What is your best horror story

[reviewer]

In California: was appraising a chunk of vacant land that was a school, 12 acres, to become a SFR development. Walked the site. Hand sticking up. Body was dumped.

In Minnesota: Doing a pro-bono for a house being donated as a women's shelter. Thought if I got up and went really early to the neighborhood, there would be enough light to photo comps but that bad people would still be asleep. Driving down one street, I see that one of my comps has a barcalounger in the front yard. Fine, it's neighborhood flavor. Driving closer, I see someone in the chair. Stark naked. Dead passed out. At 5:30 am. On the front lawn. Boy, did I have to frame that shot.

By the way, have you ever noticed that when you take comp pictures, your driving is exactly the same - stop-start, look for addresses, stop-start - as someone looking for a drug deal? An observant entrepreneur in the same neighborhood noticed as well. Very politely, quite business-oriented, he offered certain items for sale to this early-morning, suburban, soccer-mom-appearing, visitor to the neighborhood.

 

[Blue1]

Man! I read the whole thread!!! Great stories...Here is a couple of mine.

Bathroom door closed (typical) I open the door, step inside hear a hissing noise and come face to face with very upset Iguana. Didn't see THAT one coming.....A second later borrower yells from the living room..."Don't open the bathroom door."

Appraising 2 rentals for a rich Mexican 'Taco Baron' guy. The first one is about 900 sq.ft. 2 bedroom 1 bath with what looks like 4 families living there.

2nd rental...900 sq.ft. 3/1....Curious feature is 2 wall AC units mounted outside 1 bedroom. We go inside and the place reeks of 'skunk.' (The Weed type) One bedroom locked from the outside with a padlock and an intense blue light emanating from the cracks.

Found out some time later that the guy was trafficking in not only illegal folks but illegal weed and part of an illegal very large and very powerful crime 'cartel.' He tried to sell me a 'retirement' home in Mexico in a subdivision he was building. I asked him if it came with a free Klashnekoff. (In hindsight maybe not the best quip I have ever come up with) He flashed a golden smile...(I swear most of his teeth were solid gold!)

 

[Tom Eichholz]

Have had many adventures in Appraiser Land, but here are some highlights...

My pant leg was ripped & shredded about a 1/2 minute into the house by a little rat dog. Lady HO had just let me in and says, "He's usually such a good dog, he's never done that before!" Adios.

I can't count the number of houses I walked out of with a major headache because of the stench-usually cats. Also the destruction people let their pets do....Incredible---Shredded furniture, doors & cabinets ruined from scratch marks or gnawing, cats on the tables & countertops, and of course the stench. Many people will let their pets do things they'd never allow their children do.

Of course, everyone has seen "A Trail House". Pack rat has narrow trails past the stacked books, newspapers, mags, junk, etc. One I saw, the back bedroom floor had collapsed into the basement from the weight.

Inspecting a really hot house one day and the young male HO says, "Feel free to open any doors, nobody home but me". "OK. Thanks". So I opened a hallway door and Great Grandma was lying on the bed naked. "Oh, excuse ME!" I say and close the door quickly. HO starts laughing hysterically. A-HOLE!

Inspecting a sale, car in the driveway, summertime, around noon, I ring the door bell 2-3 times, no answer. Agent had said to use my lock box key if no answer, so I unlock front door & loudly announce my presence just in case. Nothing. Everything quiet, go to basement, turn on lights and I round the corner. Teenage kid sleeping on a couch wakes up and sees me standing in the doorway and starts screaming his throat out, like something out of a horror flick. Chills go up & down my spine, and finally I say, "Whoa, hold on, I'm the appraiser, blah, blah... We startled each other so bad I bet I looked like Fred Sanford having the Big One...

 

[wickedness1]

Inspecting a really hot house one day and the young male HO says, "Feel free to open any doors, nobody home but me". "OK. Thanks". So I opened a hallway door and Great Grandma was lying on the bed naked. "Oh, excuse ME!" I say and close the door quickly. HO starts laughing hysterically. A-HOLE!
.

I worked in a nursing home before, so I can only imagine your face when you saw all the wrinkles, roflmao!

 

[DianaOKC]

Mr Rex. I don't guess it was that as mine bugger was fatter and fuzzy like a bumble and had short wings. Looked like a drunk flying along. Had seen it buzzin around earlier but I guess it snuck up behind me 'cause it got caught between my elbow and my side when I reached back to unsnap by tool belt. (i know tool belt doesn't look very professional but I'm a big clutz and can't hold everything in just 2hands).

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I used to carry an injection kit too. After hauling it around for about 15 years, I finally threw it away. Got stung back in the 70s and they had to cut my wedding ring off my finger as it swelled up so bad I was about to lose the finger.

So, does anyone know what those little bees are that look like small bumble bees?

 

[Mr Rex]

So, does anyone know what those little bees are that look like small bumble bees?

Little (adolescent) Bumble Bees?

 

[RSW]

Little (adolescent) Bumble Bees?

 

[Kristina Ledesma]

I used to carry an injection kit too. After hauling it around for about 15 years, I finally threw it away. Got stung back in the 70s and they had to cut my wedding ring off my finger as it swelled up so bad I was about to lose the finger.

So, does anyone know what those little bees are that look like small bumble bees?

We call them sweat bees around here...

Definitely sounded like a White or Bald faced hornet. They have different markings, depending on their "status"...
http://www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/baldfaced/baldfaced.htm

 

[Greg Bell]

Doing a multiple unit in downtown L.A. Subject surrounded by temporary chain link fencing.Open the front door and needed a very strong flashlight to find my way.Turned the corner into the kitchen and there was a couple of gang bangers cutting up the drugs on the counter.'"watcha you doin here white boy" nothing said this white boy and I turned and exited the property at a very quick pace.Brought back the sheriff later that day but the drug deal was over.
Also interrupted someone that was cooking some crack in the Kitchen of an REO.They jumped out of the wndow...