When moving into a previously-owned place, the curiosity might not be the same. After all, the place is supposed to be cleared of any item of the former tenant. Well, “supposed” is a strong word. These next stories will leave you amazed at the peculiar things people found while visiting someone else’s house or in their brand new homes.
A Valuable Smile
Hopefully, the previous owner didn’t miss his old golden teeth. We get why they kept it in the safe. The best place for any precious metal is probably safe, but it’s certain that the new owners probably didn’t expect to find gold in the form of someone’s teeth inside the safe that was left behind.
As gross as it may be, they could have turned in the teeth and probably made a little money off of them.
Cashing Out
Reddit user Grahamtg21 said that, when they moved into their new house, they found a whopping $14,000 behind a toilet! What a housewarming gift. So why would there be $14,000 behind a toilet you might ask?
While it’s not totally clear, it seems that the owner just wanted an extra stash of emergency money and really didn’t want anyone to find it (as we doubt anyone would want to look for potential cash behind a toilet).
A Surprise Antique
How would you like to find a surprisingly valuable antique in your home? One woman found just that when she moved into her new place.
Reddit user Crisy_Apple_Pie confessed that, when she moved into her new place, she found an old piano left behind. But not just any old piano, this was truly an antique. In fact, after it was assessed, the piano was estimated (if it would have been in better condition) to be worth $10,000.
Old 7up Cans
Finding anything in your home that was left by someone else can feel eerie, but thankfully in this case…it was just 7up. Except, they were really, really old cans of 7up. You have to wonder why the previous owners didn’t want to finish it.
Reddit user RathrDash1ng said that this particular edition of 7up was from the 80s and that the seals on the tops of the cans did not stand the test of time, leading to the contamination of the liquid. Sounds pretty gross actually and worthy of the trash.
Old Underwear
Now, this one’s pretty disgusting, it’s almost a violation. Reddit user Wompguinea had a very unfortunate and highly unpleasant experience when they found someone’s old underwear (that of course didn’t belong to anyone currently living at the home). It’s hard to imagine what it was like to accidentally pick up old underwear that belonged to a stranger.
Yuck! Leaving behind your nasty, old underwear almost seems intentional, but hopefully, it was just an accident. Be sure to take your items with you when you leave.
Surprise! It’s a Basement
Many homes have basements. But, depending on the region and country in which you live, certain homes may be built without a shelter or extra space underneath. Reddit user Enkibean said they bought their new home, believing it did not have a basement at all, only to discover that it did indeed…have a basement.
Those who were selling the home forgot to mention it explicitly but it was finally unveiled on moving day as the boxes began filling the home.
The Good Dog
Imagine finding a dog waiting for you when you move into your new home. Now, depending on if you’re a dog person, this might be the best thing that could be left behind for a new homeowner.
But, considering the neglect of the previous owners, it is also pretty sad. Happily, not only did Reddit user Iconana get a new best friend, but the Great Dane finally got to be in a home where he was loved and wanted. What a happy ending indeed.
A Weird Carpeting Secret
There are certainly worse and weirder things to find under your carpet but 64 palm frond crosses are certainly random. As usual, this brings up many questions as to who the previous owners were and what their lifestyle might have been.
It certainly isn’t every day (or every year for that matter) you find such a large number of palm frond crosses and especially, hidden under a carpet like they are not supposed to be seen. Perhaps it was their secret carpeting method?
A Hidden Cottage
Homes with a lot of history often have a lot of secrets both inside and outside. And for the ground around this historical, Georgian home, there must have been a lot of overgrowth to conceal an entire cottage.
But this certainly must have been an interesting find for this family and also a potentially useful one. The homeowners had a lot of options as to what they could do with an old groundskeeper's cottage or how they could renovate it.
Surprise, It’s Plutonium
Now this is perhaps one of the rarest (and most toxic) things you could find left behind on someone’s premises and it’s also illegal.
Because plutonium is a radioactive substance, it cannot be legally owned by anyone. The questions for this find are nearly endless. Plutonium is the most toxic when it is inhaled so thankfully they had a geologist for a neighbor who could help them figure out what the substance was and how to get rid of it.
One Clown Is Too Many
Few people like clowns and some people just plain hate them. There is just something about grown adults wearing heavy makeup and acting silly and unpredictable that is unsettling.
Although they originally began as entertainers, they have gained a creepy reputation over the years. Undoubtedly there are few of us who wouldn’t want to remodel our homes after finding clown paintings (in the basement of all places). The previous owners must have been big clown fans or at least circus fans.
Where’s the Beef?
Categorize this one under disgusting leftover finds. Finding someone’s old food is pretty gross but straight raw meat? That’s next-level disgusting and also extremely unsanitary.
In fact, it may be one of the worst rotting leftover food items you can find, let alone inside your home. It’s hard to imagine the shock on this couple’s faces when they finally figured out that the terrible smell belonged to a piece of raw, rotting meat. Who knows how long it had been there.
Knife Anyone?
While it must have been quite a shock when Reddit user Littlesnappea found a drawer full of knives, it isn’t all that bad to have a variety of knives left behind in your new home.
After all, a drawer filled with steak knives, paring knives, and pocket knives means you would most likely never have to worry about finding or running out of a proper cutting utensil. Hopefully, the previous owners at least left all of these knives clean, well-sharpened, and rust-free.
A Vintage Desk Set
Now, finding a vintage desk along with a full set of vintage office supplies from the 1940s would be a really cool find. It’s remarkable that the previous homeowners didn’t take it with them when they moved.
It would also be interesting to know if the desk and the vintage office supplies were worth any significant amount of money. Either way, what a neat item to both display and use in your home, and what a fascinating story to tell your guests!
Big Country Fans
When most people think of country music and country music fans, they typically associate both of them with the U.S. But of course, country music has made its way around the globe and, apparently, there are some very big country music fans in the UK.
Or, if they left 300 boxes of albums behind, at least they used to be country music fans. But just what can you do with 300 country music albums if you’re not a fan yourself? Perhaps Reddit user DemonEggy sold them online or in a yard sale.
Etch-A-Sketch Artist
Being an artist requires talent of course, but being an Etch-a-sketch artist requires a very unique type of talent, it means one has to be patient and not prone to many mistakes.
It must have been pretty entertaining for Reddit user Jacksonkisses to find this rendition of The Last Supper. Instead of a kitschy sketch, they probably wished it could have been at least a painted replica of The Last Supper but hey, at least they didn’t stumble across anything disgusting or disturbing.
It’s Raining Mayo
It’s raining mayo! There certainly could be worse things raining down on you and thank goodness the mayo was in packets, not jars.
The real question is, of course, why the previous owner saw fit to keep a questionable amount of mayo packets in their maintenance box. We guess you just can’t let a good thing go and that includes mayo. If they weren’t expired, perhaps Reddit user PhillipJGuy made use of them. What’s next, ketchup packets in the medicine cabinet and mustard packets behind the couch?
An Eight-Legged Friend
Some homeowners here have found animals (or animal parts) left behind, but tarantulas? That’s a pretty rare and shocking discovery! Some people are cat people while others are dog people and, hey, some are even reptile people, but spider people?
That’s pretty hard to come by. It’s incredible the furry little guy was still alive after a few days and he certainly was in luck that the new homeowner decided to keep it. What a story the new homeowner would have to share about his new pet!
Birds of a Feather
This one can also be filed under disgusting and/or very random in the list of the strangest things people have seen at someone else’s house.
Indeed, finding a bird wing (and no bird attached to it) is a pretty unnerving and gross discovery. The fact that it was under the kitchen sink leaves one to wonder what on earth happened there that a bird was left without a wing. Maybe the house cat got a hold of the poor creature.
Time to Move
This must have been a terrible, shocking (yet intriguing) discovery for Reddit user jayneblonde002. The first thing to check (and hope for) is that there is nothing in the coffin. Perhaps it was just a leftover Halloween decoration?
Unfortunately, probably not. Hopefully, the history of the house and the previous owners was uncovered and all fear was extinguished. Still, finding a coffin under your new house doesn’t exactly help you sleep at night. In the end, you may want to just move to a new house altogether.
Showering With Your Food
Typically, people take their food to the kitchen or dining room table and a number of people take their food to the living room or even their bedroom. But have you ever showered with your food?
That’s pretty unappealing, especially if your food is a live catfish! Many Reddit users commented that this is an incredibly strange thing to do. Hey, every family has its quirks, including keeping their soon-to-be-eaten catfish in their bathtub.
When Nature Calls
Having a fully functioning toilet (or any toilet for that matter) in your dining room could definitely offer you convenience but it probably wouldn’t impress your dinner guests that much.
One question for this Reddit user is if the toilet was…well...in a concealed room or simply sitting out in the dining room exposed. Perhaps the dining room used to be a bathroom and the previous owners decided to keep the toilet there? (Though why the toilet remained there will probably continue to be a mystery.)
What Happened to the Dog?
Dog hair inside an oven: certainly not a good sign (and certainly pretty gross) when you move into a new place. And, perhaps even more concerning, what happened to the dog that resulted in its hair put in the oven?
Hopefully, the previous homeowners were good dog owners. It may have taken a while for the new homeowners to settle into using their new oven, even after cleaning it. After all, there was probably anxiety about finding a dog hair or two in their dinner.
A Bowling Champion
If you are not building your own home yourself and are buying it from someone else, you often know little about the people who once lived there. But one thing’s for certain about these previous homeowners: someone loved bowling! And, with approximately twenty trophies, they were a good bowler at that and probably part of a bowling league.
It’s too bad they left all their trophies behind. Maybe it will inspire one of the new homeowners to take up bowling.
How Shocking
Who could these previous owners have been? Spies? FBI agents? Avantgarde psychologists? The questions will never end.
After all, the average person doesn’t own an electroshock therapy kit. Electroshock is typically thought of as being used as a means of interrogation, intimidation, or, frankly, unhealthy psychological therapy to help people learn to break bad habits (much like a dog with a shock collar). The fact that this was from the 1900s, though, makes it an interesting piece of history.
Starstruck
Now many children (and even adults) like the glow-in-the-dark, stick-on stars. They light up a dark room and allow you (with the ability to place them however you want) some creativity. However, the stick-on, glow-in-the-dark stars are not everyone’s home decor aesthetic and can be seen by some as a bit childish or kitschy.
So these new homeowners may have had their work cut out for them in trying to remove all of these stars. Good luck!
A Little Sketchy
Now, this is a find with some tantalizing (albeit slightly sketchy) history. The new homeowners may have known about the previous homeowner’s spy-like profession before they moved in. Or, perhaps the previous homeowners were relatively transparent about what they did for a living, just in case they had accidentally left behind any, em, questionable objects or equipment.
Hopefully, the previous owners were working for the right government. But, hey, maybe the new homeowners can put that old equipment to good use.
Clowning Around
Finding a clown nose behind your old dishwasher seems innocent enough except for (as with so many of these strange items found in other people’s homes) the questions it brings up.
Was the red clown nose leftover from Halloween or a costume party? Was at least one of the previous homeowners a clown as a part-time job? The placement of the object even causes one to ask, was there, at one time, a clown hiding behind the dishwasher?
Some Family Therapy Might Be Needed
Leaving behind the ashes of your deceased parent in your old home is truly quite strange.
One would think that the ashes of a loved one would be one of the first things you would pack with conscientiousness and care unless these previous owners weren’t particularly close with their late father. Needless to say, it would be an awkward phone call for the new homeowners to make, having to inform the previous homeowners to please come and pick up their dad.
Good Oral Hygiene
What can be said about finding 52, perfectly well-packaged toothbrushes? Maybe the previous homeowners must have either been passionate about good oral hygiene or had been doing some apocalyptic stockpiling?
It’s recommended to change your toothbrushes frequently to avoid bacteria overgrowth and make sure the bristles are still efficient. So, at least these left behind items could be put to good use and meant that the new homeowners were relieved of having to purchase new toothbrushes any time soon.
See You Later, Alligator
Finding a mummified alligator certainly gives new meaning to the playful phrase “see you later, alligator”, doesn’t it? The home must have been in Florida where alligators often find their way into residential neighborhoods.
Florida residents often have to keep watch for small children and pets (and also anyone really) who could possibly come face-to-face with the everglades predator. It must have been pretty frightening to find this mummified creature in their crawlspace, but this alligator is the safest one there is.
A Celebrity Sighting
So the previous homeowners had some sort of relationship with Bon Jovi and there’s a photo to prove it? That’s a pretty neat discovery unless they’re really good at photoshop.
However they knew Bon Jovi, it’s surprising they would have left the photo behind. But perhaps they are such good friends with the rockstar they knew they’ll get a photo again in the near future. It might actually be fun for the new homeowners to keep the photo around the house as it could make for a fun conversation at their next dinner party.
Super Toxic
Why anyone would want to keep two very toxic substances anywhere near where they are living is quite perplexing. Asbestos is a substance that was added to many products over the years but has now been declared dangerous and detrimental to your health.
Mercury is highly corrosive and can lead to neurological and behavioral problems if ingested or exposed to the skin. The new homeowners would have wanted to have the mercury and asbestos properly disposed of as soon as possible!
A Very Fun Find
The previous homeowners probably couldn’t take their zipline to where they were moving next, so it’s nice they left it behind for the new owners to enjoy. Not only do the new people get to enjoy nature, but they also get to enjoy the excitement of ziplining in their own backyard!
Of course, ziplining isn’t an activity that you want to do without any prior preparation or education so hopefully, they educated themselves on the safety of ziplining before attempting it.
Do You Speak Chinese?
Either the previous owners or someone who lived in the home at one time must have had some Chinese background to have had newspapers in the language.
The fact that they were “hidden” though is a bit more suspect (also the fact that they were hidden in an advent is interesting) and makes you wonder why. It would be interesting to know what date the newspapers were from and for the new homeowners to find a Chinese speaker and find out what they say.
Hit It With Your Shoe!
Finding any large creature or insect in your home is startling (well, depending on what sort of person you are) but at least this was a fake one.
Spiders usually do little harm (unless they are a Black Widow, Brown Recluse, or other poisonous species) other than scaring us half to death. If possible, it’s nice to let the little creeps free outside but it’s understandable if this woman wanted to grab the nearest shoe and destroy that (fake) spider!
A Secret Apartment
You may have seen some strange things in your neighbor’s house but did you ever discover a secret apartment? Reddit user Eagle206 mentioned that their friend (who worked at an old school) stumbled upon a fully furnished apartment inside the school. That’s one way to feel more at home at school.
The apartment dated back to the 1900s and was presumed to belong to the caretaker of the school at that time. It’s amazing what can be discovered when you’re least expecting it.
A Fair to Remember
There can be some creepy finds in houses but sometimes there can be a find that is both unusual and fascinating. Reddit user ren_grossmans_ghost commented that, inside an old cigarette box inside their home, they found some old stamps but they also found something else.
Also inside the box was a ticket to the Chicago World’s Fair from 1934! So make sure you check the old boxes in your home, you may have something special in there.
Secret Documents
Finding something unexpected in your house can be a pleasant surprise, but it can also be a startling or unsettling one. Reddit user klydefr0gg certainly stumbled upon some very exciting and highly confidential stuff!
The fact that the mysterious items were found on the other side of a broken lock in their home only makes it that eerier. But honestly, it's kinda cool to learn your house used to be a CIA hideout!
A Special Treasure
Reddit user sentientmeatpopsicle (that’s quite the username) is proof there are still good people in the world. After their real estate agent asked them to keep an eye out for that special ring, they really took it to heart.
Their constituency and persistence really did pay off when, after cleaning they finally found the ring — or maybe the ring found them? Either way, what a remarkable and important find and one that the previous owners must certainly be forever grateful for.
A Very Historical Book
For Reddit user Aiko, finding a practically ancient family Bible in their new home was a very unexpected surprise. While it is agreed upon that the Bible is a very old book, finding a family Bible this old was quite unique.
It’s even more incredible that the finder was able to track down the relations of those who owned this near-historical family Bible. Thankfully the back of the Bible had clues as to who the owners were. The descendants of those who owned the Bible must have been really fascinated by the find.
A Startling Find
Can you imagine living in a home that used to be a funeral parlor? When Reddit user KnittyViki moved into a former funeral parlor, stepping into that hidden room must have been a little more than eerie.
They were also probably relieved that all they found were objects as mild as stained glass, unusual equipment, chemicals, and scented salts. It’s most likely assumed that the articles belonged to the former funeral parlor. The homeowners eventually decided to give the items to an antique shop.
Really Random
Many people have boxes of random items in their house but these new homeowners found boxes of other people’s random stuff in their new place. Reddit user R12356 said that they found fifteen boxes of pine cones when they were insulating the attic.
It’s assumed that the pine cone collection must have been for crafts. They also found some toys from the 50s behind the piece of drywall, which must have been a fun find too.
A Stinky Discovery?
Combine strange, spooky, and stinky and that’s what you have when you find a giant, scary, smelly voodoo doll. After moving into a previously occupied home, Reddit user Withcinnamon noticed a bad smell coming from their attic. Upon investigation, there was a very, very bizarre discovery.
It certainly must have left them with many disturbing questions. It would probably be best for everyone’s mental and physical health to have it removed.
A Sentimental Commode
Many people can keep a healthy distance from what they do for a living, but others become very attached to their work. Reddit user I-amthegump (yes, this is an actual user name) mentioned that one of their tenants, who was a plumber, once had a very interesting day on the job.
The plumber must have been a big fan because he decided to keep the toilet in his home after that! We guess if you are a big enough fan, nothing of your idol’s personal items is too over-the-top.
Some Nice Leftovers
Popsicles. Pop. Toilet Paper. Lawn care items. You’ve heard some pretty awful leftovers and discoveries in a home, but how about these rather pleasant leftovers that Reddit user Witchymuggle found? It wasn’t anything dirty, disgusting, disturbing, or expensive to remove or clean up.
In fact, you’d really say it’s uncommon kindness and consideration of this previous owner to leave helpful and even fun items behind for those moving into the home after you. Rather random items yes, but rather considerate? Also yes. Some faith in humanity is restored.
A Big Scare
When you move into a new home, you certainly hope that everything will be clean, safe, and comfortable. But unfortunately, some dwellings come with shocking surprises. Reddit user Kralcster confessed that, when they moved into their new home, they found something they’d rather not have anywhere near them.
They discovered an unexploded parachute bomb from WWII! They had to call the bomb squad to come and safely dispose of it. What a disturbing welcome home present.
Close Call Encounters
Finding something dangerous in your new home is not the surprise that Reddit user elaniRyder or their mom were looking for. It would be interesting to know what other things these crazy previous homeowners left behind.
Having a dull machete nearly fall on your head would be a pretty terrifying experience as dull blades can oftentimes be the most dangerous. So, whoever left their dull machete behind must not have needed it for quite a long time…since it was dull anyway.
A Raccoon Door
Imagine that instead of chasing the neighborhood raccoons away from your garbage can, you welcome them into your home. It must have been a big surprise for Reddit user Bojinglejangle to suddenly see street raccoons walk through her friend’s door.
Now, raccoons are cute but it’s hard to imagine letting wild ones in through a doggy door. The biggest concern would be if they could get into your house when you weren’t at home to supervise them.
A Sharp Situation
Sometimes you need to be on guard when inspecting something inside a new place. Reddit user Bellapace said that, when they went to repair a broken pipe in her new place, they found clumps of razor blades! Sounds pretty sketchy, doesn’t it?
Who would have thought that a mid-century modern home had a slot in the medicine cabinet to discard used razor blades? Apparently, the previous owners weren’t too concerned about removing them!
The Christmas Room
Have you ever left your Christmas decorations up till January? February or March? Well, how about having a whole room dedicated to the huge holiday year-round?
Redditors replying to this post from Dreamcrusher69 found the room creepy — especially the part about Christmas music playing continually. While Christmas is certainly the “most wonderful time of the year”, part of what makes it special is celebrating it during one part of the year. However, if someone wants to keep the cheer every day of the year, why stop them?
As Seen on TV
Many of us have been there: It’s late at night, you're vulnerable and a commercial pops up to sell you that combination juke box-egg-slicer for only $19.99.
It sounds like the previous owners of this home weren’t so much into online shopping as they were into “as seen on TV” shopping. Honestly, as long as it hasn’t been used that much, these items sound like quite a nice thing to find left behind in your home. And if you don’t want it, there’s always a rummage sale option.
Initials Everywhere
There’s nothing that reminds you that you’re using something that belonged to someone else more than them leaving their initials on everything.
Apparently, Jim ‘88 didn’t think about resale value. Yes, it would be rather hard to settle into a new home (even if it is just a rental) when the previous resident’s initials are all over the place. Maybe they were able to check their agreement and find a way to cover all the writing up. Or, they could leave their own initials and continue the tradition.
Fun House
This quirky, curious house sounds either like how Reddit user firegecko5 described it (like a scene from “Willy Wonka”) or else like a place straight out of the children’s book “Alice in Wonderland”. Perhaps the previous owner was a bit of a mad hatter?
It’s imaginable that it would be time-consuming and inconvenient to have to change the home back to a normal, functional, and aesthetic place. The design choices certainly would make an interesting topic for your dinner guests though.
I Hope You Brought Bread
How Reddit user Brainwashedafterall stumbled upon this crate of butter is unclear but they certainly weren’t expecting the popular dairy substance, let alone an entire crate of it, to turn up in their new home.
It just goes to show you to expect the unexpected when you are exploring a new space. The previous owners must have really, really, really loved the household staple spread. And just maybe somewhere else in the house was a crate full of loaves of bread.
The “Second” Pantry
Adjusting to a new land and a new culture isn’t always the easiest and often presents overwhelming challenges. But, according to Reddit user imonsterFTW, this ingenious Japanese family found a way to make everything in their house meet their needs.
They may have been used to washing dishes by hand their whole lives so why not continue as they usually do? As for food, they probably made far fewer trips to the grocery store by having a second pantry. What a good idea indeed.
It’s Just an Expiration Date
Now, having expired foods (not simply a few days or even a few weeks but years past their expiration date) in your home is probably not the best way to safeguard your health.
Some people rely on canned and boxed foods to stay fresh and edible for months but even these can eventually expire and be unsafe for consumption. This friend of Reddit user Lucid623 must have truly taken expiration dates as only a suggestion. It would be interesting to know if this friend had a lot of stomach problems.
A Dog’s Dream
If Reddit user Cant-TurnLeft had a dog, having dog food suddenly pour out of the wall would probably be a dream come true. As with so many of these in-home discoveries, so many questions arise about this bizarre event: how did the dog food get into the wall? What was its purpose? Did a dog once eat that food?
Depending on the amount of food, it could be that a mouse stole the dog’s food and was hiding it in the wall for later, but we bet there's a weirder explanation.
Coincidence?
This was a bizarre coincidence for Reddit user Artforge1. It’s imaginable that the first thing he did when he saw the necklace was to give it to his wife, thinking it was somehow hers.
Of all the houses on earth (and all the necklaces on earth) it is almost rather magical the couple would find a necklace with the wife’s name and place of birth on it. It would be interesting to know what else they might have found in the home.
A Super Spooky Find
This one might be the worst one yet, and we've seen some really bad ones here. Reddit user Honkey_McCracker noted that in their attic they discovered quite a few doll heads.
Yes, not just one, but an attic full of them! Pretty spooky right? We can’t imagine they felt at ease with the discovery but surprisingly they just left them all in the attic. Finding a new home sounds like a better option.
Just, Yuck
Now leaving a sandwich bag full of fingernail/toenail clippings behind in your old home makes absolutely no sense and, frankly, is entirely revolting.
Think of all the possible reasons why you might keep a bag full of fingernails and toenail clippings in your home and it’s almost certain you will come up with no good reason. None. Perhaps the only relief this discovery provides is knowing the previous owners didn’t walk around with grotesquely long fingernails and toenails. Yuck!
The X-Ray Collection
X-rays are often fascinating to look at as you get to see the inside of the human body or other objects. Whoever used to live in this old home must have either been a radiologist or someone who was very, very fascinated by x-rays.
After all, if you’re going to x-ray a banana, you must be pretty into the whole x-raying process. Perhaps the new owners could get a little bit creative and make some home decor or wall art from the x-rays.
The Toilet Bowl Bouquet
What could say “welcome! Have a seat!” better than a toilet bowl bouquet? Perhaps the bouquet of flowers was placed there as a joke for the guests or perhaps someone thought (very incorrectly) that they could dispose of the flowers by flushing them down the toilet once they wilt.
Or perhaps…they ran out of vases? Definitely a bizarre find inside someone’s home. Hopefully, the toilet bowl bouquet at least made the bathroom smell nice and the foliage didn’t mess up the plumbing!
There Are Kitchen Drawers for That
Perhaps this set of silverware was more valuable than Reddit user Xmissxandristx thought and that’s why it was hidden inside a vent?
Or perhaps the previous owners ran out of space in their kitchen cupboards and drawers? The questions and speculations are nearly endless. At least it is something that can be put to good use, especially when you move into a new home.
Important Discoveries
Now if you found items like these (legal documents and especially someone's birth certificate), you would definitely want to return them to the previous homeowners as soon as possible.
And childhood drawings may not always demonstrate the most talent but are probably very sentimental, especially to parents. Reddit user mycrawlingeye was probably able to get in contact with the previous owners and return these important and sentimental items to them. Someday soon their daughter will need her birth certificate for a lot of life events.
Look for the Sign
Whether it was a prank of the previous homeowners to take this road sign or they sincerely intended to use the sign for some purpose, stealing it (which it sounds like they most likely did) is illegal. But this sounds like something that college kids would do just to entertain themselves.
The best move that the new homeowner could make would be to return the sign, if possible. Or…there’s always the option to keep it and find a creative decorative use for it too.
Find Your Segway
When moving, it’s hard to imagine someone leaving something as fun and nifty as a segway behind. The previous owners may have simply forgotten to take it with them or maybe they didn’t want to go to the trouble of listing it for sale or packing it up.
Like Reddit user diemperdidi5 said, a segway is a pretty random object to leave behind in a home but at least it’s also something very cool (and useful) to find. Best to just hop on and enjoy!
On the Chopping Block
Definitely not a childproof home, a guillotine is perhaps one of the most eccentric and startling items you could find in someone’s home.
Thankfully, it sounds like it had not been in use and that the previous owner was indeed just eccentric and must have been interested in medieval history. For this new homeowner, however, if the guillotine was quite old, they could perhaps get an estimate on how much it might be worth. Either that or use it to chop watermelons.
Where’s the Light?
The first question this Reddit user must have asked themselves is where is the light that this bizarrely placed switch turns on. The ceiling light switch must have had a purpose at one point to be specifically placed there.
If there was a light in the room that the switch turned on, it would be massively inconvenient to use. The new homeowners would have either wanted to call an electrician to rewire the light (depending on how critical it was to light the room) and get a pole they use every time to turn on the light.
What Did You Use Those For?
Catheters are a remarkable medical tool but typically very uncomfortable and sometimes painful for the patient. So it’s a wonder what a box of them would be doing in someone’s home.
The strongest possible explanation as to why this person has a box of unused catheters is because they might have worked in the medical field or at least worked for a medical supplies company. There’s really nothing good you can do with a leftover box of unused catheters other than donating them to a medical supply company.
Are You Missing Something?
There are few things as revolting, mysterious, and mildly traumatic as finding human body parts, let alone in your new home. At least this Reddit user was contacted by the previous homeowner (and owner of the finger) and got the story behind the severed finger to relieve his mind and his questions.
But the better question may be why did the new owner keep a severed finger for three weeks? It would seem the normal reaction would be to throw it away.
Secret Skis
What an interesting day to find a pair of secret skis concealed in your ceiling. And, if you’re into skiing, it would be a pretty fun day too.
The fact that the skis were sealed into the ceiling is a bit odd but maybe the previous owners had a good excuse. They might have been very expensive skis and they might have worried their house would be burglarized and someone would steal them. Or, the ceiling might have been the only real storage space for the awkwardly-shaped skis.
What a Stink
No one likes it when their pet has an accident in the house. Nobody likes finding dog poop in their yard or in their home if it doesn’t even belong to their dog.
The previous homeowner might get the benefit of the doubt in that the poop was hidden in the closet by their sneaky dog and therefore they didn’t see it to pick it up. But super old, crusty dog poop in a new closet certainly isn’t the homecoming anyone wants.
The Poor Parrot
Finding a deceased anything (or anyone) in a place you’re now calling home is not ideal. And it was Reddit user NorthGuidance who discovered that poor Polly went bottoms up.
Hopefully, the parrot died from old age and was a well-cared-for pet. Although the fact that the previous owners didn’t bury it might imply something different, at least they had the decency to cover his body. Why you would leave your deceased pet behind is definitely a major mystery.
They’re Survivors
It’s good to be prepared and it sounds like these homeowners weren’t about to let an apocalypse take them by surprise! With looting and panic buying, being prepared in case of a national or global emergency is a good idea. Some individuals, though, get very, very carried away by stockpiling food, weapons, and other items they believe will help them survive in case of a sudden, chaotic event.
The good news for the new homeowners is that now they are prepared for the next potential apocalypse.
A Romantic Find
When it comes to finding something that belongs to someone else in your home, something personal isn’t always better. But, in this case, this is a pretty special discovery.
Reddit user Loopyprawn recalls their mother finding these remarkable, historical items, including love letters from a soldier to his lady in their home. The fact that these very personal letters were written during wartime made them a perfect donation to a museum!
Don’t Forget to Pack Your RPG Rounds
So many questions for the previous homeowners of this home in Spain. Why did they own a live RPG round? Why was the live RPG round concealed in the back of a wardrobe?
Weapons of warfare don’t exactly have a “home sweet home” feeling. Thankfully, these new homeowners knew enough about what the object was to call the right person and have it removed. Hopefully, they checked the other areas of the home to make sure there were no AK-47s or Bazookas!
Hope He’s Locked Up
Now, this in-home find would leave you with too many questions and frankly, concerns. Finding an inmate badge is one thing, but it does make the mind wander. What landed this guy in prison? Why was his badge not with him? Did he ever get out?
Perhaps Reddit user LordOfTheLols took it upon themselves to further investigate where the badge came from and why it was in their home. But it was probably quite unsettling to discover. Let’s hope the prisoner’s still locked up.
Isn’t That Just Ducky?
What you find in a home leftover from previous owners often gives a substantial commentary on who they were and what their lifestyles were.
Now, finding a dead duck in the freezer? That might leave you with a question or two. A hunting trip might have been the reason behind this find. But why does a frozen, dead duck have to stay behind when you move into your new home? Take it with you!