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Things you find in vacant houses 4

By
Real Estate Agent with Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. BK627826

Central Florida is full of vacant houses.  Most are bank owned foreclosures or short sales.  But many have other issues like probate or people problems.  The photos featured here are both from the same bank REO listing in Lake Mary Florida.  I visited this house about a week ago.  Apparently the listing agent and the bank that owns it have abandoned it.  400+ days on the market and the property is at least $40,000 overpriced.  House needs a ton of work with everything from roof and electrical issues, green pool turned into a swamp, unpermitted additions.  A bank's worst nightmare.  Anyway, enjoy the photos.

In case you wonder what you are looking at, the house had a neglected swimming pool.  Apparently this pool has been green for many months.  Nature decided to take advantage of that.  This is the first step for entering the pool.  Those black things are baby frogs (actually I think they are toads).  Hundreds of them piled up on the step, just sunning themselves.  When I leaned down for the photo, many of them jumped into the water.  There are also a bunch tadpoles swimming in there as well.  My bet is there were several thousands frogs in this 20,000 gallon pool.  Lovely. 

Frogs in a pool 

 

This next photo is on the front stoop of the same house.  Luckily I spotted the buzzers and walked around where they were.  They were right above the garage door perched on a damaged light fixture.  Obviously these wasps had been there for many months as well.  That nest is about the size of a basketball player's hand. I have seen bigger though.  And luckily there was only one nest - sometimes these empty houses have dozens of big nests.  Make sure to look up before you walk under an exterior ceiling.  Yikes!

giant wasp nest 

Mother nature has taken over.  Ha ha!  Happy house hunting!

Comments (8)

Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

As you might expect, Rob, we home inspectors run into this kind of thing a lot!  I have to say, though, I have never seen so many frogs/toads!

May 23, 2013 07:24 PM
Steven Cook
No Longer Processing Mortgages. - Tacoma, WA

Rob -- that is a bit different, the frogs/toads at least.  That nest could even show up on an inhabited home.

Hope you have a great holiday weekend!

May 24, 2013 04:33 AM
Marie Fox
Foxy Interiors Inc. Lake Mary Florida - Lake Mary, FL
Lake Mary, Florida, Home Stager & RE Photographer
Rob, looks like another swimming pool turned natural habitat. It unfortunately happens so much in Florida. The good thing though is that most can be restored to their crystal blue condition but not without expense.
May 24, 2013 11:08 AM
Jennifer Srock - ABR,GREEN,GRI,SFR
Realty Executives Arizona Home Pros - Casa Grande, AZ
Home Buyer Specialist

Bugs and slimy things living in green pools aren't uncommon here in Arizona either. I've seen termite infestations inside and signs of sqatters too. Unfortunatley, stolen property to include copper pipes, electric wiring and of course, the appliances also come with vacant homes. You just never know what to expect with a vacant home. 

May 24, 2013 09:18 PM
Rob Arnold
Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL
Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

In another house we rehabbed back in December, we pulled 5 large bullfrogs - literally the size of a grown man's shoe - out of the pool.  Unfortunately I did not get a photo of those.  More in this series to come as I stumble across new, interesting things. Thanks everyone.

May 25, 2013 12:31 AM
Than Maynard
Coldwell Banker Heart of Oklahoma - Purcell, OK
Broker - Licensed to List & Sell - 405-990-8862

As long as you spot the nests first you should be okay. I tis the hidden ones (built behind walls or inside fixtures) that are trouble.

May 25, 2013 03:54 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Impressive photos Rob, it is often shocking to see who will move into a home when people are not there to keep them out.

May 27, 2013 10:41 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Rob, there's nothing quite like finding a pool full of baby frogs.  There was a house in my neighborhood that had a city of big adult frogs in the pool. Ick factor!

Jun 20, 2013 09:37 AM