Stepping It Up on the Weird Factor
“I encountered these milk crate stairs leading to a deck in Santa Cruz, Calif. This coastal town is known for its bumper stickers that say ‘Keep Santa Cruz Weird.’ It seems as if some of the locals are doing their part.”
Brett Reeder
Compass Home Inspections, LLC
Campbell, Calif.
Precarious Party
“Recipe for disaster: Start with a vacation rental, add 2 margaritas, a bit of dark nighttime and a hot tub on a cantilevered and rail-free deck—seemingly built without adult supervision. Expect the hospital stay to be, oh, about 2 years.”
Jason Gingery
View Point Inspections
Santa Cruz, Calif.
Fireworks Finale
“I found an illegal firework next to a flying splice (a spliced wire not in a box, which is itself a fire hazard).”
Kevin Robinson
KR Home Inspection
Pacific Grove, Calif.
Bottlenecked
“I’m guessing that a beer bottle is not an approved duct-support system. This may show my age, but it looks like (from the bottle) that this was done on a weekend—the old commercial did say, ‘weekends are made for Michelob.’”
Tim Hemm
Tim Hemm Inspections
Yucaipa, Calif.
Do You Want Asbestos With That?
“This is an old Chambers range with a gas grill between the electric elements. The concern is the damaged asbestos cover, which rests on the grill surface when it’s not in use. Every time the grill or burners are used, a potential hazardous condition develops. According to the seller, it has been in use for years.”
Gary Tucker
Tucker Inspection
Emeryville, Calif.
From Prying to Frying
“This is a steel crowbar hooked on the electrical main service of a house I inspected. I figured it was the latest technology in electrical grounding…”
Tirso De Ubago
Castle Rock Inspections
Walnut Creek, Calif.
Morning Jolt
“This short piece of exposed extension cord is somehow connected to a dimmer switch. The cord was energized whether the switch is on or off, demonstrated here by the light on my tester. It’s a shocking situation that might get you powered up first thing in the morning.”
Timothy Hemm
Tim Hemm Inspection
Yucaipa, Calif.
The New Duct Tape
“These are Zip Ties being used as replacements for garage door bolts. There were nine bolts missing on this door, all replaced with Zip Ties.”
Mike Stewart
National Property Inspection
Oakley, Calif.
All Wrong
“I inspected this furnace in a newly remodeled house. That is a single-wall vent pipe in the attic, sealed with duct tape, attached to the framing with electrical cord and terminating in a turbine vent. In the photo on the right, you can see the clearance issues with the temperature control and the wall unit. The whole thing is wrong!”
Timothy Hemm
Eagle Home Inspections
Yucaipa, Calif.
Plumber: 1; Electrician: 0
“Here is an electrical sub-panel I could not get at. Maybe the plumber and electrician did not get along, and the plumber won.”
Jay de Wolf
de Wolf Inspection Services
Burlingame, Calif.
