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Identifying a Former Grow House

  • Mould in corners where the walls and ceilings meet
  • Painted concrete floors in the basement, with circular marks of where pots once were
  • Evidence of tampering with the electric meter or the ground around it
  • Evidence of windows and doors having been sealed
  • Indications that landscaping has not been consistently maintained
  • Unusual or modified wiring on the exterior of the house
  • Brownish stains around the soffit that bleed down along the siding
  • Concrete masonry patches, or alterations on the inside of the garage
  • Patterns of screw holes on the walls
  • Alteration of fire places
  • Denting on front doors (from police ramming the door)

Identifying Potential Grow House Operators (Purchasers):

  • Third party purchasers
  • Questionable income sources
  • No contract negotiation
  • Offers to pay in large amounts of cash; multiple cash transactions
  • Multiple down payments on behalf of one individual
  • Secretiveness and no reasonable explanations

Identifying Potential Grow House Operators (Renters):

  • Did the renter check out every room?
  • Have references been provided and do they check out?
  • Did the renter spend a lot of time viewing the breaker boxes, wiring and plumbing?

Contact your local police department for more information or specific concerns
Source: Toronto Regional Real Estate Board – Compiled with information from the Canadian Real Estate Association and chrismathers inc. crime and risk consulting