"Now I always advise clients to do a quick walkthrough beforehand, just to spot those little things inspectors tend to notice...saves headaches later on."
That's solid advice, but honestly, sometimes inspectors catch things even after you've done your best walkthrough. I've had situations where I triple-checked everything, and they still pointed out something minor I'd never considered. It's good practice to prepare, sure, but don't stress too much—inspectors usually understand you're mid-project and will often give you a chance to correct small oversights without major hassle.
I get what you're saying about inspectors usually being understanding, but honestly, I've had a couple experiences that make me a bit wary of relying too much on their goodwill. A few years back, I was finishing up a kitchen remodel—everything looked great, and I felt pretty confident. I'd done my walkthrough, checked every box (or so I thought), and figured the inspector would breeze through.
Well...turns out I'd overlooked something small but critical: the placement of an outlet near the sink wasn't quite up to code. It wasn't a huge fix, but it delayed things by a week and added unnecessary stress. Ever since then, I've learned it's not just about catching obvious issues—it's about knowing exactly what inspectors prioritize.
"inspectors usually understand you're mid-project and will often give you a chance to correct small oversights without major hassle."
True enough, but I'd still recommend double-checking those code-specific details beforehand. Saves you from that sinking feeling when they pause mid-inspection and start scribbling notes...
Totally relate to that sinking feeling you mentioned...been there myself. When we renovated our historic kitchen, I thought I'd covered everything—until the inspector pointed out my vintage-style lighting fixtures weren't grounded properly. Lesson learned: inspectors definitely have their pet peeves and priorities. Now I always do a quick online search for common inspection pitfalls in my area beforehand. Saves a lot of headaches.
"it's about knowing exactly what inspectors prioritize."
Exactly this. Better safe than sorry, right?
Had a similar experience when we redid our old farmhouse kitchen. Thought I'd nailed everything down, but the inspector zeroed in on the antique sink plumbing—apparently, vintage charm doesn't always meet modern code. Ended up scrambling last minute to swap out some fittings. Definitely agree it's worth checking local inspection quirks beforehand... would've saved me a stressful afternoon and an extra trip to the hardware store.
"Thought I'd nailed everything down, but the inspector zeroed in on the antique sink plumbing—apparently, vintage charm doesn't always meet modern code."
Ha, sounds familiar. When we renovated a craftsman bungalow last year, I was so proud of repurposing original fixtures and keeping that authentic vibe. But the inspector wasn't impressed by my "historical accuracy" when it came to wiring behind vintage sconces—had to redo half the electrical at the eleventh hour. Lesson learned: charm is great, but inspectors prefer safety over nostalgia every time...
