The Long Arm Of The Law

[Jay Markanich]

Arriving early at a home inspection in a condo development, just after sun up, I did my usual walk around to check out the general upkeep of the units.  It was very cold.

This gives me information about the condo association and how on top of maintenance it is generally.

I was met by a lady standing on her  lower-level patio.  She saw the sign on my car and thought to take advantage.  She said her column was rotting at the bottom and would I mind looking at it.

"Why is it rotting? My neighbor's column on the balcony above mine isn't rotting."

Glancing upward she was right.  But I could immediately see why hers was rotting.

I said, "Ma'am, your column is rotting because of the long arm of the law."

"What?!"

So I said, "The law.  The law of gravity.  It never fails."

"Do you see the frozen splatter on the bush beside your column?  Look up.  Where do you think it is coming from?"

She did and saw.  "It is even dripping now, from the melting dew on the roof," I added, as she watched.

The bush you see is below the column above, but right beside her column.  This had been happening for a long time.

Appreciative, she went back inside.

My recommendation:  If you see a home inspector in the neighborhood and have a problem you think he might be able to quickly diagnose, ask him!  He won't mind!  It might just be as easy an answer as the one above.

[Davin Strand]

Gutter leaks cause a lot of damage. See it all the time. It is the simple things that get overlooked sometimes.