"Inspectors definitely vary a lot in their approach, and USDA inspections seem particularly prone to that unpredictability."
Couldn't agree more—when we refinanced last year, our inspector barely glanced at some outdated wiring but spent ages fussing over a loose handrail. It felt pretty arbitrary. Makes me wonder if there's any formal training or guidelines inspectors have to follow closely, or is it mostly left up to their personal judgment? Curious if anyone's had luck challenging inspection findings they thought were overly picky...
I've seen inspectors get hung up on some pretty random stuff myself. Had one recently who spent nearly an hour measuring deck rail spacing with a tape measure, yet completely ignored a cracked foundation wall—go figure. From what I've gathered, there are definitely guidelines they're supposed to follow, but interpretation seems pretty subjective. Has anyone noticed if inspections differ significantly between USDA and conventional loans? Curious if the loan type factors into how picky inspectors get...
"Had one recently who spent nearly an hour measuring deck rail spacing with a tape measure, yet completely ignored a cracked foundation wall—go figure."
Haha, inspectors can be weirdly selective sometimes. From what I've seen, USDA inspections do tend to be a bit pickier about safety and livability stuff compared to conventional loans...but honestly, it still feels like luck of the draw.
Haha, seriously...had one inspector obsess over a loose doorknob for 20 mins but totally missed water stains on the ceiling. Sometimes I wonder if they're just messing with us or what.
Inspectors can definitely get hung up on weird details sometimes...but honestly, if you're buying rural, water stains are something you really wanna double-check yourself anyway. I've seen inspectors gloss over septic systems, wells, and even foundation cracks. Best practice: always do your own walkthrough after the inspection report comes in, note down anything that feels off, and don't hesitate to ask for clarification or a second opinion. Saved me (and a few clients) from some nasty surprises down the road.
