Home > Blogs > Donald Hester > Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection Blog

Pot- Legal or Not Legal… I ask the question.

By Donald Hester

Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

December 07, 2012 10:52 PM

Pot- Legal or Not Legal… I ask the question. East Wenatchee Home Inspection Services

Well here in Washington State we had our first day of legal pot (marijuana). It will be interesting to see where this all leads. I am not here to profess or deny this law. But I bet there will be a run on Oreo cookies.

Okay what I am here to really discuss is if a home is listed with two bathrooms what defines that.

The IRC defines a bathroom as a “BATHROOM GROUP”. - A group of fixtures, including or excluding a bidet, consisting of a water closet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower. Such fixtures are located together on the same floor level.

The IRC also states that- “Plumbing fixtures shall be usable”.

Now I think there is some individual interpretation on some of these groupings. I think most people define a bathroom that has at least a toilet (water closet/pot) and sink (lavatory). I guess you really need a tub or shower if you are to bath, but a sponge bath can be performed with just a sink.

On this particular home inspection I come into what I would define as the main bathroom group. It has a toilet, shower and sink.

As I am inspecting the “Bathroom Group” there was some boxes on the toilet. I remove the boxes and lift the lid and see this.

Do Not Use Toilet East Wenatchee Home Inspection

So okay this is not uncommon for some fixture to be winterized and not in use, but usually I see some antifreeze in the toilet. It also is very shiny so it may have been just replaced.

I now look under the toilet and I do not see any water supply for the toilet, hmm. Okay I do the next thing which I call the potty dance to see if the toilet is properly attached to the toilet flange.

Now this is where it gets interesting the toilet is totally loose. Since there is not water I lift the toilet and yep... no toilet flange or anything. No hole for the poo to go!

Missing toilet Flange East Wenatchee Home Inspection

So here is the question, if you have a home listed as two baths… legal or not legal?

“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.”

Aldous Huxley

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572

Re-Blog

Comments(15)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Randy Bocook

Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners - Richmond Hill, GA

Selling Coastal Georgia

Great Post, !! have a great weekend!!

Dec 07, 2012 10:55 PM

Fathom Realty Group Inc.

Fathom Realty Group Inc - Orange, CA

Get Paid what your WORTH!

This is very different. Think outside the box!! Have a great weekend

Dec 07, 2012 11:05 PM

Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Randy, Thank you. You have a great weekend and very happy holidays.

Dec 07, 2012 11:10 PM

Edward & Celia Maddox

The Celtic Connection Realty - Queen Creek, AZ

EXPERIENCE & INTEGRITY - WE TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

If it doesn have a toilet, is not a true bathroom. Just a powder room or untility room.

Mike, You just might need the box in this one ; )

Dec 07, 2012 11:11 PM

Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA

SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

Hi Donald,

I am never surprised what I see that the listing shows as have's and have not's......LOL. Legal or not.....it just happens.

Edward and Celia, I would agree. I think the main fixture is the potty.

Dec 07, 2012 11:12 PM

Dan, I agree. It can have a bearing though on how it appraises though. But I found a bit humorous. My client and I did have a chuckle.

Dec 07, 2012 11:14 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

You can say anything in a listing. It leaves everything open to interpretation.

Not having a working second bath is not going to work for the buyer.

There will be some "FIXIN'" to do. :-)

Have a good day in Washington State.

Best, Clint McKie

Dec 07, 2012 11:42 PM

Clint, A bit deceptive though don't you think ; ) You bet some fixen is to be done. I do not think it leaves a very good impression onthe potential buyer though and give them a very easy out if need be.

Dec 08, 2012 12:08 AM

Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

Don, I hate it when toilets are just staging :)

Dec 08, 2012 12:49 AM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Usable, schmoozable. It's a toilet! If nothing else, it's a receptacle!

I am often amused by the concept of "international" residency code. These are people who clearly have not been outside the big United States city!

Once, in the men's room of a "5 star" restaurant in Ecuador, the "toilet" was a hole in the floor, nothing more. Yes, it was a mess. And, of course, no TP to wipe with and sink to wash hands. International... ha!

Oh, the toilets in most houses? Out back, in the yard.

Dec 08, 2012 08:54 PM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

I think Jay maybe confused as to the location of those back yard toilets. I think a few back yard toilets still exist here too :)

Dec 08, 2012 10:18 PM

Robert Butler

Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC

Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

I do tghe toilet 'dance' too. So you would hace caught it even if ther had been no sign.

That quote (at the end of your blog) is where the rock group "The Doors" got their name.

Dec 09, 2012 02:19 AM

Charlie, Me too ;)

Jay, Just a technicality ; )

Jim, I see the backyard "John" here all the time.

Robert, True. I did not know that about the naming of "the Door" but that make perfect sense. Hey see I learned something today.

I used to cover a few "Doors" tunes in the day when I thought I was going to be rock star.

Dec 09, 2012 02:31 AM

Pot- Legal or Not Legal… I ask the question.

Comments(15)

Donald Hester

Service Areas

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts

Additional Information