Special offer

How Did You Miss This During Your Home Inspection?

By
Real Estate Agent with Integrity Real Estate Group

It's hard to believe that no one noticed this problem before the deed was transferred from the lender to the new owner.  Even when buying an foreclosure there is the opportunity for a home inspection.  Sure the home inspector is looking at the major mechanical systems in the house but if the house has been sitting empty for a period of time they are likely going to notice a few other things as well.

In this case the other thing seems to be hundreds if not thousands of garter snakes.  I'm not sure, if the snakes are as prevalent as the video portrays, how anyone coming to the house could have missed them.  Though Caveat Emptor or "Let the Buyer Beware" is the standard phrase used in Virginia I'd say you need to Google the house address and see if there might be a reason the neighbors shy away from coming to visit. 

If you are a buyer just starting on your home search in Northern Virginia give me a Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213.  We have a great home inspector who won't overlook the snakes crawling around in the attic, basement and yard.  We'll help you do your due diligence so you don't end up with a slithering nightmare as your new home.

 

 

Posted by

                                   Real People*Real Lives*Real Estate

If you are interested in learning more about the Northern Virginia Real Estate market including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties give Cindy Jones and Integrity Real Estate Group a call at 703-346-2213.

Military Relocation Specialist serving military families relocating to and from the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Quantico MCB and all of the Military District of Washington installations. 

Military Relocation Professional


Check out www.varealestatetalk.com and www.cjrealtygroup.com for more information.

Integrity Real Estate Group
 
Real People*Real Life*Real Estate

Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia



 

 

Comments(25)

Karen Poss
Coldwell Banker Pinnacle Properties, Florence Alabama - Florence, AL
Realtor - 256-366-6292 - Search Florence Al Homes For Sale

Whew!  Can you imagine?!?  I saw this on the news the other night and thought those poor homeowners!  Gives me the creeps just thinking about it...and I didn't even play your video.

Jun 28, 2011 11:20 AM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

What amuchado about little....friendly snakes with no rattles on their tails.

The clip says the aggrieved homeowners are moving to nearby Rexburg, ID.  That is the location of BYU-Idaho.  I'm confident the they could have found at least one prof there who could have told them how to get rid of the snakes.

Jun 28, 2011 11:41 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

You never know what to inspect when buying a property that has been vacant.  The termite inspector should have found the snakes if the home inspector missed them.

Blooming for you!

Jun 28, 2011 02:15 PM
Donna Malone
Waterfront, Luxury, Family, Affordable, Cottage, Deals - Bridgewater, NS
Homes and Property for Sale Nova Scotia

Cindy, oooooouuuuuuu, I would not be a happy home owner with that many of any critter hanging around - and in - my house.

Jun 28, 2011 02:30 PM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

Cindy.....I had one recently that the pest control company had to come back twice to get beeeeeees out of the attic.....I can't imagine someone not seeing those snakes if they walked around the house.
Hope you have a great day!---Rob

Go Vols!

Jun 28, 2011 11:58 PM
Ritu Desai 703-625-4949
Samson Properties - Chantilly, VA
Northern Virginia,Washington DC & Maryland Realtor

OMG....it gave me goose bumps..I guess sometimes small and big things do get over looked.

Jun 28, 2011 11:59 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Heather-how could the new buyer's not notice when they went to look at the property?

Jun 29, 2011 12:20 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Mike-my clients have learned a lot by talking to the neighbors.  Always a good idea to spend more than 15 minutes at a house before you decide to buy.

Jun 29, 2011 12:21 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Mike-this is true but that doesn't mean a buyer shouldn't do their do diligence.

Jun 29, 2011 12:21 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Praful-that many of anything would be an infestation that I wouldn't want to deal with.

Jun 29, 2011 12:22 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Ellen-at least ladybugs are cute.  Though an invasion of them would be annoying.

Jun 29, 2011 12:23 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Karen-I think there may have been a movie or two with a similiar theme.  Or was that spiders?

Jun 29, 2011 12:23 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Jim-I've caught a garter snake or two in my life.  However I don't think I'd like to have them showing up in my house by the dozens.  I'm sure there must be a way to eradicate or convince them to move somewhere else.

Jun 29, 2011 12:24 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Roy-it is hard to believe if there are that many of them slithering around that everyone missed them.

Jun 29, 2011 12:25 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Rob-if they were honey bees did you end up with a nice pot of honey at the end of the day?  Any critter can likely be removed with professional help.

Jun 29, 2011 12:26 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Ritu-I can understand a few small things but hundreds of snakes would be hard to miss...I would think.

Jun 29, 2011 12:27 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

I would be out of there SO FAST! I don't care what kind of snake it is! How can anybody purchase and NOT have a home inspection?

Jun 29, 2011 04:29 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Barbara Jo-obviously all the news has is the sensationalism regarding the snakes.  It does seem odd that no one noticed this infestation before they went to settlement.

Jun 29, 2011 05:57 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Donna-I don't mind one or two little garter snakes keeping things out of the garden but by the hundreds...not so much.

Jun 29, 2011 05:58 AM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate

OMG!  I'm seeing so many snakes this year.  This is unbelievable!  I would not be able to sleep at night if I knew these things were in my house.

Jun 29, 2011 02:04 PM