2025-11-17 – Weekly Home Inspector News : Weirdest Things Found in Inspections

Last week, the forum buzzed with discussions on best practices in home inspections and shared experiences from the field. Members explored accessibility checks, essential traits for inspectors, and guiding newcomers into the profession. Conversations also veered into lighter territory, with stories of unusual finds and humorous client interactions rounding out the week.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Quick accessibility checks for your next inspection
This discussion offers practical tips for ensuring properties are accessible and safe for all potential buyers. It’s a quick read that might add value to your next inspection.
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FAQ/Guidelines
Find everything you need to know about navigating our community and getting the most out of the forum.
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Admin Guide: Getting Started
This admin guide is a great resource for new users who need a little help getting started on the forum.
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Thinking About Becoming a Home Inspector? Start Here!
If you’re considering a career change, this thread could be your first step towards becoming a home inspector.
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How Did You Get Started in Home Inspection?
Members share their unique journeys into the home inspection industry, offering inspiration and insights for those new to the field.
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What Traits Make a Great Home Inspector?
A conversation on the essential qualities that set top inspectors apart. This is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their craft.
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What’s the Weirdest Thing You’ve Found During an Inspection?
From the quirky to the downright bizarre, inspectors share their strangest discoveries. This thread is as entertaining as it is eye-opening.
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Funniest Client Reactions to Your Report?
An amusing collection of client reactions to inspection reports—sometimes surprising, often hilarious.
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Inspection Misadventures: Slips, Surprises, and Squirrels
Inspectors recall their most unexpected and humorous encounters in the field. It’s a lighthearted look at the challenges of the job.
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You Know You’re a Home Inspector When…
This thread captures the quirky realities of life as a home inspector, offering a relatable chuckle for professionals in the field.
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Looking forward to another week of engaging discussions. Your contributions and insights make this community a valuable resource for all.

1 Like

Found a jar of teeth under stairs; during “accessibility checks”, telescoping mirror beats phone — safer :magnifying_glass_tilted_left:. But avoid client ladders.

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Thought the attic was clean until a $40 USB borescope caught a desiccated squirrel behind the flue. For ‘accessibility checks’, a small inspection camera saves time and keeps you off sketchy ladders — just don’t feed the cable past energized panels or into active returns. Quick primer here: https://www.nachi.org/inaccessible-areas.htm.

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And quick example: a faint buzzing in a crawlspace and the ‘weirdest’ culprit was a hive behind the rim joist; a $250 phone IR add-on flagged the hot patch before I stuck my head in (). I do a quick IR sweep of soffits and knee walls, then confirm with a probe once I know it’s safe. IR’s great for critters and moisture, but it lies on shiny metal — verify before you write it up.

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A cheap incense stick has saved me more than once — wave it by bath fans and the water-heater draft hood and “follow the smoke”; it once led me to a bird nest in the flue, though I crack a window first so stack effect doesn’t fake a backdraft. @rThomas1990, your IR tip’s solid, but smoke makes airflow obvious — ever try it?

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