I was showing this home a couple days ago.  The listing said “just needs a little TLC”.  Real Estate agents are the epitome of optimists and understatements!  This house was a wreck inside and out.  Then I went around back and found this little gem.  It didn’t appear that there was previously a room or part of the home back here.  That electrical box is just out in the weather in all its glory.  I wouldn’t want to be within 100 yards of that thing when it rains.  I wonder if the water running of the roof, into the electrical box could electrically charge basically the entire yard?

Zap!

Wow.  My last stupid property repairs post was in January.  I am not sure if I have become oblivious to stupid repairs or maybe I am just looking at nicer houses.  Well, nevertheless, I found one in my own backyard about 3 weeks ago and the pictures have been burning a hole in my phone.  I figured I should pull them out of there before these gems get accidentally deleted.

This home is in Mound.  It sits on a hill, across the street from the houses on Lake Minnetonka. Not really an elegant multi-million dollar house like so many in this area, but what it lacks in style, size, cleanliness, color, decor, layout, amenities, and location, it makes up in ultra coolness (cue 1970′s music).

Yup, that’s right, shag carpet on the walls, everywhere.  Plus then you get the creepy basement with carpet all over the walls and the bed on the carpet platform.  Weird.

Ahhh.  Lucky number 13.

I always wonder why anyone buys a house that has fundamental problems like crumbling foundations or less than legal headroom in the 2nd floor.  I see this all the time.  Then to make matters worse, I have no idea why they will then spend a considerable amount of money cosmetically renovating this property.

About 12 months ago a customer was interested in a duplex by the U of M.  This building had been completely renovated down the to studs with new wiring, furnaces, siding, plumbing, and nice interior finishes.  We thought this was too good to be true.  When we did the inspection, we found that you could literally pull the foundation blocks out with your hands.  The contractor estimated the house needed to be jacked up, dug out and a new $50,000 foundation installed!

Just the other day I got a call from a friend of mine who said he knew a guy that wanted to sell his duplex he just renovated in Saint Paul.  He was selling it non-MLS for $90k and it generated $1600 per month in rent.  I spoke to him on the phone and he said he had installed new furnaces, re-sided the house, installed new windows, a new sewer main, new electrical and all interior cosmetics.  I figured for $90k this could probably be a good opportunity.

I am sure you can see where this is going!  I go into the downstairs unit, which was vacant.  As I walk around, I am getting this strange sensation of vertigo.  I feel like I am walking uphill.  Well I was!  The entire building is probably 4 inches out of plumb.  In other words, the entire building is leaning 4″-6″ to the west.  Here are some pictures I shot.

There were no camera tricks used in the making of this article!

I have been collecting some interesting pictures over the last 30 days.  I haven’t found one house that was completely stupid, but a one or two in several houses.  Here we go:

I love what people do to fix things.  Enjoy!

My previous posts have mostly been about one house that was particularly stupid.  I have not seen one house that takes the entire cake, lately.  Consequently, it has been a while since I posted any new pictures.  So here is a montage from Saint Paul Homes to Apple Valley Townhomes.

I love my job!

Wow.  Ten posts already!  This version is dedicated to a rash of stupid plumbing and bathroom repairs that I have recently come across.  Many of these are from North Minneapolis Real Estate, but all ends of the Twin Cities seems to be participating.

I am not sure why it is so hard to do good repairs in bathrooms.  Maybe it is because next to the kitchen, it is the most used room in the house.  I don’t know, but as you can see below, more than a few people couldn’t figure it out!  Enjoy.

Now I think I understand why the City of Minneapolis requires a special license to be a plumber in their city!