Simplified, "Spot" is to find living things, "Search" is to find stuff.
I asked fro "freewheeling" check so I still welcome them. But when a PC emotes "I search the farmhouse" and then offer a Spot check it irks me
SPOT (WIS)
Check: The Spot skill is used primarily to detect characters or creatures who are hiding. Typically, your Spot check is opposed by the Hide check of the creature trying not to be seen. Sometimes a creature isn’t intentionally hiding but is still difficult to see, so a successful Spot check is necessary to notice it.
SEARCH (INT)
Check: You generally must be within 10 feet of the object or surface to be searched. The table below gives DCs for typical tasks involving the Search skill.---
Ransack a chest full of junk to find a certain item- DC10
Notice a typical secret door or a simple trap - DC 20
Find a footprint ----- etc etc
That is all ---
except ----well don't even get me started on substituting Spot/Search for "tracking" ...
