The Central Kentucky Home Inspector Old Home Inspection in Kentucky

Erby - The Central Kentucky Home Inspector Old Home Inspection in Kentucky basement cellar access

Erby - The Central Kentucky Home Inspector Old Home Inspection in Kentucky furnace water heater in cellar

SEP

Any time they say like new; updated; or my special favorite "a contractor's own house" I know there's going to be a lot of issues. Do they think we're stupid? These are always code words for a house that probably has more issues than meets the eye.

SEP

I like to look at the systems when I take a listing. If the agent would do that she would have known that there was a basement.

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