It may seem like there’s not much to see in a closet, but some hold dark secrets. They often don’t get repainted along with the rest of the interior, so any roof leak stains will still be visible, while the ceilings of the other rooms have been touched up. There may also be mold or drywall damage. And the baseboard could have termite galleries and fecal pellets below it that have been cleaned up elsewhere in the home.

    Unfortunately, closets in an occupied home are sometimes packed to the ceiling with clothes and boxes, so getting a good look at all the surfaces may not even be possible. That makes it equally important to protect yourself by getting a good photo of any closet that is not readily accessible to fully examine.

     More than once, we have had a customer complain about serious problems in a closet that was discovered in the empty house at the walk-through before closing—until we showed them an image of the overpacked closet at the time of inspection while still occupied. On one occasion, we provided an image of all the stacked boxes and an abandoned washing machine in front of a closet that made it impossible to even open the closet door. 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 
Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •