Strangest Findings in New Homes and Apartments: Discovering Surprising Facts About Your Surroundings

Does your home come with unexpected surprises? From forgotten phone lines to built-in air conditioning in hidden crawl spaces, some homes conceal secrets of the past that may astonish their modern occupants. In this article, we explore some of the most strange and unbelievable things found in new homes and apartments, offering insights on what to look for during a move-in inspection and how to handle these surprising discoveries.

A Home With Ten Phone Lines?

In the late 1960s, when my parents purchased a house in a new development, they were blissfully unaware of its peculiarities. The home, referred to as a "McMansion" today, was a nice structure built in the 1950s. Fast forward to the 1990s, when the internet began to gain popularity, and my family found themselves navigating an unexpected and amusing situation. My mother worried about the possibility of me monopolizing the telephone line while setting up our first computer, which was the primary means of internet access at the time. To address this, she consulted the phone company, but her experience did not quite go as planned.

Upon visiting, the ATT technician suggested installing a secondary phone line. However, after a few minutes of checking the house, he revealed that the home already had ten dedicated copper landlines. Mom was bewildered, showing a healthy dose of skepticism. The technician explained, “Lady, you've got 10 copper land lines coming into this house. Have a nice day.”

It turns out the original owner of the house, Mr. Callister, was a bookmaker who required ten phone lines to keep track of his clients. This unexpected discovery underscored the enduring legacy of a past life within the walls of the house. To this day, it serves as a fascinating anecdote for anyone curious about the mysterious sources of their home's capabilities.

Crawl Space Hidden Air Conditioning

In 1991, my family moved into a new house, only to have a discovery made by a maintenance worker during a routine crawl space inspection during the first weekend. Our crawl space was intricately equipped with its own air conditioning system. The story behind this fascinating setup unfolded when we inquired about the history of the original owners. It seemed that the previous residents were dealing with a recurring issue of water seepage under their home. Unlike other solutions they could have pursued, such as building a drainage trench around the house, they opted for a more innovative approach: they drilled holes in the air conditioning ducts under the house, directing dry air into the crawl space.

This ingenious solution was an attempt to keep the house dry and structurally sound during even the heaviest of rains. Unfortunately, the pre-purchase inspection report that my family relied on did not reveal this stable yet precarious crawl space, leading to uneven settlement of the house over time. The previous owners knew the value of dry air for maintaining structural integrity and used this method to mitigate water damage.

Despite the absence of modern climate control equipment, the house remained free of moisture in the crawl space, ensuring a comfortable environment. We hired a team to excavate trenches and install curb cuts, diverting water from entering the house. Ever since then, we've been working to prevent the property from becoming a quagmire, but the house remains dry and sound.

Takeaway: Inspection and Preservation

Discoveries like these serve as reminders of the importance of thorough inspections and maintenance. When moving into a new home, a complete and detailed inspection can uncover hidden surprises, some of which prove to be advantageous. For instance, the crawl space air conditioning system turned out to be a perfect solution to water infiltration issues in a climate prone to frequent rain.

For those who encounter enigmatic features in their new homes, remember that each discovery provides an opportunity to learn and adapt. It also emphasizes the need to embrace modern infrastructure where necessary and to preserve functional and unique historical elements. With care and strategic planning, the mysteries of our homes can turn into invaluable additions to our lives.