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who likes short-shorts?

By Alan May

Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

October 22, 2009 01:09 AM

Okay, here is a photo from an inspection that I completed last night, on a condo that I sold.

I took the photo with my cell-phone, and it was inside a darkened cabinet, so I know that doesn't make it very easy... but honestly... even if it were crystal clear... I think you'd have a rough time figuring this one out.

Anybody want to take a guess as to what you're looking at??

It definitely doesn't meet code, and will assuredly have to be replaced before my client moves in. I'm personally stunned that it was installed like this... and that it's lasted any length of time.

In fact (here comes the clue) the installation sucks!

Any thoughts?

(I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall, when this issue came up... and some mouth-breather said "hey, whyn't we try THIS!?")

Yeesh!

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Kathy Fuhriman

Bear River Valley Realty - Tremonton, UT

Okay, I give up!! What is it?

Oct 22, 2009 01:11 AM

Alan May

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL

Home is where the hearth is.

well, Kathy, you can't give up this early in the game. I'm gonna entertain guesses till midday, and then I'll consider telling.

Oct 22, 2009 01:13 AM

Cheryl Thomson REALTOR Ret Army

United Real Estate DC Metro Region (703.216.5635) cheryltee47@gmail.com - Prince William, VA

Associate Broker in Northern Virginia

...I don't believe I'm correct but it looks like a pair of jeans to me!

Oct 22, 2009 01:19 AM

Richard Weisser

Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA

Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Alan...

Is it the duct from the kitchen vent?

Oct 22, 2009 01:20 AM

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA

Probate Real Estate Services

Alan: Looks like a pair of jeans to me as well. Maybe the jeans were used to vent the kitchen? (LOL)

Oct 22, 2009 01:22 AM

Cheryl, Richard and Kathleen... you are ALL correct. That is the leg of a pair of jeans, that has been used as a substitute for the vent leading from the Microwave hood, out of the kitchen!!

I was floored... (so was the inspector).

(is it midday already?)

Oct 22, 2009 01:24 AM

Dennis Duvernay Broker/Owner

Hillview Realty - Northbridge, MA

It does look like a duct from the heating under a kitchen sink attached are a pair of jeans to have the heat come out from the cabinet......my guess anyway.....LOL

SarahGray Lamm

Allen Tate Realtors Chapel Hill, NC 919-819-8199 - Chapel Hill, NC

Realtor - 100K Hours of NC Real Estate Experience

I'm going with a 'vent' made out of the seat of an old pair of blue jeans! Seriously?!?!

Oct 22, 2009 01:25 AM

Dennis - that one would make just as much sense.

SaraGray - yep. Seriously. Can you imagine the thought process?

Oct 22, 2009 01:26 AM

Betina Foreman

WJK Realty - Austin, TX

Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

Holy cow! What on earth were they thinking?? The greasy residue collcting on the denim is a fire hazzard!! WTH?!?!

Oct 22, 2009 01:40 AM

Kate Kate

San Diego, CA

Ah come on, looks like fireproof duct tape tethering the jeans...

Oct 22, 2009 01:44 AM

yup, nothing like nice greasy denim as tinder... Betina

Kate - at least we know the duct tape won't catch on fire

(now, there's a really nice password! Wasn't he a co-star on Star Trek, the Wrath of Khan?)

Oct 22, 2009 02:03 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

That's quite the code violation! I'm curious what other items came up on the inspection list.

Oct 22, 2009 02:31 AM

Actually, Craig, the balance of the property was pretty good... there was a little D.I.Y. plumbing under the kitchen sink that needed to be redone, a little bit of D.I.Y. electrical lighting under the kitchen cabinets that needed to be redone... but overall... the rest was good.

Good furnace, good AC, good water pressure, new appliances, new cabinets, new lighting, good electrical panel (no double-taps), good bathrooms... the big stuff was fine.

Oct 22, 2009 02:36 AM

Ian Niquette

Square One Home Inspection - Markesan, WI

Alan, that definitely would make a top ten list somewhere.

Oct 23, 2009 04:36 PM

Ian - or perhaps a "bottom ten"

Oct 24, 2009 01:38 AM

JL Boney, III

Coldwell Banker - Columbia, SC

Columbia, SC Real Estate

Looks like some creative handy work if you ask me, and yes, they might want to get that repaired my friend.

Oct 24, 2009 02:55 PM

JL - it wasn't even some fancy french jeans... just Levis'

Oct 24, 2009 03:35 PM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

Without peeking my guess would be a return on a furnace.

Oct 25, 2009 01:38 AM

fairly close, James. I'm sure you peeked, after you answered... it's the exhaust fan for the microwave. Very creative no? Safe, NO!

Oct 25, 2009 02:31 AM

who likes short-shorts?

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