I hear you on the “digital facilitation” charge—feels like paying extra for nothing, honestly. As for inspections, I’m firmly in the camp that if your house is older or has any history of weird issues, virtual just isn’t enough. I’ve had inspectors spot tiny leaks or corrosion in person that would never show up on a phone camera. The peace of mind is worth more than saving a few bucks, especially since fixing missed problems later is always pricier. Itemized estimates are a must—learned that the hard way after getting nickel-and-dimed for “miscellaneous admin” fees once.
I get where you’re coming from about in-person catching more, but I’ve seen virtual inspections work out fine—especially for newer homes or straightforward jobs. Here’s how I usually look at it:
1. If you’ve got a recent build or a simple repair, virtual can save time and hassle. Most inspectors will ask for close-ups and walk you through what they need to see, and honestly, half the time they’re just checking code compliance, not hunting for hidden leaks.
2. For older houses or anything with a history of “mystery” issues, yeah, in-person is safer. But sometimes, the city’s just looking for permit sign-off, not a deep dive.
3. About those digital facilitation fees—sometimes they’re baked into the cost of doing business now, but I agree, always ask for an itemized bill. I’ve seen folks pay for “processing” that was literally just someone clicking a button.
Bottom line: virtual isn’t always a ripoff, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all answer either. Just depends on your situation and how much risk you’re willing to take.
I get the convenience factor, but honestly, I’ve seen virtual inspections miss stuff that turned into headaches later. Even with newer homes, there’s things you just can’t spot through a camera—like a faint smell or a weird vibration in the pipes. I’d rather play it safe and have someone physically there, especially if there’s any doubt. Sometimes what looks “simple” on video isn’t so simple up close.
I hear you—virtual just doesn’t catch everything. I’ve been called in after a “passed” virtual inspection, only to find leaks under sinks or weird thumping from pipes when the water’s running. Stuff like that never shows up on a camera. Curious if anyone’s had luck with the city actually catching those kinds of issues virtually, or is it mostly just ticking boxes?
Yeah, I’ve run into the same thing more times than I can count. The city inspector’s on Facetime, and everything looks fine, but then you get in there later and there’s a slow drip under the kitchen sink or a pipe rattling behind the wall. Virtual’s convenient, but it just doesn’t catch the weird stuff you only notice in person. I guess for basic code stuff it works, but for real peace of mind? I still trust my own walkthroughs way more.
