Getting the city to check your pipes: in-person or virtual inspection?

Totally get where you’re coming from. I just went through my first inspection (virtual, because that’s what the city offered), and honestly, I had a lot of the same questions.

- It felt weird trying to show everything with my phone. The inspector kept asking me to zoom in or move the camera, but I’m not sure I caught all the right spots.
- There was this one pipe under the sink that looked fine on camera, but later I noticed a tiny drip. Would an in-person inspector have caught that? Maybe, maybe not, but it makes you wonder.
- Smells are a big one. I had a weird musty odor in the basement, but the inspector couldn’t “see” that through the screen. He just kind of shrugged it off.
- I also had trouble getting the right angle on some of the pipes behind the water heater. My hands aren’t exactly steady, and the lighting was terrible.

I get that virtual is faster and probably easier for the city, but I’m not convinced it’s as thorough. Maybe for newer homes or simple stuff, it’s fine, but older houses (like mine) have all sorts of hidden surprises. I guess if you know what you’re looking for, it helps, but as a first-timer, I definitely felt out of my depth.

On the other hand, I’ve heard some folks say in-person isn’t perfect either - inspectors can miss stuff if they’re in a rush or just having an off day. But at least they can poke around and use all their senses.

If I had the choice next time, I’d probably push for in-person, just for peace of mind. Virtual’s convenient, but there’s something about having someone actually there, tapping pipes and sniffing around, that feels more reassuring.

I totally relate to the struggle with virtual inspections - been there, fumbled with the phone, cursed the lighting. Here’s what’s helped me: I use a headlamp (hands-free, plus you feel like a miner), and I prop my phone on a stack of paint cans for steadier shots. Still, you can’t “smell” a musty basement through Zoom, and I’ve definitely missed leaks that only showed up later. Virtual is fine for quick stuff, but if your house is older or quirky, in-person just feels more thorough. At least then if something smells funky, it’s not just you wondering if it’s your socks.

I’ve tried both, and honestly, I lean toward in-person for anything more than a quick check. My house is pushing 80 years old, and there’s always something weird going on with the plumbing - old joints, odd smells, you name it. I did a virtual inspection last year to save a few bucks, but it was a hassle. The inspector kept asking me to tilt the phone this way and that, and I was crawling around trying not to drop it in a puddle. Missed a slow leak behind the water heater that only showed up after a heavy rain. Ended up paying more to fix it later.

I get the appeal of virtual - less time off work, no waiting around - but for older homes, it just doesn’t catch everything. If you’re on a tight budget, maybe start virtual, but don’t skip an in-person follow-up if anything seems off. Sometimes you just need someone with a flashlight and a good nose to spot the real problems.

Totally get where you’re coming from. My place isn’t quite as old (built in the 60s), but I’ve run into similar headaches with virtual inspections. It’s just tough to get a good look at all the nooks and crannies through a phone screen, especially when you’re trying to juggle a flashlight and not trip over boxes in the basement. I tried it once and ended up missing a corroded shutoff valve - cost me more in the long run.

You nailed it about the “good nose” part. There’s stuff you just can’t pick up virtually, like that faint musty smell or a tiny drip you only notice when you’re right there. Virtual is fine for newer homes or if you just need a quick check, but for anything more, I’d rather have someone on-site.

Honestly, your approach makes sense - start virtual if you have to, but don’t skip the in-person if things seem off. Sometimes peace of mind is worth the extra hassle and cost.

Yeah, the virtual thing is just awkward. When I bought my place last year, I tried doing a virtual walk-through with the inspector and it felt like I was filming a really boring horror movie - dark corners, weird noises, and me tripping over stuff. Missed a leaky pipe behind the water heater that way. Ended up calling someone out in person anyway, so it doubled the hassle. I get why they offer virtual, but honestly, for anything more than a quick look? Not worth risking it, at least not for me.

I get what you mean about the awkwardness - trying to point your phone at every nook and cranny just isn’t the same as someone actually being there. But I keep wondering, is there any real cost savings with virtual inspections? Like, does the city charge less, or is it just supposed to be more convenient? If it’s the same price and you might miss stuff, I’m not sure where the benefit is. Has anyone actually saved money or time going virtual, or is it just a hassle either way?

I’ve actually tried both, and honestly, I didn’t notice any cost savings - the city fee was identical. Where I did save was on time. No waiting around for a 4-hour window, no scrambling to clean up before someone shows up. But yeah, it’s awkward trying to show every angle over video, especially in tight spaces. I guess if you’re comfortable with tech and your setup is straightforward, it’s convenient. If your project’s complicated or you’re worried they’ll miss something, in-person might be less stressful.

But yeah, it’s awkward trying to show every angle over video, especially in tight spaces.

That’s what I’m worried about - how do you even get your phone behind a water heater or under a crawlspace? Did the inspector ever ask for a shot you just couldn’t get? Also, if they miss something on video and catch it later, can that come back to bite you, like with permits or resale? Just seems like there’s more room for stuff to slip through the cracks (literally and figuratively).

I’ve run into that exact problem - trying to wedge my phone behind the furnace was a joke. Ended up taping it to a broom handle just to get a shot. The inspector was patient, but there were spots I just couldn’t show. As for missing stuff, I’ve heard if something’s not visible and they don’t catch it, it can cause headaches later, especially if you sell and the next inspector finds it. Permits might get flagged too. It’s definitely not foolproof... sometimes I wonder if in-person is just less stressful in the long run.

“Ended up taping it to a broom handle just to get a shot. The inspector was patient, but there were spots I just couldn’t show.”

That’s exactly my worry with virtual inspections - there are always those tight corners you just can’t reach, no matter how many broom handles or selfie sticks you try. Have you ever had an inspector actually fail you for not being able to show something, or do they usually give you the benefit of the doubt? I keep thinking about resale too... if something gets missed now, are you on the hook later if it turns up in a future inspection?

Honestly, I’ve had both happen - sometimes the inspector’s cool and just asks for a better angle or more light, but I’ve also gotten a “nope, can’t see it, call me back when you can.” It really depends on who you get. Virtual's convenient but yeah, you miss stuff... and if it comes up later during resale or another inspection, it's usually your headache to fix. I still lean toward in-person for anything tricky or hidden, even if it means waiting longer. Just less stress down the road.

- Virtual’s saved me a ton of time, honestly.
- My last inspection, the guy actually spotted a joint I missed (even over video), so I’m not convinced in-person always catches more.
- In-person’s great for tough spots, but if you prep well - good lighting, camera, everything ready - virtual can be just as solid for most stuff.
- Plus, not having to take off work or wait days for a slot is huge when you’re on a tight budget or schedule.
- If it’s a simple fix or something visible, I’d rather risk a callback than pay extra for another in-person visit...

I just did my first virtual inspection last month and honestly, it was way less stressful than I expected. Here’s what worked for me:
1. Walked through the whole area with my phone camera before the call, just to see what angles were tricky.
2. Set up a couple of extra lamps - lighting made a huge difference.
3. Had all my tools and a flashlight ready in case they wanted a closer look.

The inspector actually caught a tiny leak I’d missed, so I’m with you - virtual isn’t automatically worse. For anything buried or hard to reach, though, I’d probably still go in-person. But for basic stuff? Virtual’s been solid and saved me from burning PTO.

I get the appeal of virtual, especially for quick checks, but I’ve had mixed luck. The last time I tried it, the inspector couldn’t really see the spot behind my water heater - my phone just wouldn’t fit back there, and the lighting was a pain. Ended up having to schedule a second visit anyway. Maybe my house is just too old and quirky for this stuff, but I kind of trust in-person more for anything that isn’t super straightforward. Less chance of missing something that could turn into a bigger issue down the road.

the inspector couldn’t really see the spot behind my water heater - my phone just wouldn’t fit back there, and the lighting was a pain.

That’s exactly the kind of thing that makes me side-eye these virtual inspections. I mean, how many of us have crawl spaces or weird corners that even *we* can barely get to, let alone try to film with one hand while holding a flashlight with the other? I’ve had inspectors miss stuff in person, never mind over a shaky video call.

I get that virtual is supposed to be more convenient, but is it really saving time if you end up needing a second visit anyway? And what happens if they miss something small that turns into a big leak later - who’s on the hook for that? Maybe I’m just old school, but I’d rather have someone poke around in person, especially in these older houses where nothing is ever quite where it’s supposed to be.

Anyone else ever have an inspector try to diagnose a leak through a blurry phone camera? That’s a comedy show waiting to happen...

Had a guy once try to check my basement drain over FaceTime - he spent more time asking me to “tilt left, no right, wait, back up” than actually inspecting. I get the convenience, but for old houses? In-person wins every time. Those tight spots are a nightmare on camera.

I get the struggle with old houses and tight corners, but honestly, virtual inspections saved me a ton last year. My basement’s basically a game of Twister, but with a selfie stick and a flashlight, I managed. Here’s my quick-and-dirty method: 1) Clear out the cobwebs (and whatever else is lurking), 2) Use your phone’s wide-angle lens if you’ve got one, 3) Prop the phone up on a paint can for hands-free action. Not perfect, but it beat waiting three weeks for an appointment and paying extra. Sometimes DIY camera work gets the job done... or at least close enough for the city folks to say “looks fine.”

Haha, the “game of Twister” description is spot on. My crawlspace is basically a spider Airbnb, so I feel you on the cobweb front. I’ve done both in-person and virtual, and honestly, each has its own flavor of chaos.

Here’s my take, bullet-point style (because who has time for paragraphs when you’re dodging dust bunnies):

- Virtual inspections:
- Pros: No need to clean up for company. You can wear your “yardwork” sweatpants and nobody cares.
- Cons: If your WiFi is as old as your pipes, good luck keeping a signal in the basement. I’ve had more than one inspector freeze mid-sentence, looking like they’re judging my insulation choices.
- In-person:
- Pros: They bring their own flashlight and don’t mind getting dirty. Sometimes they spot stuff you’d never notice (like that one time a guy found a squirrel skeleton behind my water heater... not kidding).
- Cons: Scheduling is a nightmare, and if you’re eco-conscious like me, all those extra car trips for inspectors aren’t exactly planet-friendly.

I do like the DIY camera approach, but I’ll admit my phone’s wide-angle lens makes my pipes look like they belong in a funhouse mirror. Not sure if that helps or hurts my case with the city folks. Also, propping the phone on a paint can? Genius. I’ve used an old yogurt tub - less stable, more suspense.

One thing I’ll say: if you’re trying to show off your “green” upgrades (insulation, low-flow fixtures, etc.), virtual can be hit or miss. Sometimes the inspector just wants to see it in person before they’ll check the box.

All in all, I lean virtual for convenience and carbon footprint, but sometimes you just need someone to crawl around and see the weird stuff up close. Either way, keep the flashlight handy... and maybe a broom for the next round of spider tenants.

Sometimes the inspector just wants to see it in person before they’ll check the box.

- In-person is still king for anything “unusual” or if you’ve got older plumbing. City inspectors miss less when they’re crawling around.
- Virtual works for basic stuff, but yeah, WiFi dead zones are a pain. I’ve seen folks try to FaceTime from a sump pit - never ends well.
- For showing off upgrades, I’d snap detailed photos ahead of time. Sometimes inspectors will accept those as backup if the video’s fuzzy.
- If you’re worried about spiders, a cheap painter’s suit and a headlamp go a long way. Not glamorous, but you’ll survive the crawlspace.

Honestly, I’d lean in-person if you want zero hassle with approvals. Virtual’s great until tech fails or something weird pops up.

Yeah, crawling around under old pipes is nobody’s idea of fun, but every time I’ve tried a virtual for anything “weird,” it turns into a mess. Lost signal, can’t see the fitting, inspector gets cranky… just easier to let ‘em see it up close. Also, painter’s suit is a must - spiders love crawlspaces way too much.