I hear you on the sewer scope—my agent tried to talk me into skipping it, but visions of surprise plumbing bills kept me up at night. I’m still debating how deep to go with inspections though. Like, is it overkill to get a chimney looked at if you’re never planning to use the fireplace? Or is that just asking for trouble down the line?
I get where you’re coming from—those “what if” scenarios can really mess with your sleep. I once skipped a chimney inspection on a flip since the buyers swore they’d never use it… then a year later, they found out birds had nested inside and clogged it up. Ended up being a headache for everyone. Even if you don’t plan to use the fireplace, sometimes it’s worth the peace of mind just knowing there aren’t hidden issues lurking. It’s not always overkill, honestly.
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That’s a fair point about peace of mind, but I keep going back and forth on whether every inspection is really necessary. I mean, I get that nobody wants a surprise bird condo in their chimney (yikes), but sometimes it feels like every little check adds up fast. Last time I bought, I had to pick and choose what to inspect because my budget was already stretched thin. Ended up skipping the fireplace since it looked sealed and the previous owner said they never used it… but now you’ve got me second guessing that call.
Maybe it’s just one of those things where you roll the dice and hope for the best? Or is that just asking for trouble down the line? It’s tough—sometimes “peace of mind” starts to feel like an expensive luxury when you’re counting every penny.
Rolling the dice is tempting, especially when every inspection feels like another chunk out of your wallet. I hear this a lot—people get inspection fatigue and start weighing what’s “really necessary.” Here’s the thing: I’ve seen buyers skip the chimney or attic because they looked fine, only to find out later there was a slow leak or critters moved in ages ago. Not saying you’ll always get burned, but sometimes those “optional” checks save you thousands down the line.
That said, I get budgets are real. Sometimes you do have to prioritize. If something looks sealed and unused, it’s easy to think it’s safe to skip, but sellers don’t always know (or disclose) the full story. I once had a client who trusted the previous owner’s word about a never-used fireplace... then spent months sorting out a hidden squirrel nest and flue damage.
It’s not always black and white. Sometimes you gamble and win, sometimes you end up with a mess. If you’re tight on cash, maybe focus on the big-ticket systems—roof, foundation, HVAC—but just know, skipping stuff is a risk. Peace of mind isn’t cheap, but neither are surprise repairs.
Couldn’t agree more about inspection fatigue—it’s real, and I’ve seen plenty of folks try to cut corners. But honestly, skipping the “small stuff” can backfire. I’ve walked properties that looked spotless on the surface, only to find out later there was a slow leak in the attic or a cracked chimney liner. Those are the kinds of things that don’t show up until you’re already knee-deep in repairs.
That said, I get it—budgets matter. If you have to prioritize, I’d always put roof, foundation, and HVAC at the top of the list. Those are the big-ticket items that’ll cost you the most if something goes wrong. But if you can swing it, even a basic attic or chimney check can save a lot of headaches. I’ve seen a $200 inspection save someone from a $5k repair more than once.
At the end of the day, it’s a gamble either way. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don’t. Just depends on your risk tolerance and how much you want to deal with surprises down the road.
