Walking around this house I saw what looked like a little child growing on the side of it.
The poor little fellow had so many birth defects I took pity.
It makes me angry when it is obvious parents don't care enough when creating a new one.
Eating and drinking properly, taking vitamin supplements, taking financial responsibility and exercising a little during construction is very important.
And then, using the right materials, properly placed, with planned forethought, dressing the child once born with the best stuff one can buy is the next phase of parental responsibility. Fancy stores don't matter as much as quality and matching ensembles.
Now, just looking at this little one, you probably can't see that the walls are not plumb; no gutter can be installed because there are three pieces of haphazardly-placed wood there so rain drips on your head as you go in the door; there is no flashing between the shingles and main house and in fact a rather large hole there; the stairs bounce; the rail wobbles; there is no siding on the back side; the door isn't level; the door is unpainted; the door's thresh hold has no support, leaning from right to left, and there is a hole without anything covering it under the front door. Well, I take that back - there is plastic siding tape.
Inside the child's floor bounced, its walls are ugly, there is no heating or air conditioning and the ceiling is only 6 1/2 feet high! It only has two receptacles for any power - one that is on the main house, probably pre-existing this child's life, and the other wired directly from the outdoor light near the rear door 30' away! That cable goes in this child's side wall.
That isn't all (yikes!), but you get the idea - this poor child is just another problem child foisted on society.
Certainly these parents want society to take care of this child, from the cradle to the grave.
But what bothered me most was that after these parents abandoned this house, and child, leaving behind, one might say, their agreed-to responsibility, this lonely and inadequately-created child was obviously left without much support.
If this child support was a four-legged chair, three of the four legs were too short and not founded well.
Nobody thought this child support out.
In my mind, not only was the support illegal in its conception and materials used, but this child is an utter danger to society.
Quickly glancing and you might miss it!
In case you cannot see what I'm referring to, here is a closer view. As I said, three of the four "support" arrangements looked like this!
What kind of parent arranges support that includes a solid block, two loose bricks, a flat piece of non-pressure-treated wood, a small block of pressure-treated wood and two metal shims?
I'll tell you what kind! A parent who doesn't know or doesn't care! THIS IS NOT SUPPORT!
As a society we need to rise up against this sort of thing! Our society will fail with this type of inadequate, inconsiderate and ignorant parental responsibility!
What can be done?
My recommendation: as a society we need to band together and rise up! Please join my organization "People Against Improper Support." And we, WE, shall overcome!! Sing it with me now!
That would be the twin organization to "Home Inspectors Against Schmuck Work." We, WE, shall overcome too! Well, I hope so...
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
Morning Jay and that is why sir some people should not have a child. If they do and they don't take care of it like they should there needs to be some type of penalty don't you think?
Comes from the "know what you don't know" school...not enough people attend that...
In this case, James, I think the child needs to be removed from these premises.
S&D - this guy knew very little! I felt badly for the kid too.
Thanks Josh. Yet another in the constant series of junk work!
Did you ask to see the permit? This person needs to be sterilized.
John - foreclosed and vacant. Given this "addition" and the other "remodels" and "repairs" on this house, there was certainly NO permit!
Another reminder for all of us. .you can't have quality when the foundation is weak.. in anything we do or build!
Hence the word "foundation" Fernando! That from which all else is derived.
I agree - the wood shim will rot and then the child will have a REAL limp!
You need a license to drive a car, but any old fool can have a child. Shameful.
You should have walked in the room Wallace! Limp AND osteoporosis!
W&J - in this case, truly shameful! There are those who should never be parents.
Jay nice twist on a blog. If you are speaking of a child or a post! Thanks for the smile and a good point!
Think metaphor Leslie! So to speak. Really, this is schmuck work all the way. I guess you don't want that in child rearing either!
Good morning Jay,
Cute, cute, but I am worried someone in CPS will be coming around to offer assistance!
Having done construction for years when I was young and virile it never fails to amaze me when I see examples of the crappy work that's produce. The guy I worked for would have fired all of us for doing stuff like that.
I bet you see this type of work on a weekly basis. The more reason to hire an experienced home inspector to find these types of items before purchasing the home
Jay, This little child needs some foster parents to come in and do some fostering ; ) Hey what is a permit? I have heard of them.
Yikes! This child is only going to experience more problems as he/she grows older.
Jay, this must be what they mean by children learn what they live.
Good afternoon Jay so would you report this child abuse to the building department?
The post just needs duct tape, gummy bears, and a well placed potted plant. Nothing wrong with this child, let's just push him off to the next level Jay.
Lisa - do you mean, "I'm here from the gubment and I'm here to help..."? Scary words.
J&R - I agree. My 8th grade shop teacher would have given me a D-, only because I tried, but not because it deserved a D, but an F.
Harry - this couple saw the report, decided against the house, and called to thank me. I think we all knew at the end of the inspection that it was all too much for them to take on.
Don - they are myths, buddy, like Hercules, and that Odysseus, and Helen of Troy. But they are apparently seen now and then, like Sasquatch.
Kathryn - and be a burden on society from cradle to grave?
Chris - very much like that. I think. And Monday's child is fair of face...
Randy - they don't have time to go out there to look at it. When there's a disaster, and I hear about it, they might take my call.
Tom - all that would improve the feng shui. For sure. You are right!
Good evening, Jay. Decks have to be the bane of inspectors. I just did one where the builder "swears" that it is "to code" because the city inspectors passed it! Yeah, Right! Kinda like the 3 lies men tell...
I have seen things passed that the local inspectors, um, "kind of missed," their words not mine Michael. Once a natural gas water heater was installed in a house with propane, and I found no conversion kit sticker, so noting on my report. The county had passed it. A month later the heater exploded. The county simply said whoops...
Exactly Jay...Those are some of the scariest words in use today!
So said Mr. Reagan, Lisa.
Man that is just wrong on so many levels. How would anyone see that as okay?
And, um, one of four such Jim! There were a couple of dozen things about that "room," about 12x12', that were problems and that room was one of many dozens of other things in the house.
Well, you get the idea...