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Location: Finally the house is done and we are in Port St. Lucie!
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Originally Posted by Coldjensens
Our first house had the grandkids living in it. They had moved in with Grandma and then Grandma died. Daughter sold the house. Daughter lived in Northern California about 350 miles away.
The kids were running a couple of businesses from the house. Grandson and friends had a computer repair business. Several rooms had boards over the windows and shelves mounted to the boards with computer parts on them. A metal shed in the back was full of computer parts. A sheet of plywood sitting on an antique coffee table served as a workbench. He and his friends (the friends also lived in the house after Grandma died) were also running a private car and motorcycle repair business from the garage/yard. There was a motorcycle engine in the front parlor with oil on the carpeting around it.
Grandma had used the house as a "Doll Hospital" for 50 years. One room was filled with boxes each labeled "Heads, arms, hair, eyes, legs, torsos. . . .) There were dolls in cases everywhere. (They had an auction and sold off the dolls, People came from all over the country, one sold for $20,000).
Ironic they had dolls of such value in the house and yet they sold off some of the light fixtures and the fireplace surround - neighbors said for drug money, but how would they know? It could have been to get veterinary care for the dog that peed all over the place.
The daughter's boyfriend was also running a business from the house. Apparently he was selling heroine and providing space in the back yard and garage for people to inject it and enjoy the high - we found this out much later.
The house had a a lot of antique furniture. When we were finally allowed inside before we made an offer on it (at first they said no one would be allowed inside, we just had to make an offer or not based on the outside, our realtor pointed out to them that if we bought the house, we would be going inside when we moved in and no one would make an offer without seeing the inside), stuff was piled everywhere, some of it was very cool. I wanted to buy the house flat out as is - just leave. I would clean it up and sort the cool stuff to keep. Wife said no. We did negotiate them leaving certain pieces of furniture, a mirror etc. Mostly antiques or vintage. About 20 items. They were to leave the house "broom clean"
Time to move came and they said they ran out of time. Could we let them lease back for a week? OK. Then two weeks. Finally we said look we have to renew our lease or move out of the house we were renting - time to go.
They told us they hauled 6 tons of stuff to the dump (not sure how they weighed it). They left and we moved in. In additional to the items we had agreed they would leave, there were a lot of other things in the house. A 1970s console stereo full of records (we gave that to a neighbor who proceeded to put it on their porch pointed at our house and blare music day and night until we called the police.). A filthy middle eastern rug that turned out to be beautiful and valuable once we had it cleaned. 115 gallons of dog pee (spread over the rug in all the rooms). The entire house was carpeted int he same smelly ugly olive carpeting and matching light green paint. Luckily there were nice hardwood floor underneath.
IN the room that had been filled with boxes of doll parts, we discovered a closet at the back of hte room we did not know was there, we also discovered a really net antique light fixture we had never seen. It probably avoided being sold off by being hidden behind a box of heads.
In the back yard was a pile of trash taller than me. Buried in the middle, were two motorocycles. both ran but needed repair (like missing handlebars). The trash was literally household trash, including plastic bags filled with dog poo, but there were some neat things mixed in (a working miniature piano among other things).
The metal shed full of computer parts was left that way with a lock on it. The garage was also locked - and full of their stuff. Instead of moving their stuff, they shoved it into the garage, locked it and left. Umm - this is our garage you locked. Did you think you could tell us we cannot go into our garage?
We tried to reach them to no avail. We finally reached the Mom and she said "*******s! (Meaning her kids) Just throw it all out." We broke into the garage, found a hack saw and cut the locks off.
There was some cool stuff in the garage. A world war II field radio, lots of tools, an antique bicycle, tons of stuff (literally) including about 100 cans of partially used housepaint and the entire front clip of a car. A large taxidermied snake, lots of car parts and motorcycle parts all kinds of chemicals (including we later discovered some insecticide made with DDT which had been illegal for 25 years). Oh and a dead opossum.
Buried in the yard we later found a plastic tub with about 200 hypodermic needles and some vials of chemicals the police later confirmed were narcotics (we think it was heroine). Some of boyfriends customers also showed up one day. By that time the police knew us and came immediately when we called.
The shed was still completely full of old computer parts with no value whatsoever. There was also a rotten wooden trunk filled with rotting cloth (table linens). When I picked up the trunk, I discovered it had a false bottom and the bottom was filled with very fine china (Which we still have).
Luckily for us, we discovered we could put virtually anything at the curb, and the next day, it would be gone. I put some straps around the front clip of the car and literally drug it to the curb (I was very big and strong then). The next morning it was gone. It must have weighed 400 pounds. I ahve no idea how they took it, the wheels were gone. Piles of computer parts, old cans of paint, a crappy commercial style sink all covered in rust - everything we dragged to the curb disappeared by morning. We never even saw anyone taking it. It was just gone. I tore out the pee saturated carpeting (decent hardwood floor underneath) and left it at the curb - gone by morning.
Some of the brother's friends came by and said they were supposed to pick up the things that were left behind. I told them I had no way of knowing whether that was true or not, but they had been left behind and we owned them now. However I let them take some things, like the broken motorcycles in trade for cleaning up the remainder of the pile of junk in the back yard (we had not yet found the drugs or we would have called the police, but we later learned it was the granddaughter's boyfriend who was the drug dealer. The brother and his friends were apparently just nerds and slobs. Although we also found a bag of what appeared to be pot in the shed of computer parts (we just tossed it into the trash, getting the police involved with the narcotics was a pia and they wanted us to prove it was not ours (would we call you and tell you about finding it if it were ours?). It was a mess, it took nearly a month to get it more or less cleaned up, but we did end up with some terrific antiques and tools, many of which we still have.
Our first house had the grandkids living in it. They had moved in with Grandma and then Grandma died. Daughter sold the house. Daughter lived in Northern California about 350 miles away.
The kids were running a couple of businesses from the house. Grandson and friends had a computer repair business. Several rooms had boards over the windows and shelves mounted to the boards with computer parts on them. A metal shed in the back was full of computer parts. A sheet of plywood sitting on an antique coffee table served as a workbench. He and his friends (the friends also lived in the house after Grandma died) were also running a private car and motorcycle repair business from the garage/yard. There was a motorcycle engine in the front parlor with oil on the carpeting around it.
Grandma had used the house as a "Doll Hospital" for 50 years. One room was filled with boxes each labeled "Heads, arms, hair, eyes, legs, torsos. . . .) There were dolls in cases everywhere. (They had an auction and sold off the dolls, People came from all over the country, one sold for $20,000).
Ironic they had dolls of such value in the house and yet they sold off some of the light fixtures and the fireplace surround - neighbors said for drug money, but how would they know? It could have been to get veterinary care for the dog that peed all over the place.
The daughter's boyfriend was also running a business from the house. Apparently he was selling heroine and providing space in the back yard and garage for people to inject it and enjoy the high - we found this out much later.
The house had a a lot of antique furniture. When we were finally allowed inside before we made an offer on it (at first they said no one would be allowed inside, we just had to make an offer or not based on the outside, our realtor pointed out to them that if we bought the house, we would be going inside when we moved in and no one would make an offer without seeing the inside), stuff was piled everywhere, some of it was very cool. I wanted to buy the house flat out as is - just leave. I would clean it up and sort the cool stuff to keep. Wife said no. We did negotiate them leaving certain pieces of furniture, a mirror etc. Mostly antiques or vintage. About 20 items. They were to leave the house "broom clean"
Time to move came and they said they ran out of time. Could we let them lease back for a week? OK. Then two weeks. Finally we said look we have to renew our lease or move out of the house we were renting - time to go.
They told us they hauled 6 tons of stuff to the dump (not sure how they weighed it). They left and we moved in. In additional to the items we had agreed they would leave, there were a lot of other things in the house. A 1970s console stereo full of records (we gave that to a neighbor who proceeded to put it on their porch pointed at our house and blare music day and night until we called the police.). A filthy middle eastern rug that turned out to be beautiful and valuable once we had it cleaned. 115 gallons of dog pee (spread over the rug in all the rooms). The entire house was carpeted int he same smelly ugly olive carpeting and matching light green paint. Luckily there were nice hardwood floor underneath.
IN the room that had been filled with boxes of doll parts, we discovered a closet at the back of hte room we did not know was there, we also discovered a really net antique light fixture we had never seen. It probably avoided being sold off by being hidden behind a box of heads.
In the back yard was a pile of trash taller than me. Buried in the middle, were two motorocycles. both ran but needed repair (like missing handlebars). The trash was literally household trash, including plastic bags filled with dog poo, but there were some neat things mixed in (a working miniature piano among other things).
The metal shed full of computer parts was left that way with a lock on it. The garage was also locked - and full of their stuff. Instead of moving their stuff, they shoved it into the garage, locked it and left. Umm - this is our garage you locked. Did you think you could tell us we cannot go into our garage?
We tried to reach them to no avail. We finally reached the Mom and she said "*******s! (Meaning her kids) Just throw it all out." We broke into the garage, found a hack saw and cut the locks off.
There was some cool stuff in the garage. A world war II field radio, lots of tools, an antique bicycle, tons of stuff (literally) including about 100 cans of partially used housepaint and the entire front clip of a car. A large taxidermied snake, lots of car parts and motorcycle parts all kinds of chemicals (including we later discovered some insecticide made with DDT which had been illegal for 25 years). Oh and a dead opossum.
Buried in the yard we later found a plastic tub with about 200 hypodermic needles and some vials of chemicals the police later confirmed were narcotics (we think it was heroine). Some of boyfriends customers also showed up one day. By that time the police knew us and came immediately when we called.
The shed was still completely full of old computer parts with no value whatsoever. There was also a rotten wooden trunk filled with rotting cloth (table linens). When I picked up the trunk, I discovered it had a false bottom and the bottom was filled with very fine china (Which we still have).
Luckily for us, we discovered we could put virtually anything at the curb, and the next day, it would be gone. I put some straps around the front clip of the car and literally drug it to the curb (I was very big and strong then). The next morning it was gone. It must have weighed 400 pounds. I ahve no idea how they took it, the wheels were gone. Piles of computer parts, old cans of paint, a crappy commercial style sink all covered in rust - everything we dragged to the curb disappeared by morning. We never even saw anyone taking it. It was just gone. I tore out the pee saturated carpeting (decent hardwood floor underneath) and left it at the curb - gone by morning.
Some of the brother's friends came by and said they were supposed to pick up the things that were left behind. I told them I had no way of knowing whether that was true or not, but they had been left behind and we owned them now. However I let them take some things, like the broken motorcycles in trade for cleaning up the remainder of the pile of junk in the back yard (we had not yet found the drugs or we would have called the police, but we later learned it was the granddaughter's boyfriend who was the drug dealer. The brother and his friends were apparently just nerds and slobs. Although we also found a bag of what appeared to be pot in the shed of computer parts (we just tossed it into the trash, getting the police involved with the narcotics was a pia and they wanted us to prove it was not ours (would we call you and tell you about finding it if it were ours?). It was a mess, it took nearly a month to get it more or less cleaned up, but we did end up with some terrific antiques and tools, many of which we still have.
What a great story. We had similar with the easy disposal of items carried to the curb. After the first time, it didn't take long for people to just watch for what we'd put out. We eventually continued in in other homes even with some still usable things that we just didn't want to have a yard sale for or bother with CL Free. Older but still usable brooms, broken up things that still had motors. People love motors. Anyway, great to read your story.
Our first house had the grandkids living in it. They had moved in with Grandma and then Grandma died. Daughter sold the house. Daughter lived in Northern California about 350 miles away.
The kids were running a couple of businesses from the house. Grandson and friends had a computer repair business. Several rooms had boards over the windows and shelves mounted to the boards with computer parts on them. A metal shed in the back was full of computer parts. A sheet of plywood sitting on an antique coffee table served as a workbench. He and his friends (the friends also lived in the house after Grandma died) were also running a private car and motorcycle repair business from the garage/yard. There was a motorcycle engine in the front parlor with oil on the carpeting around it.
Grandma had used the house as a "Doll Hospital" for 50 years. One room was filled with boxes each labeled "Heads, arms, hair, eyes, legs, torsos. . . .) There were dolls in cases everywhere. (They had an auction and sold off the dolls, People came from all over the country, one sold for $20,000).
Ironic they had dolls of such value in the house and yet they sold off some of the light fixtures and the fireplace surround - neighbors said for drug money, but how would they know? It could have been to get veterinary care for the dog that peed all over the place.
The daughter's boyfriend was also running a business from the house. Apparently he was selling heroine and providing space in the back yard and garage for people to inject it and enjoy the high - we found this out much later.
The house had a a lot of antique furniture. When we were finally allowed inside before we made an offer on it (at first they said no one would be allowed inside, we just had to make an offer or not based on the outside, our realtor pointed out to them that if we bought the house, we would be going inside when we moved in and no one would make an offer without seeing the inside), stuff was piled everywhere, some of it was very cool. I wanted to buy the house flat out as is - just leave. I would clean it up and sort the cool stuff to keep. Wife said no. We did negotiate them leaving certain pieces of furniture, a mirror etc. Mostly antiques or vintage. About 20 items. They were to leave the house "broom clean"
Time to move came and they said they ran out of time. Could we let them lease back for a week? OK. Then two weeks. Finally we said look we have to renew our lease or move out of the house we were renting - time to go.
They told us they hauled 6 tons of stuff to the dump (not sure how they weighed it). They left and we moved in. In additional to the items we had agreed they would leave, there were a lot of other things in the house. A 1970s console stereo full of records (we gave that to a neighbor who proceeded to put it on their porch pointed at our house and blare music day and night until we called the police.). A filthy middle eastern rug that turned out to be beautiful and valuable once we had it cleaned. 115 gallons of dog pee (spread over the rug in all the rooms). The entire house was carpeted int he same smelly ugly olive carpeting and matching light green paint. Luckily there were nice hardwood floor underneath.
IN the room that had been filled with boxes of doll parts, we discovered a closet at the back of hte room we did not know was there, we also discovered a really net antique light fixture we had never seen. It probably avoided being sold off by being hidden behind a box of heads.
In the back yard was a pile of trash taller than me. Buried in the middle, were two motorocycles. both ran but needed repair (like missing handlebars). The trash was literally household trash, including plastic bags filled with dog poo, but there were some neat things mixed in (a working miniature piano among other things).
The metal shed full of computer parts was left that way with a lock on it. The garage was also locked - and full of their stuff. Instead of moving their stuff, they shoved it into the garage, locked it and left. Umm - this is our garage you locked. Did you think you could tell us we cannot go into our garage?
We tried to reach them to no avail. We finally reached the Mom and she said "*******s! (Meaning her kids) Just throw it all out." We broke into the garage, found a hack saw and cut the locks off.
There was some cool stuff in the garage. A world war II field radio, lots of tools, an antique bicycle, tons of stuff (literally) including about 100 cans of partially used housepaint and the entire front clip of a car. A large taxidermied snake, lots of car parts and motorcycle parts all kinds of chemicals (including we later discovered some insecticide made with DDT which had been illegal for 25 years). Oh and a dead opossum.
Buried in the yard we later found a plastic tub with about 200 hypodermic needles and some vials of chemicals the police later confirmed were narcotics (we think it was heroine). Some of boyfriends customers also showed up one day. By that time the police knew us and came immediately when we called.
The shed was still completely full of old computer parts with no value whatsoever. There was also a rotten wooden trunk filled with rotting cloth (table linens). When I picked up the trunk, I discovered it had a false bottom and the bottom was filled with very fine china (Which we still have).
Luckily for us, we discovered we could put virtually anything at the curb, and the next day, it would be gone. I put some straps around the front clip of the car and literally drug it to the curb (I was very big and strong then). The next morning it was gone. It must have weighed 400 pounds. I ahve no idea how they took it, the wheels were gone. Piles of computer parts, old cans of paint, a crappy commercial style sink all covered in rust - everything we dragged to the curb disappeared by morning. We never even saw anyone taking it. It was just gone. I tore out the pee saturated carpeting (decent hardwood floor underneath) and left it at the curb - gone by morning.
Some of the brother's friends came by and said they were supposed to pick up the things that were left behind. I told them I had no way of knowing whether that was true or not, but they had been left behind and we owned them now. However I let them take some things, like the broken motorcycles in trade for cleaning up the remainder of the pile of junk in the back yard (we had not yet found the drugs or we would have called the police, but we later learned it was the granddaughter's boyfriend who was the drug dealer. The brother and his friends were apparently just nerds and slobs. Although we also found a bag of what appeared to be pot in the shed of computer parts (we just tossed it into the trash, getting the police involved with the narcotics was a pia and they wanted us to prove it was not ours (would we call you and tell you about finding it if it were ours?). It was a mess, it took nearly a month to get it more or less cleaned up, but we did end up with some terrific antiques and tools, many of which we still have.
The best was (in another mis-wire) a switch that in the 'up' position, it turned on the outdoor soffit lights, and in the lower position turned on the porch light, so the owner just balanced the switch in the middle.
I just ran into something similar in a commercial space.
There is a single switch inside the door. Up position turns on outside light over the front stairs, down position turns on the lights inside the front door. Seems intentional, as the previous tenant was an electrical contractor.
Found a wallet in the kitchen wall, candy wrapper in the hall ceiling, newspaper from the early 80's in the bathroom wall. Also found a few jars of change.
I had a wall open in my house recently. Decided to put a note in the a bottle before I sealed it back up. Just a "greetings" note, the names of my family and kids, the date, a few small coins.
We plan on living there for a while, but would be cool is someone found it 40-50 years from now.
Found Jimmy Hoffa when we moved in to a different house. Gave him the boot and he is now working at non union Walmart
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Odd uses of 3-way switches
