Safe Investment Home Inspections, LLC

Exceptional service, communication & documentation! Our inspector, Chad, was very courteous & so completely thorough while in the home as well as in the documentation he provided my expectations were absolutely exceeded. During the verbal summary he gave as much detail as I needed but did not overwhelm me with information I did not understand. Honesty is very important to me & I was left feeling very comfortable with his knowledge & advice. The sewer inspector, Jordon, was able to clearly explain exactly what he had encountered as well as provide advice for future maintenance that I would have had no idea about. All the reports are easily accessible as well as very clearly detailed with images of everything so I am able to ensure follow up in the future. A month after our inspection I was helping a family member review her inspection done by another company & I was so shocked by the difference I showed her my reports, she ended up paying for a 2nd opinion by Safe Investment and found some shocking evidence that her original inspection was very inadequate in comparison.

After reading the great reviews for Safe Investment Home Inspections, LLC I decided to use their services in July 2014 for an inspection of a home I was under contract to purchase. The registration and scheduling process were easy and I was able to get an appointment quickly. On the day of the inspection, Nathan showed up on time and was friendly and courteous. In addition to the basic home inspection, I ordered a radon test and a sewer scope inspection. The radon test required that someone from Safe Investment Home Inspections (SIHI) enter the premises a day early to set up the test as Nathan, the inspector, informed me that the test needed to run for 24 hours. For the most part, the inspection ran smoothly. However, when we got to the radon test, Nathan noted that the radon mitigation system inside the basement had not been switched on prior to the test. Thus the radon levels were elevated and the home failed the radon test. Nathan later turned on the radon mitigator from the outside while he was inspecting the side of the home. Before fully explaining the issues resulting from the failed radon test, I also wanted to note that I felt that the inspection was a little rushed and was a little concerned (as another reviewer wrote) that Nathan did not seem to go by any checklist for his inspection, but was going from memory. As I was occupied in dealing with an international move, I didn?t press the matter with Nathan that day. I received Nathan?s standard request for feedback via an automated system after I purchased the home and at that point I lodged a complaint that SIHI had failed to flip the switch on the radon mitigation system when they set up the radon test. Nathan contacted me directly and defended himself, stating it was not his responsibility to turn the system on when conducting the test and tried to place the blame on everyone else but himself. (He blamed me, my realtor, and the seller.) I asked SIHI to either conduct the test again with the system on, or to refund me the money for the radon test, but Nathan refused. As I have no expertise when it comes to radon and radon mitigation systems, I felt it was SIHI?s responsibility to ensure they flipped the switch and had things running properly when doing the test. My realtor confirmed that it was the inspector?s duty to ensure the system was turned on after contacting the Colorado Dept. of Regulatory Agencies and another local home inspection company (Pillar to Post). I also contacted a firm that specialized in radon systems (Advanced Radon Solutions, Inc) and they confirmed to me that they ensure the radon mitigation system is turned on each and every time they conduct a test. Furthermore, they indicated that SIHI?s 24 hour test was insufficient and noted that a standard radon test should be conducted over a period of at least 48 hours. After presenting all of this information to Nathan, he wouldn?t budge, but became belligerent and insulted my realtor over email. Nathan told me, ?It is not standard operating procedure to search the homes we drop off equipment at, for [radon] mitigation systems.? Yet in the notice I received from SIHI about the buyer?s responsibilities in preparing for the inspection, there was no indication that I needed to search for and turn on any radon mitigation system. SIHI?s pre-inspection notice simply asked that buyers ensure that sellers remove items that block access to the attic, electric panel, and water shut-off valve; and ensure all utilities (gas, water, electric) are turned on. Nathan went on to claim that I had to ensure all of the appliances were turned on- a ridiculous statement as no buyer (or their agent) goes into a home during inspection to turn on the dishwasher, stove, microwave, and HVAC. After threatening Nathan with a Better Business Bureau complaint, he stated the following: ?Now go ahead file a complaint or what ever you need to do. I have the evidence and will definitely not give you anything unless I feel this company is at fault. Do not contact me again unless its with a third party or I will file harassment charges on you.? Nathan acted completely unprofessional in dealing with a simple complaint about his company?s failure to turn on the radon mitigation system when setting up the radon test. As this was not my first home purchase (it was my 5th), I have experienced several other home inspections and in no other cases have I had to deal with such a belligerent and unprofessional inspector. Both Advanced Radon Solutions and my realtor?s preferred inspector (Pillar-to-Post Inspections) confirmed that it is the inspector?s duty to ensure the radon system is turned on when conducting the radon test. Given how unprofessional and caustic Nathan acted when confronted with a problem in one of his inspections, I highly recommend that anyone reading this review NOT use Safe Investment Home Inspections.