Whats your best HI picture of all times?

[Rick Hurst]

Do you have an all time favorite picture that you've taken on a HI? Something you came across and just said WTF, I've got to have a picture of that. If so, post it up.

Here's one of mine to get it going.

rick

[John Arnold]

Here's one of my favorites. Home-made lint collector in attic.

[Daniel Leung]

A handyman tries to get furnace heating into a new bedroom in the basement. Therefore, he cut and connected the furnace vent …...

[Jim Luttrall]

Daniel, that is criminal!:eek:
Is that a mother-in-law suite?;)

[Daniel Leung]

Daniel, that is criminal!:eek:
Jim, yes it is. I asked him to correct it immediately and return to check after 2 days. See, what he did......

[Richard Moore]

I think Daniel's photos of the original set-up just ruined this "contest". Amazing! :eek:

But...still worth trying for second place.

The worst furnace filter I have yet found...

[mathew stouffer]

I don't have the pic, it's like the one that got away, but I walked into a utility room filled with about 8 inches of cat crap.

[Matt Fellman]

Storing a paper sack next to a furnace flue.... bad idea? Look what's inside!

[Jack Feldmann]

i have two favorites (for now)

[John Dirks Jr]

I found this in an attic. It's about 18" long. It was no where near the hatch. Someone made an effort to keep it out of sight. I called the PD, who called the FD, who called the bomb squad, who called the Air Force. Snarled the neighborhood for about 5 hours. They claimed it was a harmless flare. I don't know how "harmless" a flare could be? It shouldn't have been there. Calling the PD was the right move.

[Matt Fellman]

One more of my favorites.... note the Jerry Springer on the top TV. Kind of a Jeff Foxworthy meets Jerry Springer collage.

[Erby Crofutt]

I've put my favorites up on my website. Keeps em looking aroiund a little longer.

Cockamamie Home Inspection Photos from B4U Close Home Inspections (http://b4uclose.tripod.com/cockamamiephotos/)



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[Nick Ostrowski]

Maybe not the best but some of my favorites.

[Rick Hurst]

Nick,

Thats great. You went to all the trouble of removing that panel cover only to find drywall.

rick

[Nick Ostrowski]

What's just as ridiculous Rick is that the builder went through the trouble of installing the frame to create the illusion of an access panel. If you're the worker assigned this task, aren't you saying "why the hell am I doing this?"

Although on second though, it looks as though it may have been partially open at one point and then patched shut. Either way, it's just stupid.

[Ted Menelly]

Certainly not the best shot but it left me scratching my head. This carbon monoxide detector was a foot off of the floor at the back wall of the garage. Yeah think it will ever go off????

[Gunnar Alquist]

With the exception of Daniel's, I like the first in my selection.

Yes, it is an extension cord that runs from (or possibly to) the pool light.

[Scott Patterson]

Well to date these would be my front runners:

[A.D. Miller]

Well to date these would be my front runners:

Scott: Your third one is choice.

[Erby Crofutt]

And then, there's always the dead animal contest!




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[John Kogel]

Nice find, Erby.
My wet crawl entry is beauty in its simplicity.

[Nick Ostrowski]

I almost forget my 10 gauge romex service cable splice.

[Bruce Ramsey]

Poly, Pex, Copper & Galvanized. Notice girder top center

[Nick Ostrowski]

Is that a termite tube on the brick pier Bruce?

[Dave Hahn]

My fave's:
1) snake passing between CS and hole in block wall into the interior
2) upside down evaporator coil
3) lint trap?
4) square peg, round hole
5) too short ya think ?? (both !!)
6) needle support of valley rafter

[Joe Laurieri]

I am new to the busines so I not have many to pick from.

However the EMT handrail in the $750,000 home does it for me.

Especialy with those great high end brackets.

[Ralph Stakely]

Garage beam below master suite.

[mathew stouffer]

This is going to be difficult to access in the winter with an average of 400 to 500 inches of snow.

[Jerry Peck]

This is going to be difficult to access in the winter with an average of 400 to 500 inches of snow.


At 33 FEET to 41 FEET of snow, it ain't gonna matter WHERE you put that ... you tain't a gonna fin' it nohow. :eek:

[mathew stouffer]

You will just have to dig an extra five feet.

[Rick Hurst]

From inspection yesterday and the seller is supposedly an engineer. Can't figure out the installation directions I guess.:D

rick

[Brian Thomas]

From inspection yesterday and the seller is supposedly an engineer. Can't figure out the installation directions I guess.:D

rick

Thats hilarious! Why dont people just install the sensors by the door like they are supposed to? I know people just try to get around that safety feature by installing them on the ceiling or a wall. As long as the eyes are facing each other than the door will operate correctly. But how much harder is it to put them where they are supposed to go?

[Jerry Peck]

Thats hilarious! Why dont people just install the sensors by the door like they are supposed to? I know people just try to get around that safety feature by installing them on the ceiling or a wall. As long as the eyes are facing each other than the door will operate correctly. But how much harder is it to put them where they are supposed to go?


It isn't that it is harder to install them correctly, it is that who wants the door to reverse when you press the button and close the door, then walk out under it? :rolleyes:

I mean, who would want the door to reverse with them under the door? :)

[Brian Thomas]

It isn't that it is harder to install them correctly, it is that who wants the door to reverse when you press the button and close the door, then walk out under it? :rolleyes:

I mean, who would want the door to reverse with them under the door? :)

I know it! I mean it really is hard to step over that invisible beam that hovers just a few inches off the floor. Youd have to be an olympic high jumper to hurdle that type of height :p

[Jerry Peck]

It isn't that it is harder to install them correctly, it is that who wants the door to reverse when you press the button and close the door, then walk out under it? :rolleyes:

I mean, who would want the door to reverse with them under the door? :)


I know it! I mean it really is hard to step over that invisible beam that hovers just a few inches off the floor. Youd have to be an olympic high jumper to hurdle that type of height :p

Brian,

Me thinks you missed the critical part of my post ... which I have gone back and highlighted in bold red text ... ;)

[Tom Rollins]

New type of spark arrestor. They are real easy to install and just a few screws will do the job.

[Brandon Whitmore]

How about this one from last week. It's a shower enclosure with a built in laundry chute, in case you need to strip while in the shower. Also, the curtain is on the wrong side because the wall was rotted out.

[Rick Hurst]

For your entertainment pleasure, I have an ivy covered home, a downdraft vent terminating behind the condensing unit and a support post missing at patio cover.

Also as a reminder with the rising heat and humidity, it is important to have plenty of fluids with you too.:D

Rick

[Ron Bibler]

He had a bit to much at dinner last night :eek:

Best

Ron

[Michael Chambers]

A beam support problem!
Exterior powerstrip!
Bulging water heater connection!
A fearless fellow guarding a blower compartment!

[Jerry Peck]

For your entertainment pleasure, I have an ivy covered home,


Rick,

They are really, really, really not going to like you when you tell them to remove the ivy ... not after spending all those years to get it to grow that way and look so cool! :eek:

[Jim Zborowski]

:D I know I've posted this before, but I still can't believe they actually made such a fitting.

[Jim Zborowski]

ok, let me try this again well, crap.......it won't take it

[John Dirks Jr]

I found these three in a Baltimore row home just yesterday. The salmon steaks on the counter have an expiration date of DEC 2007. As much as I wanted to open the fridge, I refrained.

[Rick Hurst]

Rick,

They are really, really, really not going to like you when you tell them to remove the ivy ... not after spending all those years to get it to grow that way and look so cool! :eek:

Jerry, they are not liking me this morning at all. I've been on the phone with the listing agent, the seller, and the buyer.

Your exactly right in that I told them all of the ivy has to come down. Not only was it full of carpenter ants that was entering around the windows, but the ivy was preventing the water to drain from the guttering and spillage was rotting out the soffit and fascia.

The buyer wants to know about the "sucker root" evidence all over the brick, soffits, and HP siding and how difficult is it going to remove.

I told her I had no clue cause I've never done it before, but I am sure its not going to be no party.:D

The seller is all bent out of shape about it. He offered them 250. and said they could remove it after closing. The kicker is that it is noted all my WDI report and is recommended to be removed. Now the lender is saying if its on the WDI report, it has to come down.

Yeah, I sure my ear will be like cauliflower before the day is over.

Rick

[Jerry Peck]

The buyer wants to know about the "sucker root" evidence all over the brick, soffits, and HP siding and how difficult is it going to remove.

I told her I had no clue cause I've never done it before, but I am sure its not going to be no party.:D


Rick,

Tell her this: There is a house just down around the corner and down the street from me which is a brick house and was covered with ivy (beautiful house, turrets with copper roofs, you name it, absolutely a house to dream of having), they removed the ivy about 6 months ago and you can see the outline of where the vines were all over the front and sides of the brick. It will take time, a lot of time, for those to 'fade in' and not show.

I would go take a photo to show you, but it has been three days of constant rain here (FINALLY - RAIN! ... Okay, but enough is enough already - probably at least 9" or more in 3 days and STILL POURING outside, not far from us, as of last night on the news, they have had 13" in those three days).

The first photo is not a lake or a canal, that is our street, the last photo is rain over pouring the gutters, the downspouts simply cannot keep up with it. Oh, and that blue thing is our recycle bin which I have not been able to retrieve yet.

[John Arnold]

Because I'm a child of the '60s I can't actually remember if I took this photo, but I think I did.
If someone else did, and I stole it, well excuuuuuusssse meeeee!

[Eric Van De Ven]

To bad this wasn't up north or this bird would have central heat.
This is a dryer vent installed in a fake wall at the front sliding glass doors. The cover either didn't fit or got knocked off by the door opening and now, this bird has made it its home.

[Rick Hurst]

Jerry,

At least your yard is going to be plenty green.:D

While on the subject of vines, I found this picture I posted back in 2006 of a house that is a good example of what is left on the structure even if the foliage is killed off.

Can you imagine trying to remove this stuff?

rick

[Brandon Whitmore]

Rick,

I'm curious; would you remove the ivy growth from the WDO report if all of the vegetation was say cut up 8" above grade and the home was treated for the ants? That way, the stuff would die over time, and be easier to pull off I would think.

[Bruce Ramsey]

As someone with a little past experience in removing ivy...

It is much better to try and remove it while it is still green. If you cut it off at the base, the vines dry out and get brittle. When you pull a vine it just continues to break off in small lengths. While still green, you can often get lengths of 10 feet or more.

Either way there will still be residue on the brick work. Time for power wash or sand blast. Cleaning the residue off the brick work would probably work better once it is dead and dried out. Less adhesion to the brick.

[Rick Hurst]

Rick,

I'm curious; would you remove the ivy growth from the WDO report if all of the vegetation was say cut up 8" above grade and the home was treated for the ants? That way, the stuff would die over time, and be easier to pull off I would think.

No, I would still keep it on my WDI report.

rick

[Ted Menelly]

This may not have the ivy thing but with a realtor finding some other inspector that understands realtors and Realtor needs and the need to work with Realtors and their busy schedules for my client that I already booked for Saturday. This inspector understands all about Realtors needs and wants and it is about to make me sick.

The Realtor could not make it saturday afternoon (like I wanted her there anyway) so she talked my client into going with the other, more understanding Inspector, from the Dallas area, to fit her needs.

Just a little pissed here.

Are all you Dallas inspectors so understanding to the Realtor needs and wants and schedules????

It might have something to do about me telling her in the past that I do not work for any realtor. This is the second time she has done this. I think it is time to call one of my relatives that is understanding to my needs and wants !!!!!!!!!!!

Did I just say that. I didn't do it. Honest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rick Hurst]

Ted,

Sounds more like this agent just has it out for you. Whoever the other "Dallas" inspector is may not even know that you had it scheduled.

You really can't blame another inspector for booking a call if they called him and he had room in their schedule.
Note: Not me, I'm booked into next week.:D

Some agents get a vendetta against a home inspector and will try avoid them like the plague.

I know (or should I say) I've known realtors that felt the same about me.;)

rick

[Ted Menelly]

Ted,

Sounds more like this agent just has it out for you. Whoever the other "Dallas" inspector is may not even know that you had it scheduled.

You really can't blame another inspector for booking a call if they called him and he had room in their schedule.
Note: Not me, I'm booked into next week.:D

Some agents get a vendetta against a home inspector and will try avoid them like the plague.

I know (or should I say) I've known realtors that felt the same about me.;)

rick

Just venting Mr Rick. I know who it is and trust me, he is like that. The Realtors x Broker reviewed my report on an inspection when this realtor was bad mouthing me to all the other Realtors in the office over my bad "deal killer" report. I know the broker well. The Realtor is no longer working under that broker. She is now at it again and I may have to voice my opinion in a broader manner. A realtor in her office has already voiced her opinion to the powers to be. I may not have to do anything. This is the second client since the original incident that this realtor has alienated from me. You know and I know what bad words can do to a home inspector if people are willing to believe the vindictive 30 something, hormone riddled B****.

Yeah. Thats what I am talking about. I feel much better now :)

[Rick Hurst]

Ted,

There is such a thing as slander which some Realtors may not be aware of. If this person is giving you such, you should report them to TREC.

rick

[Brandon Whitmore]

Bruce and Rick,

Thanks for the info. I don't have to deal with ivy around here and just got to wondering.

[Gary Burnett]

Looking down an old chimney in East Dallas and something looking back!
HVAC guy couldn't figure why the furnace wouldn't stay on.

[archivoyeur]

Looking down an old chimney in East Dallas and something looking back!
HVAC guy couldn't figure why the furnace wouldn't stay on.

Hah! Classic. Gary do you mind if I keep a copy of this shot?
-tc

[mathew stouffer]

This is what 1.2million will get you in park city.

[Glenn Duxbury]

That was great; this should happen more often - maybe Quarterly ?

Sorry I'm a bit tardy is replying...

Here's another great jog of supporting a beam-end (HUGE upper Deck) & hope this works.


CHEERS, ALL !


-Glenn Duxbury, CHI - License #47730

[Gary Burnett]

Archivoyeur,
Give me your email and I'll send a larger picture.
GB
Put it in private messages.

[Russel Ray]

Mine is still my "electric panels" located in the foundation crawl space:

[Dana Bostick]

Do you have an all time favorite picture that you've taken on a HI? Something you came across and just said WTF, I've got to have a picture of that. If so, post it up.

Here's one of mine to get it going.

rick

Two of the water heaters in a 4 unit bootleg remodel.
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l426/Kizzyspop/Inspection%20Pics/HowNOTtoventdualW-H.jpg

[Brian Thomas]

Two of the water heaters in a 4 unit bootleg remodel.
http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l426/Kizzyspop/Inspection%20Pics/HowNOTtoventdualW-H.jpg

Im not seeing a problem here :)

[Dave Gilstrap]

I have a couple of good ones too. Check out the service panel with no back mounted to a metal beam in a metal building.

[Ted Menelly]

I have a couple of good ones too. Check out the service panel with no back mounted to a metal beam in a metal building.

That panel is about one of the deadliest I have seen in some time.

[Rick Hurst]

Dave,

I'd bet that child's playhouse in the background of that picture would appraise for more than the house itself.

rick

[Dave Gilstrap]

Rick,
You're probably right that house was a POS. But you gotta love that chimney.

[Matt Shapiro]

$900,000 home and when we found this, the client and I laughed and made all the usual jokes about needing the housed smogged and such.

Of course, we probably could find the person who did this by running the plate!

[Rick Hurst]

Matt,

When you turned the key in the door, did you hear any unusual knocking or smoke. Did the buyer take it a spin around the block or kick the bricks on it?

rick

[Mike Schulz]

I like these two photo's because they where installed this way when they where built and not a DYI.
Light fixture almost boxed in by plumbing.
Gas pipe run through duct.
The home comes with it's own theme song "You light up my Life".

[Jerry McCarthy]

When nothing but the finest protection will do !

[JORY LANNES]

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Jory/Desktop/WATERHOSE%20ELECTRIC.jpgfile:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Jory/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpgfile:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Jory/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpgWATER HOSE CONDUIT .......THIS WAS OUTSIDE A HOME WITH 3 CHILDREN

[Duane Nelson]

The best from last week. I can hear it now: "When we insulated the attic, a galvanized vent pipe broke off. Don't worry - we fixed it with some bathroom fan ducting that wasn't hooked to anything."

[Glenn Curtis]

01 The 'africanized' bees living in this station-valve box were NOT happy to see me!
02 Unhappy evicted homeowners left bullets in GD for me to find...the hard way!
03 Bathroom floor rotted and collapsed... (snicker...really just a painting over a concrete floor in a bathroom....cool eh?)
04 (deleted)... never mind!
05 Told 'em the trees were dead and in danger of falling into the home. A bit later...after some wind...I took this photo.
06 No trouble getting into the closet for inspection...heck of a time getting out! Man he was fast with that little web-spinning-thingey!!!:eek:

Nothing better to do on a holiday than sit and do this!
Oopps...the grandkids are banging on the door. NOW I've got something 'better'...:rolleyes:
See 'youse' guys L8r !

[Gerry Martin]

Partial smurf tube connection of gasoline pumps----

[Jerry McCarthy]

I have hundreds of construction defect photos, but if I had to pick one that really blew my mind it’s this one where a classic Darwin Candidate in an effort to get heat into his child’s bedroom cut a neat opening in the bedroom wall and tapped into the hallway gas fired wall heater flue vent. Pleasant dreams Junior!

[Joe Klampfer]

I was a little nervous opening up the main switch compartment.

[Jim Gallant]

I've got a few oldies but goodies.

[Rick Hurst]

Here's a few more from my history file.

rick

[James Bohac]

Greeted me under a home one day. Forgot he was there. Almost had to change my shorts when he came charging in!!

[John Arnold]

Here's a few more from my history file.

rick

Rick, What the *&%$#@ is going on inside that port-a-potty??????!!!!!!!!!

[Ted Menelly]

Rick, What the *&%$#@ is going on inside that port-a-potty??????!!!!!!!!!

Crack head igniting the sewer gasses. Or someone smoking after a heavy re fried bean lunch and igniting his own gasses

[archivoyeur]

The best part of this shot got cropped out. That light bulb is draped over a piece of 3/4" outside corner trim. That trim runs from the top of the cabinet at the right, (no, not nailed, just sitting there on the middle of the case), to a hole in the wall at the left. This pic shows the repair. In the orginal there was no outlet. The cord previously ran through the hole in the wall and was plugged in in the bathroom.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a179/carzonthehill/thriftylanlord.jpg

[A.D. Miller]

Not mine, but it should qualify.

[Rick Hurst]

Redneck tree swing:eek:

[Stephen Meyer]

I call this my stupid trick. $10K ride, $15K Trauma unit bill, Got to see the Bright light first hand, around to tell it. Make sure your ladder is above the facia.....and do not test it for stability at 20ft above the ground.

[Rick Hurst]

Wow Stephen, that was quite a bill due on that HI wasn't it?

I hope your ok.

Ladders and panelboards are the ones that will get us.

rick

[Mike Schulz]

What's a Panel Board :confused: They stopped using paneling on walls in the late 60's didn't they:p
You mean Breaker panel or Fuse panel :D I'm Joking Jerry......

Roof, ladder, attic and panels will get us ;)

[Jerry Peck]

Roof, ladder, attic and panels will get us ;)

I know an inspector who was walking around a yard which was tiered in two height with railroad ties around the higher elevation, he placed his foot wrong on the railroad tie, slipped, and fell, breaking his ankle.

A couple of us went and finished the inspection for him as he was taken to the hospital - not like Stephen, but taken nonetheless.

[Jim Luttrall]

This is not the best all time, but I just came across it from todays report.
Screws have to be better than nails, right george?

[Rick Hurst]

Jim,

I blame those labels for not being in Spanish.:rolleyes: And its not George, its Jorge.

rick

[Jim Luttrall]

Yeah that might explain this, but that does not explain the improper shingle installation, every shingle bundle has the instructions and diagrams in both Spanish and English. I think it is more like, "instructions, instructions, we don't need no stinkin' insturctions!":D

[Rick Hurst]

Jim,

They could just do away with the English instructions totally. When was the last time you saw a "white boy" on the roof installing shingles.:D

rick

[A.D. Miller]

Yeah that might explain this, but that does not explain the improper shingle installation, every shingle bundle has the instructions and diagrams in both Spanish and English. I think it is more like, "instructions, instructions, we don't need no stinkin' insturctions!":D

JL: They might actually read them - if they could read.:D

[Ed Voytovich]

It isn't that it is harder to install them correctly, it is that who wants the door to reverse when you press the button and close the door, then walk out under it? :rolleyes:

I mean, who would want the door to reverse with them under the door? :)

Mr Jerry Peck, may I introduce you to Mr Charles Darwin. Mr Darwin has a theory that may help answer your question.

[Mark Mitchell]

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/HP_Administrator/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/New%20Folder%20%2822%29/Stoned%20plumber.JPGNot sure what the plumber had been on this particular day when I carried out this inspection!

Mark.:)

[Rick Hurst]

Besides being out of straight PVC pipe, he also must be out of nail guards too.

rick

[Mark Mitchell]

Hello Rick

Nail guards...hell no, that just would have spoiled the guys trip having to think sensibly!!

Mark.

[Ron Bibler]

These are from a kitchen wall With the Infrared camera I could see they had a problem... SUB-TERMITES HAD TRASH A 6X6 IN THE WALL...

Best

Ron

[Trent Tarter]

This is the best I have for this week.

[Alan Miles]

New Construction, 2 year old Model Home that had never had the water cut on because it was a model home. The extra pipe under the master bathroom sink leaked when I tested it. Luckily the water ran out under the cabinet door because the cabinet was not levelled either.

[Alan Miles]

Whats for Dinner Ma. It must be leftovers. A forclosure story. The aroma drove us out of the home.

[Mike Schulz]

Alan what is that tail piece on the bottom of that sink? What would it's purpose be?

[archivoyeur]

Inside and outside view of secondary emergency exit, and primary emergency exit, after I dug it out. (that'ts the good stair).

No, sorry, not residential. Manufacturing.

[Rick Vernon]

Recent.
Furnace on left-water heater on right.
T & P discharge and the condensate drain share a discharge tube.

[Gerry Martin]

Found this homemade outdoor distribution system today----just when i thought i'd seen it all---- :eek:

[Vern Heiler]

Found this homemade outdoor distribution system today----just when i thought i'd seen it all---- :eek:

There ya go! A sub-panel.