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Things I see that make me go, HUH?

I was recently showing a bank owned property which I blogged about recently. This home had some really strange things going on with it. This is what we found in the family room.

family room

This was a metal chimney vented to the outside through the roof. the black debris on the floor is soot. Whatever was connected to it was sitting directly on a wooden floor. The flue is only 12 inches from the wood surrounding the window. I am not an expert, but this looked like it was a fire hazard when it was working.

This is why buyers need to have a home inspection when buying a house.

Posted by Rich Mielke, REALTOR, Frederick Maryland Real Estate on 10/25/2008 05:31 PM

Comments (13)

Hazardous Conditions in the ActiveRain Channel

reo, diy gone wrong, fire hazard

13 Comments on Things I see that make me go, HUH?

OCT

2008

So funny, great blog! It is amazing when I see these bank properties at some of the "get ups" that people lived with.... I had one with a space for the wood stove, but no stove, just hardwood flooring removed and flux taped up.

I'll never forget a foreclosure I showed in Howard County MD that had a "weed" garden in the basement.

Hey, Rich. It looks like it might have been a free-standing fireplace. Many of the modern ones have zero-clearance tolerances, but most flues, if I remember correctly, need at least 1-inch clearance to combustible materials.

Lots of free-standing fireplaces (also called "stoves" or "Franklin stoves") are taken out here because they are easy to remove and sell when one needs the money rather than the fireplace.

I think we need to have a group for weird things in homes! this one is certainly strange. I'd look for smoke damage as well.

well, you right, quite estrange, but it looks to me like a vent for a fireplace,we never know what we will find in this homes

Hi Rick

Home inspections can be a life saver for our buyers, and save the real estate professionals from law suits.

Good luck and success

Lou Ludwig

Rich, It looks as if it might have been a free standing stove of some type. It is possible that the fire shield may have been removed along with the stove. As long as there is a 12" square space where the flue goes through the ceiling, all is cool... Nevertheless, get it inspected...

Very strange in deed. I've noticed a lot of this make shift work recently also. It becomes a huge issue if the next buyer is pursuing FHA

jared.pro

OCT

2008

Hi Rich, I love the fact that you had your camera with you to take some pictures when you were out showing houses. Interesting picture - I would say that doesn't look right, does it? I would worry about that one too.

Hi Rich ... It's amazing what you find! And to think I had the Town inspector almost prevent the closing on my home because the granite under my stove is an inch too short in the front!

I went by a bank-owned condo today and the kitchen had been completely gutted - everything. The only think left was an empty room. The sink and mediciaincabinet and ligths we gone from the bathroom. All the ceiling lights/fans/fixtures were gone. And a big, hairy cock roach was upside down in the bedroom. Yuck.

OCT

2008

Rich, I would have expected water to come rushing in from the outside....What a wierd thing to run into.

OCT

2008

Rich~ It is hard to beleive that buyers will actually buy a home and NOT do an inspection!

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