When I had my inspection, the guy did peek under the kitchen sink—mostly checking for leaks or water damage, I think. Cabinets though? He barely glanced inside mine, even though they were a mess. I'd say just clear enough space under the sink so he can see the pipes clearly, but don't stress too much about the cabinets. Inspectors seem more interested in functionality than neatness...at least from my experience.
Had my inspection last month and was pretty much in the same boat as you. Kitchen was a disaster zone, tools everywhere, cabinets half-installed... total chaos. Here's what I noticed from my experience:
- Inspector mostly cared about plumbing, electrical, leaks, and safety issues. He spent a good minute under my sink with a flashlight, checking pipes and valves. Cabinets? Barely even opened them—just a quick glance to make sure doors were attached and nothing dangerous was hiding inside.
- I did clear out under the sink though—just shoved everything into a basket and moved it aside temporarily. Made it easier for him to check pipes without having to move bottles or cleaning supplies around.
- Appliances mattered more than cabinets. He tested my stove burners, ran the dishwasher briefly, and checked the fridge temp. Didn't care if they were spotless, just wanted to confirm everything worked.
- Countertops and surfaces didn't seem to matter at all. Mine were cluttered with random renovation stuff (paint cans, caulking tubes, random screws...) and he didn't bat an eye.
- One thing I overlooked: smoke detectors and outlets. He asked specifically if they worked and tested a couple outlets with a little gadget. Might be worth double-checking those to avoid surprises.
Honestly, seems like inspectors are practical folks—more interested in function and safety than how Pinterest-worthy your kitchen looks. Clear the important bits, leave the rest, and you'll prob be fine. Good luck!
Had a similar experience when my inspector came through. Kitchen was a mess—half-painted walls, tools scattered everywhere, and countertops covered in drywall dust. He barely noticed. But he did spend extra time checking the GFCI outlets near the sink and stove area. Also asked about ventilation, specifically if the range hood was venting properly outside. Might wanna double-check that if you haven't already... easy to overlook when you're knee-deep in renovations.
"Kitchen was a mess—half-painted walls, tools scattered everywhere, and countertops covered in drywall dust. He barely noticed."
Lucky you... my inspector was pretty picky about cleanliness. Said clutter made it hard to check plumbing connections properly. Might still be worth tidying up a bit, just in case.
Haha, been there... Step 1: shove everything into random cabinets. Step 2: wipe down surfaces just enough to hide the drywall dust. Step 3: pray the inspector doesn't open the wrong cupboard or sneeze too hard. Worked for me, mostly.