What are the most common elements in house sitter horror stories?

There was a house sitter who noticed that things in the house were being moved around when they were sure no one else was there. At first, they thought they were just misplacing things. But then they saw doors opening and closing on their own. It turned out that there was a problem with the house's old wiring, which was causing electrical surges that made the automated doors malfunction. It was really spooky until they figured it out.

In many rental house horror stories, the time of day plays a role. Nighttime is often when the scariest things happen. Darkness seems to intensify the fear. Also, malfunctioning appliances can be a part of it. A refrigerator that suddenly stops working and makes a strange humming sound, or a TV that turns on in the middle of the night showing static. These things add to the overall horror atmosphere of the rental house.

The most common one is probably unexpected structural problems. For example, a cracked foundation that you don't notice until you start really looking. It can be very expensive to repair.

Hidden structural problems are quite common. For example, a cracked foundation that is not visible during a quick look. Another one is mold. People often move into a house and then find mold growing in the attic or basement which can be a health hazard.

Another element is unreliable buyers. They might make an offer, seem really interested, and then suddenly disappear or back out at the last minute. This leaves the seller in a difficult position, especially if they were counting on the sale. Often, it means starting the whole process again from scratch. Also, problems with realtors can be a common part. Like a realtor who doesn't market the house properly or gives bad advice. This can make it really hard to sell the house in a timely and profitable manner. In some cases, the realtor might be more interested in their own commission than in getting the best deal for the seller.

One common element is bad contractors. They might be unskilled or dishonest, like the ones who overcharge or use low - quality materials without the homeowner's knowledge.

Unforeseen market changes often play a role. Maybe the neighborhood starts to decline during the flip process. Also, issues with contractors can be a big problem. They might be unreliable, do shoddy work, or disappear in the middle of the project. For instance, a contractor might start a roofing job and then abandon it, leaving the flipper to find someone else to finish at a higher cost. This can delay the whole flip process and eat into the profit.

In many house share horror stories, the big problems are related to cleanliness. Some people are just slobs and don't clean up after themselves in shared spaces like the kitchen or bathroom. It can lead to a really unhygienic living environment. Also, there can be issues with noise. Some roommates might be noisy at inappropriate times, like having parties in the middle of the week when others need to study or work.

Sure. There was a pet sitter who was supposed to look after a parrot. Instead of taking care of it, they let the parrot out of its cage and then lost it. The parrot was very precious to the owner as it was a gift from a dear friend. The owner was heartbroken when they couldn't find their parrot anywhere.

Another is the discovery of strange or disturbing behavior during the date. Like the person having extreme mood swings or being overly possessive. For example, suddenly getting angry for no reason or acting like they own the other person right away.