Home Inspection Services

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

A. Generally a home buyer requests three main services: Home inspection, Pest inspection and Radon.
Sometimes although not often, they will ask about lead paint, mold, asbestos, water quality, and sometimes wells.

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

A. Before you do business with any business, make sure you check them out with the Better Business bureau.
If they are not an Accredited Member, and they do not have an A+ Rating for at least five years straight, and if they have complaints filed against them, don't hire them.
Also, ask them to give you a sample inspection report.
(You wouldn't buy a vehicle without taking it for a test drive first would you)? Well tell the inspector you want to see what they are paying for.

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

A. Not all home inspectors inspect the exact same way. Some are very experienced while others are new to the business. This is why a buyer needs to check a business with the Better Business Bureau to verify that the business is actually accredited, and if not, why not, how long accredited and also what is their BBB rating. This can be checked by going online at: www.bbb.org, and typing in the company name. Some inspectors are reluctant to document everything wrong with a house in the fear of killing the deal and not getting anymore referrals. Others are more concerned with doing their job and informing the client of the home's actual condition. (After all, who hired and is paying the inspector)?

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I inspect every property as if my own daughters were buying it.
When a client hires me, I treat that client like they are my own family.
My inspections are approximately four to six hours long.
I schedule one, and only one inspection per day, and devote that entire day to serving that one individual client.
I don't just inspect, I do whatever it takes to analyze the property.
I am professional, extremely thorough and very meticulous.
(Just ask my past clients or agents who have used me).
I produce a computer generated comprehensive narrative pdf report with color digital photos attached directly onto the report and summary, and I email this report to the client and their agent on the same day of the home inspection.
The inspection report is color print, very detailed and very easy to read and understand. All issues clearly stand out.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I absolutely love inspecting homes and informing the client of the exact condition of the property which they are about to purchase.
I feel blessed because I actually look forward to going to work.
How many people do you know that actually do love their job?
My job is not the same routine day after day. No two homes are alike.
Everyone is different and opens the door to new challenges.
I like the fact that the client is happy with my inspection and report.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. 1. How much is the home inspection, pest inspection and radon/crm?
Depends on the size and condition of the home.
2. Are you certified?
Absolutely. You can verify this by going to www.nachi.org.
My company is bonded, certified, registered with the PA dept Of State and fully insured. My company is Accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. Also I am a certified member of InterNachi- the worlds largest professional home inspection association.
3. How long have you been inspecting homes?
Thirteen years, since 1997.
4. How much notice do you need to set up a home inspection?
One day.
5. When will we receive the report?
I email it the same day of the inspection.
6. Will you take cash or a check, and when is the payment due?
I take cash or a check and payment is due at the conclusion of the home inspection.

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

A. I inspected a house that was occupied. The owners let me in and went to work, but they asked if I would shut and lock the door when I was finished. These folks had a beautiful black cat which was napping on their bed. Only me and the cat were in the home. I spent a good four hours or so at this home and I thought it was strange that there was no litter box anywhere in the house. While inspecting the garage, I heard the 2nd floor hall toilet flush, and I thought someone came home. I yelled up the stairs, "I'm down in the basement". Nobody answered, so I went back to the garage to finish the inspection. I went upstairs and was standing in the hall completing my final notes,when I saw the cat stroll into the bathroom, get up on the toilet, do his business, and actually reach up and pull the toilet handle and the toilet flushed. I wished I wouldn't have put my camera away already because that would have been the picture of all pictures. The cat walked out of the bathroom, looked up at me and meowed and went back to the bed to take another nap. That was about seven years ago and I have been trying to teach my cat (Caesar) to use the toilet, but he just isn't going for it.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I work extremely hard and thorough performing a home inspection, in order to uncover all of the defects for every client. Do I have to work as hard as I do? Yes, because this is the way I do business, and I would not have it any other way.
I would never consider compromising my principles, ethics, or any of my convictions.
I honestly treat every client just as if they were members of my own family.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I worked in law enforcement for many years and I didn't like being a target and getting shot at.

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

A. The professional home inspection association which I am a certified member of, requires 24 CEUs of education every year.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Go to an accredited home inspection school and study as hard as you can. Learn every aspect of the structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Find an experienced home inspector who is willing to be your mentor. Do not receive any payment for an inspection from a client, until you have performed well over 100 inspections, under your mentor.