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For those that think they had a bad day.

By
Home Inspector with Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton

Firstly, I'm not really complaining.  I took my business the direction I wanted and at this point it has worked out better financially than other alternatives. Today I arrived on the street where I had 2 inspections 3 houses apart and was surprised by the neat, well kept, and seemingly well maintained neighborhood.  Not many of the inspections I do could be said to exist in pristine areas of the region I service. 

W1  neighborhood The first of the 2 I had to do was boarded up (which should have been a hint), but a representative of the owner obtained access.  Here's some of what I found inside this attractive older home. 

1st floor bath Heating

Sec floor bed It is hard to imagine that this existed inside that home in the first picture.  There were so many issues I will be working for a while on the report.  There was very little indication on the exterior that the interior was trashed.

The really sad thing was that there was evidence that someone had recently stayed there.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection Services

Clayton, Ohio

 

Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Jack:  Sounds like a pretty good day... two inspections just three houses apart.  Saves gas and legwork.  But wow... what a mess you ran into.  And, from the looks of the pictures, it looks like that mess could have easily been avoided with just a little care on the part of the last occupant.  Good luck with it.

Nov 20, 2008 04:05 PM
Katharine Carey
eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

Jack- looks like you had an interesting day. I hope the other house was in better condition. What do you do if you find a home not liveable? just curious..

Nov 20, 2008 04:12 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Looks like the people who really had a bad day were those who were evicted and lost their homes.

 

Nov 20, 2008 04:27 PM
Dinah Lee Griffey
Windermere Peninsula Properties - Allyn, WA
Managing Broker Windermere Peninsula Properties

Makes me appreciative of all we do have. I am looking forward to better times for all-Dinah Lee

Nov 20, 2008 04:31 PM
Carol Swain
Keller Williams Real Estate - Langhorne, PA
Realtor, -www.swainsells.com- Bucks County, Pa

Looks like the people purposely left the home a mess because they were losing it.

Nov 20, 2008 08:39 PM
Kelly Willey
Long and Foster BEL AIR MARYLAND - Bel Air, MD
Short Sale Agent - Harford County Maryland Real Estate

Jack: I work foreclosures and see this kind of condition ALL the time. Its very sad

Nov 20, 2008 10:06 PM
Frank Torre
Torre Inspection Service, LLC 888-202-8869 - Hicksville, NY

Hi Jack, great post, I done a few foreclosure inspections that were in terrible condition. From missing cabinets and counter tops to concrete poured in all the plumbing pipes and electric wires removed from the walls.

Nov 20, 2008 11:27 PM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Karen - I don't like having inspections like this.  First, the rehaber went belly up doing these.  Second, a pretty nice house is almost destroyed.  Third, when they are that bad it is a bunch of extra writing and explanation.

Katarine - The second house wasn't as bad, because the damage was more superficial.  In this case I can only give the investor info on the problems and consult on likely repairs.  Although, I do have to be honest about the post repair costs, etc.

Pacita - I do see this more often now, but at least in this case it was a rehabing co.

 

Nov 21, 2008 07:45 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Dinah - Yes, I can't imagine being in the position of having nowhere to go.

Carol - These were squatters.  The house was empty for over a year.

Kelly - I don't think I'd like to work foreclosures.  I see enough from the investors side.

 

Nov 21, 2008 07:50 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Frank - I start shaking my head from the time I enter to the time I leave.  I found out today that these are in a block of five being sold, so I have the rest to do next week.

 

Nov 21, 2008 07:55 AM
Justin Ukaoma
Vizion KC - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate Investments

This just goes to show that you can't judge a house by its cover.

Nov 21, 2008 11:55 AM
Robert Flaa
R Eyes Home Inspections - Denton, TX
#9501 Home Inspector

Jack, i found that every time that i pull up and say this will be an easy one, i think that the lord gets me every time. i turns out to be the inspection from h--- this has happened more than one time for me. and the report is the biggest beating of all. one time i think i took 400 photos that took some time to do the report.

Best of luck and may god be with you.

Nov 21, 2008 04:33 PM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

Sometimes I wonder what the backstory is on some of the foreclosures I see. It's a very real reminder that this is a challenging economic time for many people.

Nov 21, 2008 04:54 PM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Justin - I'm wrong almost everytime I try to judge "what the inside looks like". 

Robert - Thanks and hopefully you'll have some easy ones.

John - When someone tries to tell me the history of the houses (either foreclosure or tax sales) I try to not listen.  Job is easier when you don't know.

Jack

Nov 22, 2008 01:35 PM
Rich Mielke
REMAX Results, Frederick MD - Frederick, MD
REALTOR, Frederick Maryland Real Estate

It would be interesting to see what the MLS sheet had to show and say about this home. My guess would be just an exterior photo and comments saying it needs a little TLC, perhaps?

Nov 23, 2008 01:46 AM
Lynn Krogseng
Keller Williams Premier Partners - Vancouver, WA

You said "There was very little indication on the exterior that the interior was trashed." and you were referring to the house; when I read it though, I immediately thought how that is so true for people too.

Nov 23, 2008 04:37 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Looks like an "investor's special." A little paint, some air freshener, and voila: Recently renovated. LOL

Dec 02, 2008 02:17 PM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Rich - Just for kicks I called it up. Are you psychic?

Lynn - You're right. Someone at one time had put a lot of money and more time in this and now it is back where it started.

RR - Probably just what will be done.

 

Dec 02, 2008 02:35 PM