Sometimes, as a Bellingham and Whatcom county home inspector, simply trying to navigate around a house can be death-defying. I know this is a problem for all inspectors. A while back I had a sore back and, of course, then I got super busy. I had a heck of a time resting the back because my job entailed trying to push things around to get to furnaces, electric panels or even just to make my way up stairs or to get into an attic.

We inspectors face this all the time at any occupied home. It is worse when someone is moving because, then, they store everything in the garage and in every available space. Often a spare bedroom is full of stuff, you cannot even get inside the door. Problem is, a month later after closing, the person moving in to an empty house might find some things that the inspector did not see because he or she had no access. If a remodel takes place, that probably doubles the chances of some hidden problem being found when walls or ceiling surfaces are opened. For that reason, most of us take lots of photos for the file and, also, put an exclusionary statement of this type in the report.

Furnished home/general limitations:

This home is furnished; therefore, numerous counter, under sink, closet, window, wall, floor, and/or ceiling surfaces were obscured by personal effects, blinds, drapes, rugs, carpets, collectibles, furniture and other items, limiting the inspection of some areas. Appliances and furniture are not moved and belongings stored on window sills are not moved. Insulation, when present in crawl space and attic areas, obstructs visibility, therefore areas that are not visible or accessible because of impeded visibility or objects are excluded from the inspection.   

The photo above is one of the "less problematic" homes, so you can imagine the access issues at some of the houses we inspectors literally "wade" through.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith