Home Inspection

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Complete home inspections with radon gas testing and water sampling. On occassion we have just done roof inspections.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Verify a Home Inspectors license with the NY State DOS. By doing this you ensure your home inspector is licensed and insured. All check to see if they are ServiceMagic screened and approved. They go through a rigorous verification process and do background checks as well.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Know the basics of what the major things are to look for in a home inspection. This would include the roof, foundation, heating, plumbing and all other mechanical systems.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. Are you licensed with the State of NY. Are you ServiceMagic screened and approved. Besides passing the Home Inspectors test, do you have hands on experience in the home building and remodeling industry. This to me is a huge added bonus when looking for a home inspector. Anyone can pass the home inspectors test but having hands on building knowledge of how things work and how they all interact within a home is the key to finding the more intricate problems a home can have.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Besides being a licensed and insured home inspector, we have over 20 years in the home building and remodeling industry. This experience gives us the knowledge of how all aspects of a house is built, as well as how they all interact with each other.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love being able to help people purchase the home of their dreams and not a lemon. The approach I take is simple - treat my clients with the respect they deserve and inspect their home as if it were going to be for me and my family.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. The other day I performed a home inspection. It was your typical home inspection of a nice little house that had a few updated amenities. As I was walking around the outside with my client, I noticed there was a radon mitigation system installed. I commented on it and my client said "oh that's what that is". As I looked at it I noticed the top of the PVC stack was broken (not a big deal, all it needed was a new elbow installed to carry it above the eave).

A little while later my client says to me, "well I guess we don't need to do the radon test so how much less will the home inspection be now". I replied back to him, "just because there is a mitigation system here doesn't mean you shouldn't do the test". My client looked at me and said "well there shouldn't be a radon problem since this system is here so why should I pay for a test I don't need".

Instead of arguing the point with my client I said "I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I always want the test to be done, especially here as it is evident there is a radon problem. Just because there is a system doesn't mean it's working properly or addressing the obvious problem. I am going to do the test anyways. If it comes back and there is no problem and the system is doing its job, I'll pay for the cost of the test myself." My client looked at me and said "OK - you've got a deal"

A few days later I went and picked up the radon test canisters and sent them to the lab I use. The next day I get the results back from the lab and I forward it off to my client with a note attached.

About an hour later I get a call from my client that goes like this: "Hi Dave, thanks for doing such a great job on the inspection, the report was excellent by the way. I'm glad you insisted on doing the radon test, even though I was pushing you not to - just to save a few bucks. I can't believe the radon levels were so high - even with a system installed. I called the company that installed the system and they informed me that they haven't been out to the property to service the system in over 3 years. I called my realtor who in turn called the sellers realtor and they are having the company come out first thing tomorrow to service the system. When they are done, can you come back and do another test to make sure the system is operating properly and that the levels are within normal standards"? My reply: "Of course I will."

Being a Home Inspector is a job I take very seriously. My clients are paying me for my advice and my experience. For something as deadly as radon can be, I'm not taking any chances. I'll do what I have to do to convince my clients that it is in their best interest to always get a radon test done - NO MATTER WHAT!

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. In addition to being certified & licensed in all standard areas of home inspection, we have completed over 250 hours of continuing education in 20+ advanced courses including IAC2 certification for Mold & Radon.

Q. What is your greatest strength?

A. In depth knowledge of the construction industry coupled with the ability to communicate with my clients.