10 More Home Inspection Nightmares

DIY quickly becomes "don't it yourself" when home inspectors uncover hairbrained construction and makeshift repairs. Here are 10 more crazy discoveries, courtesy of the ASHI Reporter.

• 1. Scraping By: A Spatula Fix

  

  "I found this in the guest bath toilet. The seller had just repaired it and hoped I would not find out about his ingenuity. I think he hoped his wife wouldn't either." -Danny Blankenship of The HomeTeam Inspection Service in Ocala, Florida. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XI at thisoldhouse.com.

• 2. Look Before You Rinse

  

  "I remember during training I was instructed to look under the cabinet before turning on the water. During this foreclosure, someone took out the drain and P-trap on this bathroom sink. Now I bring spare towels just in case." -Brandon Dyles of Picture Perfect Inspections in Bartlett, Tennessee. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XI at thisoldhouse.com.

• 3. Disabled Awning

  

  "Crutches are designed to support, but this might be a new application." -Tom Tussing of M.H. Shaefer Inspection Service, Inc. in New Britain, Conn. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XII at thisoldhouse.com.

• 4. Multi-Tasking Delight

  

  "I call this photo 'multitasking in the morning.'" -Tony Marino of National Property Inspections in Clearwater, Fla. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XIII at thisoldhouse.com.

• 5. Check the Schedule

  

  "Sir, your deck is well-constructed. It's secured to the building, and the guardrails are strong and well anchored to the building. You may want to call the local railroad company, however, and ask them if they still have any trains running through your neighborhood." -Rich Madore of Pillar to Post Home Inspection in Newington, Conn. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XIV at thisoldhouse.com.

• 6. Moldy Oldies

  

  "Listen to the "moldy oldies" on this console found in a converted 1904 schoolhouse basement." -Daniel R. Schuerman of Schuerman Inspections, LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XV at thisoldhouse.com.

• 7. Possibly

  

  "All this rust running down the sides of this water heater means there just might be something blocking the moist exhaust gases from getting out the chimney." -Richard Aiello of I-Spy Home Inspection LLC in Winthrop, Mass. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XVI at thisoldhouse.com.

• 8. Cozy Nest

  

  "Given that this dryer vent isn't quite making it all the way outside, this ends up being a heated bird's nest." -David Grudzinski of Advantage Home Inspections in Cranston, R.I. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XVII at thisoldhouse.com.

• 9. This One's the Kicker

  

  "This had to be the worst inspection I've ever done. A lender referred me to a woman who was looking to get a loan to purchase the house she's renting from her father. When asked if this jerry-rigged oil-fired radiant furnace was in operation, the client said, and I quote, 'Lately, it only works when I come down and kick it.' She proceeded to kick it into submission. There are holes in the venting system and at the burn chamber door. I just looked at her blankly - at a loss for words." -Matthew Merlino of Homeworks Inspection Services, LLC in Boise, Idaho. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XVIII at thisoldhouse.com.

• 10. All the Amenities

  

  "Turn the valve on to wash down the waste, and maybe you’ll get a rinse in the process. Part bidet, part toilet! The best part is you can look directly up the basement stairs into the kitchen." -Terry Grube of Seacoast Inspections, LLC in Hampton, N.H. See even more from Home Inspection Nightmares XIX at thisoldhouse.com.