Home inspectors look for clues to hidden conditions.
For example using a very bright flashlight at a tight angle to scan across a wall or ceiling surface is indispensable in evaluating interior spaces.
Such scanning can find indications of crappy drywall installations, previous repairs to surfaces, closed-in windows and swelling related to water leaks. This one technique can save an inspector a lot of embarrassment later–even while displaying conditions that are “normal” in the seemingly unfavorable light of the bright flashlight.
Agents sometimes grimace a bit when I use this technique, because even normal drywall unevenness will show up under the bright light. Sometimes a little education on what a normal drywall surface looks like is necessary to calm the buyer and the agent, but this is usually not difficult and most appreciate the kinds of information that can be discovered with this approach.
I am sure we have all witnessed the sun shining across a wall or ceiling at this same sort of tight angle displaying for the first time all the drywall seams and nail pops and sunken fasteners–conditions previously “invisible.” All kinds of smooth-wall finishes have some sort of “signature” under bright light.
The inspector can read these signatures to obtain important information as to the condition of the home. This approach is a method of looking for clues.
But, the inspector must be vigilant and ever mindful that sometimes new clues present themselves that can give fair warning as to possible hidden conditions. Such a clue presented itself to me at an inspection recently. I often find the carcasses of sow bugs in the cobwebs and dust bunnies of closet corners. I would typically note their presence because it can often mean there is some wood decay rot present “somewhere” nearby. These kinds of conditions are what sow bugs love.
In a similar vein, what is an inspector to conclude when several earthworms are noted squirming across the finished basement floors in several areas?
“It is a safe bet,” the sow bugs say, “That there is a nice compost bin hidden ‘somewhere’ behind those finished walls.”
On this day the flash light did not reveal the hiding place of the compost bin–but in time it may.
By Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle
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Charles, just fyi: the email notification I received for this post contained your water heater leak pan and lead pipe flashing posts from last August. The same thing happened 9/9, when your actual post was about shower enclosures leaking, again sending me the two August posts. Thought you might want to know. And thanks for your informative posts — I’ve learned much from them. In particular your 100 Red Flags post, as we’re working on getting our house ready to put on the market.