Top 10 Home Inspection Nightmares from This Old House

Here are 10 of the most cringe-worthy home inspection nightmares of all time, courtesy of the brave inspectors all over the world at ASHI Reporter

• 1. Ratatouille

  

  "Be careful when opening the attic pull-down stairs. This 12-inch roof rat—connected to a heavy mouse trap—came tumbling down when I opened the attic door." -Brandon Dyles of Picture Perfect Inspections in Bartlett, Tenn. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares X at thisoldhouse.com

• 2. Eau de sewer

  

  "During one of my inspections, I found this behind an access panel in a basement. Duct tape and a terry cloth towel really didn't stop the smell of the sewer gas." -Charlie Rice of Pillar to Post in Sykesville, Md. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares IX at thisoldhouse.com

• 3. Electric Metal

  

  "This house had a metal roof with metal gutters, and a lot of rigged electrical feeds. This is where I learned a valuable lesson: Never inspect a roof until you walk the perimeter of the house or it can be shocking experience." -Bruce Carmichael of Advantage Inspection Professionals in San Jose, Calif. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares VII at thisoldhouse.com

• 4. Termite Territory

  

  "These photos were taken at a house I inspected in Milan, Ind. I was surprised that the agent and the client needed me to tell them that there was a termite infestation. How bad do you think it is when there are tubes up the side of the basement toilet and behind the tub tiles in the 1st-floor bath? This is only a fraction of the infestation." -Chris Andler of Your Whole House Inc in Cincinati, OH. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares VI at thisoldhouse.com

• 5. Treed House

  

  "Here in California, we love trees! We would rather just build the house around a tree. But, does the tree add safety or stress to this steep slope?" -Corey Folsom a Property Inspector in Ben Lomond, Calif. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares V at thisoldhouse.com

• 6. Jacked Up

  

  "I found a tire jack being used for structural support in a crawlspace." -Brandon Dyles of Picture Perfect Inspections in Bartlett, Tenn. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares IV at thisoldhouse.com

• 7. Gutter Corn

  

  "This ain't Iowa! Here's a corn stalk growing from the "corn"er of a porch roof, in the rain gutter, at a property in Connecticut. Probably from bird droppings. In my 23 years as a general contractor and eight years as an inspector, I've seen a lot of things growing in rain gutters in Connecticut, but this one is a first for me." -Charles G. Nai of Quali-Tech Northeast, LLC in Enfield, Conn. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares IV at thisoldhouse.com

• 8. Shower Siding

  

  "This is a new use for vinyl siding as a "high-tech" shower surround material. Prior to the start of the inspection, the homeowner bragged about the fully finished basement bathroom." Bob Bowling of Land America Property Inspection Services in Livonia, Mich. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares III at thisoldhouse.com

• 9. I Smell a Rat

  

  "This is a photograph of a rat that entered an electrical panel through an open knockout. When it came in contact with the grounded box, it got fried! I show this picture, which I carry to all inspections, to homeowners who pooh-pooh my complaint of open knock-outs at electrical panels." -Luciano Marquez of Mr. Home Inspector in Union City, N.J. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares II at thisoldhouse.com

• 10. Tired

  

  "I was on the roof of the house next to this one during an inspection and had to take a picture of this. It is of a skylight with a tire, bungee cord, and tin over it to prevent water from coming in." -Keith Nelson of Amerispec Home Inspection Services Inc. in Omaha, Neb. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares V at thisoldhouse.com