Totally feel you on the plumbing stuff—been there myself. We had a similar issue, except ours turned into a mold nightmare behind the bathroom drywall. Apparently, slow leaks can go unnoticed for months and mold just loves those dark, damp spaces. Ended up having to tear out a chunk of wall to treat it properly. Definitely worth checking behind cabinets or any areas near plumbing during inspections... wish I'd known that sooner.
"Apparently, slow leaks can go unnoticed for months and mold just loves those dark, damp spaces."
Yep, learned this the hard way too. But honestly, it's not just bathrooms—kitchens and laundry rooms are notorious for hidden leaks. I'd strongly recommend investing in a moisture meter during inspections; they're cheap and can save you thousands down the line. A quick scan behind cabinets or near plumbing fixtures can catch problems before they spiral out of control. Better safe than tearing half the wall apart later...
"I'd strongly recommend investing in a moisture meter during inspections; they're cheap and can save you thousands down the line."
Good tip, but honestly, moisture meters aren't foolproof. When we bought our place, the inspector used one and everything looked fine. Fast forward six months and we found mold behind the dishwasher—turns out the leak was intermittent, so it didn't show up during inspection. Moisture meters are great for catching obvious issues, but they won't always detect slow or occasional leaks.
What really helped us was just paying attention to weird smells or discoloration on walls and cabinets. If something seems off, trust your gut and investigate further—even if the meter says it's dry. Also, don't underestimate regular maintenance checks. Pulling out appliances every now and then is a pain, sure, but it beats dealing with mold remediation later...trust me on that one.
If something seems off, trust your gut and investigate further—even if the meter says it's dry.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve refinanced twice now and each time, the home inspector whipped out a moisture meter like it was some magic wand. But honestly, those things only tell part of the story. You can’t beat just using your senses—if you smell mustiness or see a weird stain, don’t just shrug it off because the gadget says “all clear.” I’d even say, budget for a plumber to check behind appliances before you close. It’s not paranoia if you’ve seen what water damage can do to your wallet...
