Snake House: Idaho Home Was on Snake Sanctuary

If you are in the market to buy a new home, be sure that your home isn't actually a "snake house." Located in Idaho, a "snake house" turned one couple's dream home into a living, breathing - and slithering - nightmare.

Ben and Amber Sessions moved into the home thinking that it was a great deal. They originally paid less than $180,000 for the five-bedroom home.

As it turns out, the picturesque home was actually located on sanctuary for garter snakes, ABC News reports.

When the Sessions first toured the house, their real estate agent told them that stories about snakes in the house were made up by previous owners. As a result, the Sessions signed a document acknowledging that they knew about the snake problem, reports The Seattle Times.

But, the stories about snakes were definitely not made up - and the Sessions soon learned why the house had such a huge turnover. On the first day of living at their new house, Amber Sessions saw around 8 snakes, reports ABC News.

Ben Sessions even started a morning ritual - a daily sweep of the house to make sure no snakes would bother his pregnant wife and his two children, according to The Seattle Times. In one day, he caught 43 snakes, he told ABC News.

In some jurisdictions, the old adage of "buyer beware" is actually law. It's the buyer's responsibility to find out defects when buying a home, and if they find out a defect after the closing date, it's unfortunately too late - even if the defect renders the home unfit, unless the owner is intentionally concealing the defect.

So, it's vitally important when you're buying a home to get a home inspection that could uncover any defects. It seems likely given the prevalence of the snakes that a home inspector would have found that there was a huge infestation - which might have prevented the Sessions from ever purchasing the home.

After their new daughter was born in December 2009, the Sessions moved out of the snake house. And, the Idaho snake house is still being shown to other prospective buyers, but only after Chase bank, the new owner of the house, finishes getting rid of the infestation, reports The Seattle Times.

Related Resources:

• Idaho house infested with snakes, ex-residents say (AP)
• Thinking About Buying? Get a House Inspection First (FindLaw)
• Walmart SSSSSued over Snake Bite (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
• Man Had 70+ Exotic Snakes, Fed Them Pets Adopted Off Craigslist (FindLaw's Legally Weird)