Jerry said, "I'll be kind (I see you've only made 7 posts) and let some others here address why HIs do not need to state "further evaluation" and why it makes the HI look like they are wimping out."

I agree that there are many times that inspectors say "get this evaluated, when they really should be saying, "this thing needs repair".

However, in the case of fireplaces and chimneys I do sometimes tell my clients they need to be evaluated, simply because I wasn't able to look up the flue, view the crown, or look down the flue. There may not be anything wrong, but because of the age of the house, it would be a good idea to have it checked out by a professional.

By the way, to me, wimping out is calling for an expert or engineer at every drop of a hat.