The 80-year old parrot rule

You can Google a lot about a house. But you can’t Google everything.

I once helped a client buy a home that seemed perfect.

Great location.

Solid floor plan.

No obvious red flags. But before giving the green light, I did what I always do — I spoke to the neighbours.

And that’s when I learned about the parrot.

Every single day, at exactly 3pm, this bird screamed non-stop for two hours. Like clockwork.

So I did a quick Google search: “How long do parrots live?”

Turns out? Up to 80 years.

Which meant that whoever bought this place wasn’t just getting a home—they were signing up for decades of daily squawking.

My clients decided it wouldn’t be an issue for them (they worked late), but it’s a reminder of something crucial:

• Some things don’t show up in an inspection report.

• A house is more than just four walls.

• If you don’t ask the right questions, you might end up with a built-in alarm system you didn’t sign up for.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever discovered about a house?