Walked through the wrong house, again.

[Marla Dehdashti]

An appraiser in my office tells a story of the time he did a full inspection of the wrong house. He also collected payment for the appraisal from the very confused homeowner who complained that she couldn't believe her kids couldn't even wait until she was dead!

 

[Walter Kirk]

I did it once. The address of the subject was 1220 and I inspected 1202. I knocked on the door and was greated by a confused housekeeper. I just figured that the homeowner didn't tell her about my appointment.

When I was finished my inspection I returned to my office and found two messages from the owner of 1220 wanting to know where I was. I immediately went back, explained my mistake to the angry homeowner and inspected 1220. As I was leaving the angry owner of 1202 was standing by my car, he was quite unhappy.

 

[Frederick]

Yes, I am guilty as well. The address on my order was wrong and the people were related so when I greeted them by their name they answered affirmatively. It was however their cousin's house across the street I was supposed to appraise. I got halfway through the house before they asked what the appraisal was for. A very strange coincidence.

A owner/builder once cautioned me that there were two very similar houses under construction on this country road about a 1/4 mile apart. He told me a guy installed a central vacuum system in his house that was supposed to go in the one down the road belonging to someone else.

 

[William Rightsell]

I once appraised a house that was built on the wrong lot....

It was in a tract development with several builders working in there. This particular builder built a house (completely finished it) on a lot he didnt even own. His lot was next door. I caught it all by looking at the plats.

No big deal....the lot was owned by another builder so they just traded out lots.

todd

 

[Tomasz]

Has not happened to me, so thankfully your candor will serve as a bit of forewarning.

Funny stuff - silly humans.

 

[Tomasz]

I did it once. The address of the subject was 1220 and I inspected 1202. I knocked on the door and was greated by a confused housekeeper. I just figured that the homeowner didn't tell her about my appointment.

When I was finished my inspection I returned to my office and found two messages from the owner of 1220 wanting to know where I was. I immediately went back, explained my mistake to the angry homeowner and inspected 1220. As I was leaving the angry owner of 1202 was standing by my car, he was quite unhappy.

Ouch - I'm surprised people just let some of you guys (gals) in their house nowadays. I mean it's not like we live in Canada or Norway; we're a rather violent society.

Will never happen with me - I look like a Russian mobster; they'll slam the door.

 

[Mztk1]

It didn't happen to me once. I'm dyslexic, it happens to me all the time. And comp pictures? Do you know how many times I take a picture of 742 Main Street, for example, instead of 724 Main Street? Walking through the wrong house, or at least knocking and being turned away at the door, happens at least once a month. It's best when it is my first appointment in the morning, between 7 and 8 AM. You should see some of those I have caught totally off guard. But here's the sad part, it happened just today. I inspected 121 46th Street instead of 123 46th Street. It took be 30 minutes to figure it out and go back. Thankfully, though, this time, it was new construction.

 

[Joe Booth]

I too once did it. The house next door was being marketed by the same REO broker. I saw the familiar lock box and did a full inspection. It was only after I went to the city hall to verify permits on the GLA and the clerk brought up the plat map. Very sloppy of me and time consuming.

 

[Thomas Fiehler]

A few years ago I had a sale to inspect and house was on lock box (old fashioned combo style). Pulled up and went inside and was making my notes when I realized that the agent left some MLS sheets there. This was a house 1 block from the subject. Same style house, no street signs, same house number and same lock box combination. And both houses were vacant so I didn't have to explain anything to anybody!

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Happened to me too, only once as I remember. Same agent had listed two houses, on the same block. Fortunately for me both were vacant and on board lock box.

Was inside doing my walk through and kept looking at the drawing from the county. Just didn't look right. At first I thought I just pulled the wrong drawing. Turned to the MLS page in my file and immediately saw something was wrong.

As a side note, my GPS is a great helper. I often go to the street where the subject is located and see a sign (listing) and think that must be the property but the GPS says ".2 mile further". With the price of GPS navigation systems so cheap now, I can't imagine an appraiser working without one. Recently saw it was in the top five Christmas presents for adults this year.