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You just won't believe what we find during a home inspection!

By
Home Inspector with Trace Inspections, LLC TN #17

I found this 1920's circa electric panel in an 1850's antebellum home a few years back.  The sales brochure said that the home had been rewired!  Well, it had been but back in the 1920's when they added electricity to it!  The best thing about it was that everything still worked in the home.  Oh, and the white material inside of the wood box is asbestos sheeting. 

1920 electric panel

Next we have the Welcome doormat roof patch!  New and stylish.  I found this on a home over in the Mississippi Delta.  A classic if I have ever seen on!  The home had additional roof damage but this was the the repair to beat them all.

roof patch

 Rope support

This is one of my more favorite finds!  The owner used a nylon rope to secure the electrical line to the side of his house.  The support had pulled out (due to a tree growing in the front yard) and he then just tied it to a nail that was holding the CATV cable. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have hundreds of photos that I have collected over the years.  As I have time I will post some of the more memorable ones.

Bob Elliott
Elliott Home Inspection - Chicago, IL
Chicago Property Inspection

Hey asbestos you can guess it was , but I bet they never worried about panel fires with it there.

Looking at the floor mat I am willing to guess it did not leak.

Far as the drop goes, thats another story, and I see that all the time.

Mar 12, 2008 11:01 AM
Clark Garrison
Taylor 1 INC - Atlanta, GA
"Loan Modifications"
AMazing Scott. I bet you've seen just about everything there is to see! LOL
Mar 12, 2008 11:05 AM
Joseph Lang
Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Home Inspector, Southern California
The door mat on the roof is one of the funniest home inspections pictures I've seen.  Thanks for sharing.
Mar 12, 2008 11:09 AM
David Holden
DRH Home Inspection Akron, Ohio Summit County Home Inspector - Akron, OH
DRH Home Inspection Akron, Ohio Summit
Great pictures!  Plenty of room for more branch circuits in that box, no crowded wiring there.  I hope that you wiped for shoes properly on the door mats?
Mar 12, 2008 11:19 AM
Scott Patterson, ACI
Trace Inspections, LLC - Spring Hill, TN
Home Inspector, Middle TN

It's things like this that make my job the inspection profession so enjoyable.  After 12 + years I have seen all types of things.  I came across the pictures today while I was preparing for a litigation consulting gig next week. 

The door mat was the result of hurricane Katrina's little sister Rita!  Most folks forgot about Rita, but she is the one that forced the evacuation of the TX & LA gulf coast and then skirted right up the Red river and over into North Mississippi.

Mar 12, 2008 11:37 AM
Gary Sloan
Discovery Inspections, LLC - Atlanta, GA

The door mat is creative, resourceful and one of a kind.  Thanks for sharing, Scott!

Mar 12, 2008 12:43 PM
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

Scott, you made my day. Sometimes we just need to sit back and laugh a little at some of the things we find as inspectos.  Keep sharing and we'll keep laughing. Maybe I need to start going through my photo's.

Carl

Mar 12, 2008 02:24 PM
Gene Allen
Fathom Realty - Cary, NC
Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate
Just when you think you saw everything someone puts the welcome mat on the roof.
Mar 15, 2008 02:27 AM
Scott Patterson, ACI
Trace Inspections, LLC - Spring Hill, TN
Home Inspector, Middle TN
I thought the Welcome mat was a special touch!  Keep in mind this is in the Deep South and we is kind of friendly folks!
Mar 20, 2008 02:30 AM
Rick Harrington
Patch Independent Home Inspections, LLC - Columbus, OH
Specialist--Infrared Residential

Scott,

 

How did you write up the door mats on the roof?? 

 

Did you mention that the WELCOME was not aligned (at least one is upside down) and that to keep the visitor from being confused whether they should be welcomed coming or going should be addresses.

 

 

Mar 20, 2008 06:17 AM
Bruce Pinel
S & B Services LLC - North Kingstown, RI
Scott, I had a similar photo with a chain they used to pull the phoneline to the house when they resided it. They left it in place for the next residing job.
Mar 21, 2008 12:49 PM
Scott Patterson, ACI
Trace Inspections, LLC - Spring Hill, TN
Home Inspector, Middle TN
I like the chain!  It is like a safety chain on a storm door!!
Mar 23, 2008 04:50 AM