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Inspection Picture of the Day - No Trap, Rust and lots of ..... Stuff - Home Inspection in Austin, Texas

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Home Inspector with Professional Inspection Services - Georgetown, Texas

Inspection Picture of the Day - No Trap, Rust and lots of ..... Stuff from a Home Inspection in Austin, Texas

In the course of my duties as a Home Inspector I run into lots of Stuff!  One thing I have to contend with on most every inspection I conduct is clutter.  And, one of the most popular places for clutter is under the sinks

I don't know why but these secluded spots are most often overlooked when people decide to sell their home.  As a result, it seems, more stuff gets crammed under the sink than gets taken out.

Here are a couple of pictures from a Home Inspection in Austin, Texas that I completed last week. See if you can identify any "problems".

Home Inspection in Austin, Texas - Clutter and No Trap

I had to move a bunch of items to reveal this.  A trapless drain under the kitchen sink.

Home Inspection in Austin, Texas - Water Heater Hidden by Clutter

I did a little more digging beneath that kitchen sink and found this.  A small water heater.  Covered with more stuff!

Home Inspection in Austin, Texas - Water Heater and Rusty Pan

At the end of the trail I found that the water heater's relief valve was plumbed to a heavily rusted pan.  The pan is at the end of it's useful life and the two year old water heater will most likely need to be replaced soon.  The reason....it's sitting in about a quarter inch of water and is beginning to rust away just like the pan in which it sits.

I know that when sellers put their home on the market they do a lot of things to make their home more attractive.  The space under the sinks seem to be forgotten about.  But, this space on this inspection got a lot more attention than the seller was probably expecting.  Everyone there eventually stuck their head under the sink ..... me, the buyer, then the buyer's agent followed by the seller's agent and finally the seller himself.

Thanks for taking a look.  Have a great day.

Andy Chaudoir - Professional Inspection Services - 512-632-3232

"Your Home Inspection Connection in Central Texas" - www.centexinspection.com

Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

WOW, I'm impressed!  A picture(s) truly say a lot!  Hopefully the listing agent paid real close attention.  It might help them to remember when going through a house to check under sinks for potential issues.  It's amazing what one can find in bathrooms under those sinks as well.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Mar 27, 2010 09:42 AM
Nathan Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Davenport, FL
Your Central Florida Real Estate Expert

Some of that looks downright dangerous. Plastic on top of a water heater. Uh...OK. LOL

Mar 27, 2010 09:56 AM
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

Andy: Congratulations on the feature. One thing we know, photo's don't lie. I just wonder what the rest of the house looked like.

Mar 27, 2010 01:29 PM
Barbara Altieri
Better Homes and Gardens RE Shore and Country Properties - Shelton, CT
REALTOR-Fairfield County CT Homes/Condos For Sale

Andy -- I could not believe the rusted water heater pic. Just today I saw almost the same situation.  Sitting in water and caked up rust on the bottom.  Fixing the valve would have cost a lot less than now having to replace that rusted heater. 

Mar 27, 2010 02:22 PM
Bill Travis
Captain Bill Realty, LLC - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner

Hey, that looks like my house :-)

Mar 27, 2010 04:04 PM
Kristyn Grewell
CENTURY 21 Goodyear Green Edmond, OK - Edmond, OK
Edmond, OK Homes, Oklahoma Relocation Services

Great reminder for agents to let their sellers know to make all systems easily accessable during inspections.  We worry so much about hiding the clutter during the selling process, we sometimes forget about this.

Mar 27, 2010 04:28 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

It looks pretty nasty under that sink and very unfortunate that such a new water heater is going to have to be replaced.

Mar 27, 2010 04:33 PM
Lyn Sims and the Blog Dog
Streamwood, Elgin IL Real Estate - RE/MAX Suburban - Bartlett, IL

Andy, even though that's an electric water heater doesn't it get hot? Plastic bags on a hot item? How about water mixing with some wonderfully caustic chemicals under that sink?  Can you say HAZMAT?

Thanks for the laughs today even though it's really not funny. Good news, the seller will have to fix it.

Mar 28, 2010 07:04 AM
Dawn A Fabiszak
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Andy ~ great photos.  I guess most people forget about decluttering underneath the kitchen sink.  I will remember to remind my sellers of that .

Mar 28, 2010 07:25 AM
Don Wixom
RE/MAX Executives Nampa, ID - Nampa, ID
"Looking out for your next move..."tm

Andy, no trap on the sink... Why would that ever happen? Maybe a DIY situation?

Mar 28, 2010 02:29 PM
Damon Gettier
Damon Gettier & Associates, REALTORS- Roanoke Va Short Sale Expert - Roanoke, VA
Broker/Owner ABRM, GRI, CDPE

There is never an end to home inspection disasters,photos and stories.  I don't know  what gets into sellers when they are trying to sell thier home.  You would think that if they were trying to sell their home they would get their butts in gear.

Mar 29, 2010 01:02 PM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Out here the sink cabinets are not forgotten about at all. That's where they cram all their stuff! LOL

Apr 10, 2010 08:58 PM
C. Lloyd McKenzie
Living Albuquerque - Albuquerque, NM
Living Albuquerque

Hey Andy, we depend on you guys! I always let my buyers know don't buy a house without getting a home inspection.  Home inspectors have keen eyes to see through all the garbage.  Very appropriate post. 

Apr 11, 2010 04:46 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

It's good to know that sink cabinets throughout the nation look the same.

May 03, 2010 05:06 PM
Randy Dodd
Rosanna's Realty - Abilene, TX
ePro, GRI, TAHS

WOW, Looks like you had to earn your monies on that job. WOW thats crazy!

May 03, 2010 05:14 PM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

That's such a cute little water heater. It's no bigger than Zoey the Cool Cat, and I bet she could whip it in a good cat fight. LOL

Zoey the Cool Cat

May 14, 2010 05:07 AM
Lori Cofer
Beasley Realty - Moscow, ID
REALTOR, Moscow Idaho Real Estate

Looks like a do it yourself job.......

 

Wow!!!!!

 

Pullman WA Real Estate

May 14, 2010 01:38 PM
Maya Thomas, Broker
Tampa, FL
Please see my client recommendations.

I recommend a pre sale inspection to ensure a trouble free contract to closing experience.  It's worth every penny.

Aug 06, 2010 08:33 AM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Andy, I'm still wondering what the DIY'er was thinking regarding the lack of a "P" trap?

Aug 16, 2010 05:07 PM
Joshua Zargari
MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY
MJ Decorators Workshop

Wow!

A picture says it all!

Aug 20, 2010 12:20 AM