Good points about attic ventilation. When we bought our first place, the inspector pointed out that the bathroom exhaust fans were venting straight into the attic instead of outside. Seemed minor at first, but over time it caused moisture buildup and mold spots on the rafters. Fixing it wasn't cheap either...had to reroute all the ductwork properly. Definitely something I'd recommend checking closely during inspections, even if everything else looks solid.
"Seemed minor at first, but over time it caused moisture buildup and mold spots on the rafters."
That's a fair point, and I agree that attic ventilation is often overlooked. However, I'd caution against placing too much reliance solely on home inspections. When we bought our second home, the inspector gave the attic ventilation system a clean bill of health, yet we still ended up with moisture issues down the line. Inspectors can miss things or underestimate potential problems, especially if they're subtle or seasonal.
In my experience, it's worthwhile to budget for unexpected repairs regardless of how thorough the inspection seems. Even the most detailed inspection won't catch everything, and sometimes issues only become apparent after you've lived in the house for a while. Not saying inspections aren't valuable—they definitely are—but it's wise to maintain a healthy skepticism and be prepared for surprises.
"Inspectors can miss things or underestimate potential problems, especially if they're subtle or seasonal."
True, but to be fair, inspectors aren't psychic either. When we bought our place, the attic looked fine—until winter hit and suddenly we had icicles INSIDE. Yep, indoor icicles. 😂 Turns out the previous owner DIY'd some insulation that blocked airflow. Moral of the story: inspections are great, but sometimes you just gotta live through a season or two to really know what you're dealing with...
Had a similar experience with our basement. Inspection came back clean, no moisture issues noted. Fast forward to spring rains, and suddenly we've got a mini indoor pool forming in one corner. Turns out the grading outside was subtly directing water toward the foundation—something you'd only notice after heavy rainfall. Inspections are helpful, but some problems just don't show up until nature decides to test your house...
"Inspections are helpful, but some problems just don't show up until nature decides to test your house..."
Yeah, inspections can miss stuff like that. Did you end up fixing the grading yourself or hire someone? Curious how big of a project it turned into...
