sucks! i was facing a year undiffered (stays on your record) probation, i said fuck it, signed for 45 days in county, and only did 11 days of jail-time. i was arrested on bullshit charges (i had a felony dropped) it cost me sooooo much money just to jump through the legal hoops, bond out fees, etc. it took over 4 years for everything to go through, and all i did was 11 days. i wish i never bonded out and just did it when i was arrested but whatever. i will never take probation, its geared to make you fail, they expect you to keep a job but take you drivers licence and make you take off of work all the time to meet them. on top of that they charge however much they like for fees and what not. and often a probation officer will often seem relaxed in the begining to allow you to let your guard down until your almost off, then they spring some shit on you to violate your probation. that way they have all the money from your fees and stuff, the money you use to bond yourself back out, and they get to start you over and suck more money out of you.
they will visit your house, but shouldnt poke around too much, you can get away with a small stealth grow.
if your probation is differed you may consider it, after successfully completing it, it get taken off your record, this makes the bullshit worth it.