When I was a neophite appraiser trainee in 2005, my dad sent me out on an appraisal in Pomona. The house was supposedly a 3 bedroom, 1 bath house with approximately 820 square feet of gross living area. I should have known something was asque when I actually measured the house to be 992 square feet of GLA.
From the outside, it looked adequately maintained and conforming to the neighborhood. After measuring the outside of the house, I went inside to make note of the features of the house. Living room, one bedroom, two bedroom, full bath, three bedrooms and on I went. Finally, I reached the kitchen. On the otherside of the kitchen was a door. I opened the door and walked into a small utility room. It was a rectanular room measuring approximately 25 feet long by 10 feet wide. The floor was vinyl. In the middle of the room, against one of the walls was two concrete steps up to what looked like an elevated closet on a pedestal. I opened to door to find “A TOILET”. That is right: no sink, no bath, no shower, no mirror, no towel rack. Just a toilet.
This picture does not seem to do it justice. Oh wait, excuse me, I just noticed the waste paper basket. Do I count it as a .25 bath? The house was built in 1946 and so it is grandfathered as far as permitting is concerned.
I do not remember how we handled it. I was baffled. I knew the house had functional obsolescence because of only one bathroom and three bedrooms but wondered if the throne would contribute positively or negatively towards value.
What is your opinion? How would you have handled the throne? What crazy things have you seen out there?


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