I've found transparency helps too, but honestly...sometimes it just depends on the inspector's mood. Had one last year who wasn't impressed no matter how organized or upfront I was. Luck of the draw, I guess? Glad yours went smoother though.
Totally agree—sometimes it's like playing inspector roulette, lol. Had one a couple years back who was super chill, even joked about my DIY paint job. But the next one... yeesh, felt like I was getting graded on a final exam or something. I think transparency helps, sure, but sometimes it's just about personalities clicking (or not). Glad yours turned out okay though, gives me hope for next time mine expire mid-project...again.
Had a similar experience last year—permit expired right when we were installing custom cabinetry. Inspector was pretty understanding, but still grilled me on every little detail. Makes me wonder if clear guidelines would help smooth things out, or if it's always gonna be luck of the draw...
"Makes me wonder if clear guidelines would help smooth things out, or if it's always gonna be luck of the draw..."
Clearer guidelines might help somewhat, but honestly, inspectors vary so much in how they interpret rules. Had one inspector last summer who practically brought a magnifying glass to check drywall screws... another barely glanced at electrical wiring. Maybe it's less about guidelines and more about consistency in training? Curious if others have noticed this inconsistency between inspectors too.
I get what you're saying about consistency, but I'm not entirely sure training alone would solve it. Inspectors are human, after all, and even with identical training, they'll still have their personal quirks and pet peeves. Last year I had a similar experience—one inspector was super picky about stair railings, measured every spindle, checked heights meticulously... next guy just eyeballed it quickly and moved on. Made me think it's also partly about personality and experience level.
Maybe what's needed isn't just clearer guidelines or more consistent training, but some kind of feedback loop for inspectors too? Like, if there's a way for homeowners or contractors to give anonymous feedback on inspections, inspectors might become more aware of their own biases or blind spots. Not saying it'd fix everything, but could be a step in the right direction. Has anyone seen something like that in their city?
