I've had inspectors come through plenty of times, and honestly, general messiness rarely comes up. A few quick points from my experience:
- Inspectors are usually laser-focused on structural issues, plumbing, electrical, mold, or leaks. They're not there to judge housekeeping.
- That said, extreme clutter that blocks access to important areas (like under sinks, electrical panels, or attic hatches) can get a mention. Had one inspector politely ask if we could move some boxes so he could check the water heater properly.
- Kitchens specifically... dishes piled up never got me a comment, but food left out or garbage overflowing might raise eyebrows about pests or sanitation. Better safe than sorry there.
Bottom line: don't stress too much about a spotless kitchen. Just clear pathways and access points, toss out obvious trash, and you'll be fine. Good luck tomorrow!
Good points all around. From my experience:
- Inspectors have seen it all, trust me—your kitchen won't shock them.
- Agree about clutter blocking access. Had a client once whose attic hatch was buried under holiday decor... inspector wasn't thrilled.
- Quick tidy-up helps, but don't lose sleep over it.
"Inspectors are usually laser-focused on structural issues, plumbing, electrical, mold, or leaks."
Exactly this. You've got this!
Totally agree inspectors have seen worse than a messy kitchen. But I'd add one thing—make sure your sink and under-sink cabinet are accessible. Had an inspector once who got annoyed because he couldn't check plumbing connections due to a mountain of cleaning supplies. He wasn't rude about it, but it slowed things down. Quick shuffle of stuff around the pipes beforehand saves everyone some hassle... just my two cents.
"Quick shuffle of stuff around the pipes beforehand saves everyone some hassle..."
Definitely agree with this. Also, don't forget about clearing the area around your appliances—especially the dishwasher and fridge. Had an inspector once who needed to check behind the fridge, and it was a bit embarrassing having to move a bunch of random stuff out of the way last minute. Not a huge deal, but it made things awkward for a minute or two... better safe than sorry, right?
Good points, especially about the fridge—people always underestimate how much junk accumulates back there. A couple other quick things to consider:
- Check under the sink cabinet for leaks or moisture stains beforehand (inspectors love poking around there).
- Make sure your outlets near water sources are GFCI protected—easy fix but inspectors flag it often.
Curious if anyone's had issues with inspectors checking ventilation above stoves...mine was picky about that last time.
