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An Unwelcome Visitor At the Home Inspection

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Real Estate Agent

An Unwelcome Visitor At the Home Inspection

Warning: Don't read any further if you are squeamish.

I was at a home inspection last week with my buyers and their wonderful home inspector, Lisa Alajajian of HomeQuest Consultants. Lisa is an extremely detailed and thorough home inspector. If you are buying a house, she is the kind of home inspector you want working on your behalf. Not only will she educate you about the house and it's systems, but she will provide you with detailed information on each aspect of the house, and provide recommendations for further evaluations of the property, if necessary. Lisa is also the President of the New England chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). I cannot say enough good things about Lisa. You can reach her at 508-634-2010 or 877-898-9990 or email: homequest1@comcast.net

Ok, back to the story.

We had followed Lisa through a detailed inspection of the basement, and both floors of the house. We were out in the garage when all of a sudden Lisa jumped back with a shout.

For a minute, I thought she had been shocked. "What's the matter?" I asked. 

"There's a snake!" she said.Snake

"Snake!!" we all shouted.

Lying on a ledge along an inside wall of the garage was this snake. No one had been living in this house for a while, so the snake must have decided to move in rent free.

I have never seen a snake that looked like this in my town of Sharon, MA. My first thought is that it was someone's escaped pet. (Shudder!)

The buyer took a long stick and scooted the snake out of the garage. He got it into an empty recyling bin, put a lid on it, and big, heavy rock on top for good measure. I called Animal Control, and was told they would come pick it up.

Snake

 

Here's a picture of it with it's mouth open wide.

I still don't know what kind of snake this is. If you recognize it, please tell me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

garage door opener

 

Coincidentally, Lisa noticed that the name brand of the electric garage door openers was "Python".

No wonder the snake thought this was the right house for him!

Nina Rogoff, Top real estate agent in Sharon MA 02067

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Nina Rogoff and The Results Team!

RE/MAX Executive Realty

781-883-3764

www.ninarogoff.com

MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Hilarious and scary, too. It looks like someone's pet snake.

Nov 05, 2011 07:02 PM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

I'm not an expert but it looks similar to my daugher's red-tailed boa (which does NOT live with me).

Nov 05, 2011 07:03 PM
Nina Rogoff
Boston, MA
Wix Websites for Real Estate Agents

Michelle, I'm getting the shivers just thinking about that living in the house with me! I don't think I could even be an overnight guest in a home with snakes. Ok...now I'm really shivering!! lol

Nov 05, 2011 07:09 PM
Carlotta Remong
Berkshire Hathaway HS N.E. Prime Properties - Newport, RI

What a surprise that snake must have been to the inspector!

Nov 05, 2011 07:16 PM
Craig Cooper
Chase International Real Estate - Tahoe City, CA
Creating-Preserving-Growing Wealth in Real Estate

OMG not good Nina, that was close. That's just too co-inky dinky that the opener is named Python. Great story!

Nov 05, 2011 07:16 PM
Nina Rogoff
Boston, MA
Wix Websites for Real Estate Agents

Carlotta, it was! Snakes are definitely not high on her list of "favorite" finds at a home inspection. I feel the same way! :)

Craig, isn't that a riot about the garage door brand! I should probably send the link to the Python company!

 

Nov 05, 2011 07:25 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

That is so cool that you have a home inpsector that is a woman.  Wish she lived here.  Oh my on the snake.  That would really scare me.  Too funny on the python name.

Nov 05, 2011 09:17 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Nina, i have had black snakes at a home inspection before and my cute buyer was picking them up and putting them outside...the inspector & I were standing far away...i don't know if this is a boa or python but it looks like one of those serpents!  Great share..you better post what kind of snake it is when you find out!!

Nov 05, 2011 11:38 PM
Nina Rogoff
Boston, MA
Wix Websites for Real Estate Agents

Hi, Debbie, I agree! It's great that there are women in this field. More importantly, Lisa Alajajian is an outstanding home inspector!

Good morning, Ginny, I've been looking at snake pics online to see if I can figure it out. So far, it looks closest to a Corn Snake...not native to New England....but I have no idea if that's accurate or not. Hoping to find out.

Nov 06, 2011 02:25 AM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

I would have FREAKED out!  I am impressed that the buyer moved the snake and even more impressed that you took pictures of it!  I would have been across the street crying, lol :)!  

Nov 06, 2011 03:21 AM
Carol-Ann Palmieri
RE/MAX Executive Realty, Al and Cal Realty Group - Franklin, MA
"Cal" the Real Estate Gal

Hi Nina.  That is one for the book!   Love the snake story, but also have to say I am interested in the gal home inspector!!

Nov 06, 2011 05:50 AM
Christine Smith
Buyers Brokers Only LLC - www.BuyersBrokersOnly.com - Canton, MA
Exclusive Buyer Agent & Attorney, Canton, MA

I was reading the comments to see what kind of snake it is since I do not know my snakes! But thanks for the link on the home inspector.mi am always glad to put another one on the list!

Nov 06, 2011 09:34 AM
Nina Rogoff
Boston, MA
Wix Websites for Real Estate Agents

Brenda, I have to say, my first reaction was to run up the stairs into the house! Once my buyer started scooting it out of the garage it seemed safe to come down. Then my Activerain blogging instincts took over and I realized I needed photos! LOL

Carol Ann, buyers who hire Lisa Alajajian, of HomeQuest Consultants, for their home inspection end up with an extremely detailed understanding of the house and any potential issues they need to know about beforehand.

Good morning, Christine! Haven't heard yet from anyone who can identify the snake. I'm sending a photo to one of the university departments and hope that someone can tell me. I'm guessing it was someone's escaped pet, but I could be wrong.

Nov 07, 2011 12:28 AM
Anonymous
Ruthann Panipinto
Looks like an Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis t. triangulum) -relative of the corn snake but MA has no corn snakes.
Dec 10, 2013 03:13 AM
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