Those steps make sense, especially the quick check under the sink—I’ve had inspectors zero in on that spot too. From my experience, inspectors often see clutter as a red flag for hidden issues. Not fair, I know, but it happens. One thing I'd add: if you have eco-friendly or water-saving fixtures installed, give those a quick wipe-down and maybe even have the manuals handy. It shows you're proactive about maintenance and upgrades, which inspectors appreciate.
Last time I had an inspection, the inspector noticed my low-flow faucet and ended up chatting with me about water efficiency for a good 10 minutes—completely changed the vibe of the visit. It went from stressful scrutiny to a friendly conversation about sustainability.
Curious if anyone else has found that highlighting energy-efficient or eco-friendly features helps give a better impression during inspections?
Definitely helps to highlight eco-friendly stuff. Last inspection, I casually mentioned our LED under-cabinet lighting and recycled glass backsplash tiles, and the inspector perked right up. We ended up chatting about sustainable materials for a while, and the whole vibe shifted from tense to relaxed. Inspectors seem to appreciate when you're thoughtful about your space... plus, it distracts them a bit from any clutter you didn't quite manage to hide, haha.
"Inspectors seem to appreciate when you're thoughtful about your space... plus, it distracts them a bit from any clutter you didn't quite manage to hide, haha."
Haha, totally true! Last time we had an inspector over, our kitchen was a hot mess—historic homes mean constant projects and endless chaos. Anyway, I casually pointed out the reclaimed barn wood shelves we installed and mentioned how we salvaged the original farmhouse sink. He lit right up and started sharing stories about his grandparents' old place. Suddenly the inspection felt more like swapping memories than being judged on our cluttered counters.
"Suddenly the inspection felt more like swapping memories than being judged on our cluttered counters."
Haha, love this! We had a similar experience—our inspector noticed the vintage tiles we'd painstakingly restored and ended up chatting about his own DIY tile disaster. Definitely eased my nerves. Curious though, has anyone ever had an inspector who just wasn't into small talk or personal touches? Wondering how you'd handle that awkward silence...
Had one inspector a couple years back who was all business. Zero interest in small talk, barely even looked up from his clipboard. Honestly, it was kind of a relief—just got straight to the point and finished up fast. But yeah, the silence can feel awkward if you're used to chatting.
I usually just let them set the tone. If they're quiet and focused, I try not to hover or force conversation. Better to stay nearby in case they have questions but give them space to do their thing. Sometimes I'll just busy myself with something minor in the same room so it's not completely silent—like checking cabinet hinges or sorting through paint swatches.
On the flipside, I've had inspectors who were super chatty and ended up giving me some great practical advice mid-inspection...so you never really know what you're gonna get.
Curious though, has anyone else found that inspectors tend to loosen up if you ask them about local building codes or recent changes? Seems like a neutral topic that even the quieter ones don't mind discussing briefly.
