Results 1 to 26 of 26

Thread: WHY ?

  1. #1
    Rudolf Reusse's Avatar
    Rudolf Reusse Guest

    Default WHY ?

    My wife and I decided to visit Nova Scotia. We therefore crossed the US border in Cornwall - and travelled last week secondary roads through Vermont - New Hampshire and Main on our way to the Maritimes.

    Except for the beautiful landscape - many homes and buildings in the little villages and towns along the US route appeared to be in neglected or dilapidated condition - and countlessly collapsed and abandoned wood frame structures have simply been left behind to rot for years.

    I would like to hear from home inspectors who are operating in these parts of the US to find out about the reason for the unpleasant observation.

    Rudolf Reusse - Home Inspector since 1976 - Toronto / Canada


    OREP Insurance

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Healdsburg, CA
    Posts
    1,741

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Our economy, or lack of it.

    Jerry McCarthy
    Building Code/ Construction Consultant

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia PA
    Posts
    3,177

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Why? Maybe because we're too busy pouring what money we have down the sinkhole of Iraq instead of taking care of our own country's infrastructure, people and economy.
    Oh, sorry. That's not our money being spent in Iraq. It's China's. They're not going to make us pay it back, are they?


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Plano, Texas
    Posts
    4,245

    Default Re: WHY ?

    I think also there is a disposable society mindset (at least around here) where it is cheaper, easier to just start fresh than to rebuild something old.
    When is the last time you had an electronic device repaired? A watch?
    There used to be "fix-it" shops in every town, but now it is cheaper, easier, and better by some standards to replace rather than repair.
    JMO

    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Plano, Texas
    Posts
    4,245

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Quote Originally Posted by John Arnold View Post
    Why? Maybe because we're too busy pouring what money we have down the sinkhole of Iraq instead of taking care of our own country's infrastructure, people and economy.
    Oh, sorry. That's not our money being spent in Iraq. It's China's. They're not going to make us pay it back, are they?
    many homes and buildings in the little villages and towns along the US route appeared to be in neglected or dilapidated condition - and countlessly collapsed and abandoned wood frame structures have simply been left behind to rot for years.
    John, I think you missed the point, he was not asking about infrastructure, that would be personal property that individuals are responsible for, not government. Big government can't solve all of societies ills.


    Jim Luttrall
    www.MrInspector.net
    Plano, Texas

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
    Posts
    4,521

    Default Re: WHY ?

    As Jim said we live in a disposable society. It is amazing that people can go out and buy a brand new home and within a year or so, it looks as if it has been lived in 20+ years.

    I see it in all price range of homes too. From the starter homes to the McMansions.

    The days of people keeping up their lawns and the drive up appeal of their homes seems to be over.

    We have an azzhole right across the street that the HOA has to keep his lawn mowed and maintained because he won't do it and he's the first home you see coming in the neighborhood. They bill him 150. each time, but you can't get blood from a turnip.

    Everyone wants to blame it on "lack of funds" but I think it is more of a just don't give a sh*# attitude.

    rick

    Last edited by Rick Hurst; 07-08-2008 at 12:07 PM.

  7. #7
    Michael Larson's Avatar
    Michael Larson Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rudolf Reusse View Post
    Rudolf Reusse - Home Inspector since 1976 - Toronto / Canada
    Seems to be going around in Toronto as well

    and THIS

    and Public opinions


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
    Posts
    4,521

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Michael,

    Great investigative work there!

    rick


  9. #9
    Michael Larson's Avatar
    Michael Larson Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Hurst View Post
    Michael,

    Great investigative work there!

    rick
    The Internet is a wonderful thing Rick


  10. #10
    David Banks's Avatar
    David Banks Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rudolf Reusse View Post
    My wife and I decided to visit Nova Scotia. We therefore crossed the US border in Cornwall - and travelled last week secondary roads through Vermont - New Hampshire and Main on our way to the Maritimes.

    Except for the beautiful landscape - many homes and buildings in the little villages and towns along the US route appeared to be in neglected or dilapidated condition - and countlessly collapsed and abandoned wood frame structures have simply been left behind to rot for years.

    I would like to hear from home inspectors who are operating in these parts of the US to find out about the reason for the unpleasant observation.

    Rudolf Reusse - Home Inspector since 1976 - Toronto / Canada
    I live in Massachusetts but have family in Maine. Very familiar with New England. Most of what you see is the decline in the family farm. The Maine coast has some money areas mostly from New York and Mass people moving there or second homes. The Interior of Maine is very poor. Family farms gone, Maine potato's can not compete due to poor weather, shrinking lumber industry.
    New Hampshire basically the same thing far North.
    Vermont on the other hand is doing quite well do tho its beauty (Green Mountains) there is a good tourism base and farmers have adjusted and are successful selling natural/organic food. Tons of New York people with money have moved to this state permanently or second homes.
    You can notice the difference in the shape of homes as you pass from Vermont into NH. It is like instant change.


  11. #11
    Ron Bibler's Avatar
    Ron Bibler Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Its a bic lighter thing. if it's old chuck it in the trash can.

    Go buy a new one. I stop working on my cars 20 years ago. Send it to the shop if its 2 much to fix chuck in the trash. go get the new one.

    But then im still driving my 1999 ford ranger 180k ml. just can't kill the dang thing.

    Re: the homes in this post. No money in fixing them. The money is in other investments.

    Best

    Ron


  12. #12
    Deleted Account's Avatar
    Deleted Account Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    In his Peabody award winning series Alistair Cooke said "that if America been discovered from west to east much of New England & Canada would be uninhabited". With heating costs skyrocketing out of control this could come to past and you just may have witnessed the grand unraveling of the American dream.


  13. #13
    Richard Moore's Avatar
    Richard Moore Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    We drove around Maine and much of New England in 2004 and I don't remember seeing the conditions Rudolph describes. Of course, we were mostly at the coast and other touristy areas taking in the "quaintness" and scenary so were probably a bit blind to the uglier aspects.

    It's sad to read the stuff about Toronto. I lived there from '74 to '80 at which time it seemed a vibrant, growing and diverse community. I got to sit in one of the big downtown towers and waste a lot of time watching a huge helicopter add the top pieces to the CN tower. Being much younger and single my attention wasn't really on the infrastructure but I do remember it as being a very clean place (compared to London) and without any "no go" areas. Seeing the transit system described as "grossly inadequate" is a real surprise as my recollection of the subway and connecting bus routes was that you could get anywhere very easily. I keep meaning to go back for a visit. I might now skip that and just keep my pleasant memories.

    What's the old saying...Nostalgia ain't what it used to be!


  14. #14
    Ron Bibler's Avatar
    Ron Bibler Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    John ArnoldWhy? Maybe because we're too busy pouring what money we have down the sinkhole of Iraq instead of taking care of our own country's infrastructure, people and economy.
    Oh, sorry. That's not our money being spent in Iraq. It's China's. They're not going to make us pay it back, are they?

    Can I make a point and demonstrate absurdity by being absurd.

    "Blood for oil. I need the gas for my Harley".

    Ron


  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Healdsburg, CA
    Posts
    1,741

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Good show Rick and proves again that negative observations should begin with oneself and in this case, at home. People are people and there is no shortage of morons on this planet, country aside.

    Jerry McCarthy
    Building Code/ Construction Consultant

  16. #16
    imported_John Smith's Avatar
    imported_John Smith Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Cause its too damn cold up there. I think they all abandoned the cold and moved to Houston.


  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Philadelphia PA
    Posts
    3,177

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Quote Originally Posted by imported_John Smith View Post
    Cause its too damn cold up there. I think they all abandoned the cold and moved to Houston.
    Could humans live in Houston without air conditioning? I'm just asking.


  18. #18
    Ted Menelly's Avatar
    Ted Menelly Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    You would not want to live in Houston with out air.

    Average humidity 99.9%


  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Lake Barrington, IL
    Posts
    1,367

    Talking Re: WHY ?

    Rudolf,

    Sounds like you're getting some responses to your query from inspectors who have not realized that they don't live in the NE.

    Eric Barker, ACI
    Lake Barrington, IL

  20. #20
    imported_John Smith's Avatar
    imported_John Smith Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Actually I have lived in the northeast (for 2 miserable years). I enjoyed the scenery and the people, but its just too cold for me.

    I think you could live in Houston longer without AC than you could in the north without heat.


  21. #21
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: WHY ?

    I see it in the South as well. Most are old farms that have been bought up by who knows who and they are just letting them sit. All types of folks over the past ten or so years have been buying up land just to hold and I'm sure hope the value will go up.

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  22. #22
    Rudolf Reusse's Avatar
    Rudolf Reusse Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    I like to thank everyone who responded to my inquiry - including the individuals who have expressed their displeasure about my raised question.

    Rudolf Reusse - Toronto / Canada



  23. #23
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Charlotte NC Licensed in NC and SC
    Posts
    597

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Good reasons already posted but to dig a little deeper......


    Many people can just not make decisions, sometimes they inherit properties and either don't have the motivation to research their options or they are stuck with 33 1/3 ownership and can't act.

    Also, you have to "buy your neighbors". If the neighbors property looks like crap, why should you dump a lot of money into a house near it? Sometimes investors buy the whole block and tear everything down but that is hard to find in many areas.

    The old saying location, location, location is true most of the time.
    I actually prefer to tell people the most important thing with real estate is inspection, inspection, inspection.


  24. #24
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Memphis TN.
    Posts
    4,311

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Quote Originally Posted by imported_John Smith View Post
    Actually I have lived in the northeast (for 2 miserable years). I enjoyed the scenery and the people, but its just too cold for me.

    I think you could live in Houston longer without AC than you could in the north without heat.
    .
    Aw Come On John,

    You Know Everyone Retires and then Moves North.


    It Might have Choked Artie But it ain't gone'a choke Stymie! Our Gang " The Pooch " (1932)
    Billy J. Stephens HI Service Memphis TN.

  25. #25
    imported_John Smith's Avatar
    imported_John Smith Guest

    Default Re: WHY ?

    Houston is getting to be too cold for me in the winter. Im thinking Arizona.


  26. #26
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario
    Posts
    4,982

    Default Re: WHY ?

    I fail to see how info on the State of Toronto answers the original question. However if one conducts a Google search "rural Vermont decline" or "decline of Vermont" some interesting hits and resulting info can be obtained. None of which included strangely enough info about Toronto's economic decline.

    Decline in Canadian demand pulls down total exports
    Decline in Canadian demand pulls down total exports | Vermont Business Magazine | Find Articles at BNET

    Income and Poverty in the State of Vermont

    Vermont: Income and Poverty in the State of Vermont

    Frontiers, to Farms, to Factories: The Economic and Social ..Welcome to the Vermont Historical Society


    Last edited by Raymond Wand; 07-09-2008 at 04:48 PM.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •