Last week I attended 2 house inspections with buyers. Both houses were highly marketed as “UPDATED”, Turn-key (strange expression, IMHO), Beautiful, and other positive adjectives. And both houses looked good!
But both inspections told a very different story. The tastefully remodeled bathrooms and kitchen had old, galvanized plumbing. Not easy to replace with a newly finished lower level….
The cool atrium and big fancy bathroom were just added to the top of an existing deck! Are you kidding me? And that deck was rotting… Most of the plumbing and wiring were done by an amateur, the list went on. I can generally get a good feeling for the overall condition of a house, but these were all big surprises. The cost of the inspections was invaluable to my clients. The lessons even more valuable.
I did not sell either of those houses, the search for a house for these clients continues. Wish them well!
Inspection Quote:
“1. Major Concern :The solarium and adjacent bathroom are actually a continuation of the deck that has been covered. The quality of construction is do-it yourself deck. The edges of the deck joists now under the bath and solarium are rotted, as are other areas of the deck. The footings were not designed for the
weight of the building and the areas visible lack adequate mechanical connection. As the deck ages, the deck will be difficult to separate and replace as the two structures are continuous. Contact a qualified design professional to evaluate further. Plan for extensive repairs. Underside of addition. Note improvised workmanship. Bath built over deck.”