A standard inspection asks: is this house sound? An STR inspection asks a second question: can this house survive 200 guest-nights a year? Different question, different checklist.
This is the classic rural STR trap. Septic systems are rated by bedroom count — a 3-bedroom septic serving a house marketed as "sleeps 12" is a system running at double design load. Some counties cap STR occupancy at septic-rated capacity, instantly cutting the revenue model. Pull the septic permit, confirm rated bedrooms, and get a full inspection with pumping — not a drive-by.
Wells that serve a couple fine can fail a full house running four showers and three laundry loads a day. Order a flow test (gallons per minute over sustained draw) and water quality testing. Guests write reviews about water pressure.
The hot tub your client plans to add needs a dedicated 50-amp circuit; the EV charger guests increasingly expect needs another. A 100-amp panel in an older cabin may need a $3–5K upgrade before the amenity plan works. Have the inspector assess panel capacity against the intended use, not the current one.
Non-negotiable. STR properties need commercial or specialty STR policies — a standard homeowner's policy excludes business use. Some properties are hard to place at all: certain roofs, wildfire and flood zones, older cabins, properties with pools and no fencing. A client who discovers a $9K premium (or no willing carrier) after closing has a broken pro forma. Get a bindable quote during the option period.
If the property has future bookings, understand what happens to them at closing — and warn clients that carriers and permits can also force cancellations. Cancelled guest bookings mean platform penalties and reviews for the new owner.
Go deeper: the STR Due Diligence Checklist and the STR Insurance Guide.
ACTION: Add three lines to your inspection-period template: septic rating vs. marketed sleeps, panel capacity vs. amenity plan, bindable STR insurance quote in hand.
Next lesson: financing fluency — DSCR loans, the 10% second-home play, and why pre-approval conversations sound different for STR buyers.