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

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9 Comments on Excluded, If You Please

OCT
18
2009
970,267 Points 245 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

No kidding....many a home will have so much clutter you folks can't even get into anything to inspect. How about under the sinks? Cluttered with old bottles of no good cleaning products...dirty mildew rags....ugh.

1:36pm • #1

I am sure you run into some very interesting situations.  Perhaps even homeowners that deliberately try to conceal something. 

3:49pm • #2
917,493 Points 178 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Steve---that place sure looks a lot neater than your office.

5:54pm • #3
1,150,633 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Sally, that is correct.

Theodore, thanks for the comment.

Charlie, come back when you are not being silly.

5:58pm • #4
917,493 Points 178 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

That is really hard to do and hardly seems worth the effort:)

10:43pm • #5
OCT
19
2009
204,385 Points 2 Featured Posts

These are the sellers that REALLY need some professional staging advice, but WON'T ever get it!

Bummer!

 

-

8:32am • #7
425,063 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Steven - you would have loved this one house we had listed then. There was stuff nobody knew even existed. ~Rita

10:40pm • #8
OCT
20
2009
1 Featured Post

I've had houses where I can't even enter the room without walking on a 1' or 2' of personal possessions.

The client is usually really understanding.

10:57am • #9

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Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Bellingham, WA

More about me…

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc

Address: Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Sumas, Nooksack, Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA, 98225

Office Phone: (360) 676-6908

Cell Phone: (360) 319-0038

Email Me

Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals. Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest. Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.


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