Should A Home Inspector Have To Move Things To Be Able To Inspect Thoroughly?

Hi Jay - I agree with you.  You may open a box of unintended consequences.

I tell my clients that home inspectors conduct their inspections similar to police -- in plain site.  If they can't find it, get to it, access it . . . it aint' gonna be inspected.  I try to ensure, beforehand, that seller moves stuff, otherwise they may be responsible for my client's re-inspection fee.

My home inspector won't move things. So we request up front a checklist. If the seller doesn't perform the checklist, they are subject to the re-inspect fee.

Jay - I completely agree with you. Why incur an injury or a liability? If you can't get to it or can't find it, you can't be expected to inspect it.

Jay, I agree with your decision not to inspect items when there are obstructions and/or finishes may be damaged.

Here's a tip that I use to avoid these circumstances. As soon as the inspection is booked I will email a link to my website to both realtor and buyer on how to prepare for an inspection (www.ekan.biz/preparation). There's no guarantee that anyone will read or act upon it but at least I've done my part to minimize surprises.

and then the sellers complain that we take too long :)

I agree with you. Home owners should make the home ready for the home inspector to inspect things.

Great points:

Houses should be made ready for a home inspection.  Something like this was obviously beyond the seller's thinking.  A lot of sellers don't know that the panel box has to be accessible and its accessibility is probably beyond the normal To Do List of the agent who is trying to prepare a seller for a home inspection. 

As many have stated here in the comments, it's a responsibility of the listing agent to see that the property is ready for inspection. Forcing a re-inspection by failing to make things accessible is a waste of time and money.

Same as disclosure for agents...I report what I can see without any extra effort

I have to put on my flame and heat resistant goggles to read your post Jay. You are one hot guy (not what you are thinking...)

Coincidentally, my personal house went under contract and I remembered to clear out beneath the sinks so the inspector could see there were no runs, drips, or leaks. I'd hate for him to wade through the various cleansers and beauty products stored there!

Perhaps the to do list an agent provides a seller should include "provide access to electrical panel". I have a Do and Don't list for my loan clients which I ask them to initial after reading each item.

Hey jay, yep this is something we encounter all the time. No way am I moving furniture or appliances, its just not worth what could happen.