Scenario 1: An inspection report indicates that there’s some water damage in the garage and laundry room. It’s not completely clear whether this was caused by a leak from an appliance or hose, or whether there was a past problem with the roof. (The roof is 15 years old, but the seller has only owned the home for five years.) The inspector is unable to make a clear determination about possible mold problems without removing the wall.

Scenario 2: An inspection report indicates that there has been a termite infestation in the property, which is common for this area. The home is eight years old, and it looks like the bulk of the damage done so far is in the deck and the garage. The buyer was planning to tear down the garage anyway, to add on a recreation room for the home and build a larger garage.

Use scenario and perspective