I totally get the urge to just eyeball things, especially when you’re dealing with a newer roof or gear that looks pretty solid. When I bought my place last year, the inspector did the whole nine yards—moisture meter, thermal camera, you name it. But now that I’m living here, I mostly rely on a good look and a poke around. If I see any curling shingles or weird soft spots, that’s when I start digging deeper.
Honestly, sometimes I wonder if all the gadgets are overkill for routine checks. I’ve got a basic toolkit and a flashlight, and that’s usually enough unless something looks off. Had a weird stain show up in the attic after a storm, though, and that’s when I borrowed a moisture meter from a neighbor. Ended up catching a small leak before it got worse, so I guess there’s a time and place for the fancy stuff. But yeah, I’m not hauling a suitcase of tools every time I go up there. Just feels like overkill unless you’ve got a real reason.
I’m with you on not wanting to lug around a toolbox every time I check things out. I just moved in last fall and honestly, half the time I’m not even sure what I’m looking for unless something looks obviously wrong. Is there a trick to spotting those “soft spots” before they turn into a bigger headache? Sometimes I feel like I’m just poking around hoping nothing crumbles under my feet… Also, how often do you actually go up there? I keep putting it off unless there’s a storm or something weird happens.