Pubdate: Sat, 09 Apr 2005 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 Calgary Herald Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Alison Bracegirdle, For The Calgary Herald SKUNK CABBAGE SMELL AMONG WARNING SIGNS There are clues that can be detected from the outside of a house that are synonymous with a grow operation. "Myself, I look for a vacant home that's not well looked after," says Marilyn Jones, president of the Calgary Real Estate Board. A grow op will also likely have less or no snow on its roof in the winter because the house is kept at a high temperature, says Reinhard Thomas of Professional Home Inspections Ltd. Other indicators include steamy windows, condensation or discolouring of the roof, unusual amounts of steam coming out of vents in winter, or a rapidly spinning power meter that shows electrical tampering. After watching closely, close your eyes. You might hear a humming sound of fans or generators used to produce excess humidity in the house. If you get close enough, you might notice a skunk cabbage smell oozing from the cracks in the house. Within the home, Jones looks for "moisture or a damp feeling in the house." Sometimes, people will also try to cover up the stains that grow pots leave on the floor with paint or disguise them through renovations. While there is no demographic to watch out for, people who run grow-ops tend to have certain habits: - - Unloading copper or PVC pipe, soil, halogen lamps, large amounts of black plastic aluminum ducting and fans. - - Residents who come and go at unusual hours, rarely staying overnight. When they do come by, they might only take out garbage, move toys in the front yard, shovel the snow or cut the grass, and then leave immediately. - - Little to no garbage brought to the curb/alley. - - Mail is rarely delivered and mailbox may be taped shut. - - Metal bars on windows and excessive security like guard dogs, along with no trespassing signs, high fences, heavy chains and locks on gates. Source: The Canadian Real Estate Association's pamphlet called Grow Ops, What Realtors Need to Know, December 2004 - --- MAP posted-by: Derek