Gotta disagree a bit here—inspectors definitely notice more than they let on. When ours came through, he casually mentioned our "creative" duct tape plumbing fix with a smirk. Didn't write it down, but trust me, he remembered... probably still laughing about it somewhere.
Inspectors definitely notice stuff, but honestly, they're usually more amused than annoyed by our DIY "solutions." When ours came through our historic place, he spotted the ancient wiring and just chuckled, saying he'd seen worse. My advice? Tidy up the obvious messes, but don't stress too much—inspectors know old houses come with quirks. Just make sure nothing screams "fire hazard," and you'll probably be fine... or at least memorable.
Had a similar experience when our inspector came through—my kitchen was mid-reno chaos, paint cans everywhere and cabinet doors missing. He just laughed and said, "Looks like progress!" Honestly, tidy up a bit, but don't sweat perfection... inspectors get it.
"Honestly, tidy up a bit, but don't sweat perfection... inspectors get it."
True, inspectors are usually understanding, but from experience, leaving paint cans around can signal unfinished work and might prompt extra scrutiny. I'd suggest neatly stacking supplies—first impressions do count, even amid chaos.
I get your point about paint cans, definitely makes sense to keep things neat. But honestly, I've had inspectors come through when my kitchen looked like a tornado just blew through it—tools everywhere, half-installed cabinets, even sawdust on the counters. I remember one inspector just chuckled and said, "Looks like you've been busy," and moved right along without batting an eye.
I think most inspectors can tell the difference between a genuine work-in-progress and actual neglect or safety hazards. They're usually more focused on whether things are done right rather than how tidy the workspace is. So yeah, stacking supplies neatly might help ease your nerves, but if you're strapped for time, I wouldn't stress too much about it. A little chaos never hurt anyone, and inspectors have seen it all anyway.