So you've moved into a new home. It's pristine, it's perfect -- it's the home of your dreams, right? Not exactly--at least, not for the six homeowners featured in a "6 Creepiest Things Discovered By New Homeowners" round-up published on Cracked.com.
As soon as I saw that headline pop up in my Twitter feed, I knew I had a blog post -- albeit a creepy one! Now that I've created a fair amount of suspense, let's dive into some of the yuckiest things that homeowners have discovered in their new abodes.
1. Snakes in the walls. *cue shrieking* Ben and Amber Sessions noticed a large amount of snakes on their property. After hearing a slithering sound in their walls, they removed a siding panel and discovered a writhing mass of snakes. After some investigation, the Sessions found out their home was built on top of a massive snake hibernaculum. The only way to fix it? Remove the home from its foundation and lay a brand-new concrete foundation. As Cracked.com reports, the project would cost $100,000. Instead, the Sessions abandoned the house, and eventually had to file bankruptcy.
2. Oozing walls. After Colorado resident Debbie Hill moved into her new home, the walls started to ooze. The brave soul actually tasted the substance, and realized it was honey. The previous homeowners had exterminated a massive beehive that had been built within the home's walls. Although the bees were gone, the honey remained, and during a rare heat wave, the high temperatures had caused honey to ooze down the walls. As with the snake infestation, this situation is also not cheap to fix, as it entails tearing out the walls and rebuilding them. According to Cracked.com, the local news outlet held a collection drive to help Debbie raise money for the repairs.
You've assembled your tools and materials and are ready to get started on your latest DIY project. Here's the catch -- do you need a permit? Having one not only ensures you've gone through the proper channels--it also provides necessary documentation that you'll need to provide when selling your house, for example.
We've compiled a list of common projects that may require permits from your city or municipality. When in doubt, don't hesitate to reach out to someone who works in your area's permitting department so that you can ensure you have everything in order.
Now, without further ado, here are projects that will likely require permits:
*Moving plumbing. Whether you're moving interior or exterior plumbing, you'll likely need a permit.
*Moving or installing electrical wiring. In addition to requiring a permit, the city may require one or more inspections of the project to ensure that everything is safely and properly installed and is in good working order.
*Cutting out a new door or window. Many projects that require cutting through your home's exterior walls will likely need some sort of permit.
Falling trees are frightening -- and worse, they pose a safety risk not only to your property, but to you and your family, too. Although you can't predict storm damage, you can examine the trees on your property and determine if they pose a higher safety risk than others.
Jennifer Stell compiled a fantastic tree safety slideshow on iVillage.com that lists 13 warning signs of potentially unsafe trees. They include:
*Large, dead branches. Dead branches can fall even on a calm day, so if you notice that a tree has large dead areas, consider getting them removed.
*Mushrooms. If you notice mushrooms at the base of your tree, or especially higher up on the trunk or branches, these are signs of advanced decay--and it's probably time for the tree to come down.
*Twin trunks. Dual trunks are weakly attached to each other, posing a greater risk that high winds or ice will split the tree and cause it to fall.
If you haven't already stored your lawnmower for the season, you're likely preparing to say farewell to this weekly chore until warmer temperatures return. Before you stash your mower, there are several things you can do to help keep the machine in prime condition during its off months -- and ready to return to work with a vengeance once spring arrives.
Bob Markovich, Consumer Reports' Home and Yard editor, has a few tips (and for a how-to video, head to the Consumer Reports site.)
*Empty the gas.
*Clean the machine. Once the fuel has been emptied, hose down your mower's deck and give it a thorough cleaning to remove any grass clippings, dirt and other debris that may clog the machine or harm the exterior.
*Remove and sharpen the mower blade.
