CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC

I paid $1,156 for a "complete" package which included the home, sewer, radon, and termite inspection. The home inspection was completed in 2.5hrs which was quicker than I expected for my large home. The big issue came with the termite inspection. The company Champia uses as subcontractor couldn't provide the certificate that shows no termites because the home is stucco and they would require a 4-6inch gap be cut around the ENTIRE home in order to inspect and certify. This caused major issues as there was no explanation - just an email with an attachment that vaguely said no certification was completed. When I called to get a refund for the termite inspection they gave me a refund of.......$45. I feel insulted they expect me to believe they paid a subcontractor $45 for a termite inspection and certificate. Now I'm scrambling to finalize this part of the home buying process.

AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE—I hired Champia to inspect a home my family and i found online and loved. They came out and looked at the home and had a few minor notes in their report, but overall it seemed like the place really was a dream come true and we bought it for the asking price. A few months later we moved in—and our nightmare began. Leaks from a 40+ year old squishy/cracked roof, no A/C ducts going to 2 bedrooms, rotted wood with potential mold, unsafe/unusable fireplace, and an uprooted driveway that will need to soon be replaced…wow…how they missed all this— I will never know. I had 3 different trusted and highly recommended roofing companies come out and they all said the exact same thing, the roof was a ticking time bomb..I contacted Champia and told them and they sent out the SAME inspector who missed all these things to do a “re-inspection”, so i walked around with him and pointed everything out and i could see in his eyes he realized his mistakes. He said “they’d take care of this”…But After a few weeks i heard back that they would not fix anything but “the leak”, that all 3 roofers I brought out were lying to me and that my roof was perfectly fine. Wow…so they they thought i was imagining this water dripping on my head? The squishy roof, the cracks, and the copious amounts of rotted wood? Fixing the leak wasn’t going to cut it…because believe me there are numerous leaks and new ones keep popping up—thats what happens when you have an unserviceable roof that any paid professional should have easily spotted when they saw all the rotted wood and felt squishiness and cracks under their feet…right? Not these guys… or was something wrong with the inspector the day he came out? Vision problems? Hangover? No sleep? How was this possible? Champia claims to have Errors and Omissions insurance on their website, which made me feel comfortable when i hired them..that they could back up their report—but thats a lie too.. because they won’t use it, and now they are only offering to refund me my $504 inspection fee…which is horrible because now I have a $25k roof replacement coming up, A/C ducts to be run, and fixing this uprooted drive way— i’ll be in for close to $35k before all is said and done thanks to Champia. This is my first home and my family and i put everything we had into its purchase…now thanks to Champia it’s become a nightmare. Its a sad day when companies like this are allowed to keep their doors open and hide behind the fine print in their contract to avoid taking responsibility for their negligence. You think another inspection company would have caught these very obvious issues? OF COURSE. And if they hadn’t they would have done whatever it took to make it right….but not these guys. They have no interest in trying to take responsibility for what they did to me and my family. On their website they say you can call and talk directly with the owner, which sounds nice, but they wouldn’t let me through and he hasn’t returned my calls in over 3 months… I even sent him a direct FED-EX letter with my own photographs and proof of his gross negligence in hopes that I’d get through to him, that perhaps he’d want to come out and see these omissions and errors for himself—but he won’t respond. My real estate agent told me she will no longer recommend Champia as she had a similar issue happen with them recently….So do yourself a favor and avoid them at all costs if you want an accurate home inspection that won’t leave you stuck in a house that needs thousands of dollars worth of repairs.. I have contacted the local CBS news affiliate, the AJC, and will leave reviews wherever possible until Champia offers to compromise with me, until then Im going to do my best to make sure that no one else falls for these guys’ traps.

They did a thorough job on the inspection.

Shelly was very thorough throughout the inspection (exterior and interior). She explained her findings to me in a way that helped me understand the inspection process better. As a first time home buyer, I wanted to be present during the whole inspection, which Shelly was more than willing to accommodate. The formal report was emailed to me in less than 12hours! (Less than the average 24hr wait period)...Brandon completed a thorough termite inspection and provided quotes for maintenance on the minor issues discovered.

An appointment for a home inspection was easily arranged and promptly kept. Inspector Shelley Belknap provided a thorough and meticulous inspection. She answered questions and gave explanations during the inspection. Her highly detailed written report with photos was delivered on the evening of the same day and included both required and recommended repairs. It was the best inspection report I have ever seen, either as a buyer or a real estate broker. I highly recommend Champia and in particular Shelley Belknap.

Gentleman arrived early, he was already working on the inspection of the house. He was thorough and explained items he found and what needed to be done. Even though it was the day before a holiday, he emailed me the results and written report the next morning.

Overall the inspection went well. The inspector was very professional and knowledgeable. However, there were a few areas that were missed that we later identified after we moved in. We didn't expect the inspection to identify 100% of the flaws, so overall we were satisfied. The price was good and I would use them again.

Home Inspection was scheduled for 2pm so I arrived around 3pm . Home Inspector Vince was finishing up inspection when I arrived. His first comments to me were "Nothing major wrong with house just some minor things." As we walked around house I asked Vince if he went on the roof? He said no that he looked at roof through"binoculars" and observed from the ground only, and roof looked in good shape. , I thought this was very unusual as the roof is an important part of any house, and all previous homes I bought the Home Inspector always went on roof to inspect roof. Roof pitch was not steep at all, so this was not a reason. Vince started explaining the minor problems/issues he found wrong with the house. Some of items like deck stairs need front face board were very minor, and I really wanted to focus on possible issues that might be costly down the road or possible immediate costly repairs or items, but Vince did not find too many major problems except for obvious tree uprooting section of driveway that need to be replaced and multiple trees that needed to be cut down or trimmed because the were overhanging house. After I negotiated with owner for a small amount of cash in lieu of repairs .I purchased home. When I took possession of home I went on roof and was shocked to find 5-7 years of heavy leaf build up all over roof that Home Inspector did not see with "binoculars" because it was not visible from ground.. A 10 ft section of fascia was 1x4 when it was supposed to be 1x6 and the 2 inch difference was left open so any small animal could enter attic area. This was completely missed in Inspection report , because Inspector never went on roof , and did not see with his binoculars. I later found a stash of acorns in the attic that the squirrels were storing because they had easy access to area. On the other side of roof there was a tile damage and a small hole in roof going into kitchen. The tile damage on roof was noted in inspection report , but since Inspector did not to go up on roof to investigate it made damage problem seem minor. I went into kitchen after going on roof and found area of weakening drywall where after scraping found pebbles from roof tiles. I forwarded all my photos to Champia and asked how they could do a complete home inspection without going on roof.?? They explained that 80-90% of the time they do not go on roof and observe roof from ground only . After some more communication they agreed to refund my $375 . I installed new 1x6 fascia board to keep squirrels out and paid Roofer $700 to fix and replace area where hole was leaking into kitchen. Also had to repair/paint drywall in kitchen where leak was .Also when I was on roof I discovered lots of rotted and carpenter bee infested cedar in chimney area, and roof area. This has cost another $550 to repair/replace. This all would have been noticed with a roof inspection ON THE ROOF, NOT FROM THE GROUND

I think Champia as a whole is probably a good company. For example, Sue Scoville, one of their scheduling specialists was fantastic. She was responsive, she got me a deal when the inspector had to come out a second time, and she was extremely friendly and professional. I wish I could say the same about our inspector, Paul Garland. I was with him for the entire first inspection, asking questions, and being a responsible buyer. While some of the systems were not working (the seller's fault) and while I'm sure this was frustrating for Paul, this should not have affected the quality of his inspection. And yet when i received the report, I realized he had left off many items he had verbally mentioned to me (i.e. broken window pane, a dangerously rusted breaker box, etc.) I had to ask him to amend his report to add these things so I could go back to the seller and ask for him to fix these issues. He was also what I would call a "Debbie Downer." He kept repeating that he would never live in this home, which I found to be extremely unprofessional, as the house was found to be structurally sound in general. In addition, when he came out for a follow-up inspection after the rest of the systems had been fixed and turned on, he decided to show up several hours early to the inspection with no notice except an "I am on my way" phone call to my realtor who had to drop everything and rush over. He also forgot to fill out a Certificate of Compliance with Inefficient Plumbing Fixtures Replacement Plan Ordinance for us (required for our county). Consequently, he had to come back out a third time. He e-mailed our realtor saying he would come back out and when my realtor suggested a time, he never replied. We had to fight to get him on the phone, set a time, and two hours later, he called to try to change it again. I wish that there was better communication between him and the client and a little bit more attention to detail when it came to the report. Like I said, this just one inspector and judging by the way the company is run (easy to pay, easy to sign the documents and agreement, facility in scheduling), I think Champia may be a solid company. However, I can not give them a high rating based on this inspector.

All of our issues were resolved. Bill sent one of his certified inspectors out to take another look and reevaluate our electrical panel and gfci outlets. He determined that they were in working order and they would take care of us. Thank you Bill and Joe for taking the time to come out and investigate further.

The inspector arrived on time, and was very courteous. He tested all systems, and that at least until now has proven to be accurate. However, the inspector failed to note rotting wood in the rear of the home on the soffit and failed to note the rotting window molding in the front window. When the molding was removed to be replaced, it was discovered that the OSB sheeting behind the masonry was completely rotted out. This should have been caught, and we are now facing very expensive repairs that might have been addressed prior to purchase. As I said the inspector was very nice, and courteous, but he refused to get up and inspect the roof, and was unfamiliar with how to unhinge the windows to free them up and clean , which made me suspicious of his level of experience. Champia had many good reviews, and I suspect they are capable of good inspections, but in my view this wasn't one of them. I can't in all honesty recommend their services. The purchase of a home is far to much to risk to this type of oversight. I deeply regret I had to modify my original review. THINK TWICE BEFORE CHOOSING A COMPANY WITH A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. THIS ERROR COST ME OVER $4000 BECAUSE OF THEIR OVERSIGHT. CHOOSE A COMPANY WITH INSURANCE, NOT A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The offer to return my fee, is small recompense for their failure to do a proper inspection. Nothing was hidden or obstructed, and everything they should have noticed was in plain view. I am sadly disappointed in their response to my concerns.

The technician, Mike Gonzalez, was professional and knowledgable. He was very tentative and helpful in explaining any issues that he found.

I've used them in 2 different houses. He is fantastic and thorough. He took the jobs very seriously and didn't miss a thing. I even turned down a house that he said needed a lot of work done on.

Inspector was early and had already started when we arrived. Very thorough and responsive to all questions. After the inspection a thorough and detailed report, with pictures, was provided just a few hours later. They also offer a reinspection at a reduced rate to check any repairs that were needed.

THe inspector was there 20 minutes early which is always good. He did a great job. As a first time buyer it was important to me to know and understand what he was doing, and he explained everything and every step. He also explained how to maintain the property, what are the dos and donts, and overall a great job.

I called Champia late in the afternoon and was able to schedule an appointment for the next day at 9am. Paul was there waiting for us when we arrived and got right to work. He was extremely diligent in his assessment of the property and looked over every square foot of the home. He took the time to discuss with us all of his findings and concerns. We received a very detailed report that evening. Not only did it have everything that was checked but also a list of everything found along with a concise summary of all the issues. He even included pictures with arrows pointing to everything listed as a backup. I am still going through the closing process but I can say that this report has certainly given me the backup to discuss with the seller what items need to be addressed prior to closing. My agent was so impressed that she got his contact info so she can add him as a resource herself. I was thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and diligence of this inspection company and would certainly use them again in the future as well as refer them to others.

They were all good for everything.

It was great! Mike Gonzales was doing inspection. He was very professional and knowledgeable. Everything was done very thoroughly. He also was answering all our questions and teaching a proper way of taking care of the house.

Vince was on time, very professional and provided reports on time.

They were great, perhaps one of the best inspection reports I've received. Inspector did a great job walking the entire property pointing out potential issues and documenting them in a clear report that we could hand to the seller for repairs before the purchase was complete. I should note that the inspection fee itself was $425, termite inspection was $45, and radon inspection was $150. The radon inspection required the equipment to sit in the house for a couple of days, but they took care of that.

A little mix up on time (appt) but eventually got here...thorough inspection overall in a timely matter.

From the beginning I was impressed with this company. I called around to 3 different companies to get quotes and Champia was by far the most professional and responsive. Their prices fit the industry standard. They were even cheaper than some. The Angie's list coupon was a great bonus as well. They are up to date with technology with electronic signing of the agreement and online payment options. They also sent out a reminder a couple of days before the inspection which was great. On the day of the inspection, when we arrived Mike Gonzalez was already there and had started to look around. So, he was actually a few minutes early, which is great. We walked through the inspection with him every step of the way, which was his recommendation. I thought that was great. He took his time to explain everything. We did not feel rushed and received a lot of good information. He made us feel very comfortable to ask anything. He even provided great tips. This was a new construction, so the inspection only took a couple of hours. But even with a new construction there are always some things. Mike took the time to help us understand where key things are in the house and explained how they operate. I was really impressed with Mike and this company as a whole. Highly recommended

I was very pleased with the quality of workmanship, and professionalism.

It went great! Joe Niehauser did the inspection. He is very professional and polite. He really knows what he is doing! Soon after the inspection was completed, we received a very thorough report with a list of recommendations. This report was emailed to us.

I found out the day of my initial inspection date that the seller would not be present and had to reschedule. The two ladies I spoke with on the phone were very helpful and I was able to reschedule without any problems. The day of the inspection, I had to take a detour because a bridge was out right by the inspection property and wound up being a few minutes late. Vince was already at the site when I arrived, and the seller was (surprise, surprise) not present. Vince said it was no problem, and we began to do the outside portion of the inspection while waiting for the seller to arrive and let us inside. We circled the outside of the home a few times and Vince was glad to have me tag along and ask questions. The seller eventually arrived and we were able to move inside. Unfortunately, the house was not in the best condition to be inspected; we had to navigate through a lot of junk to get to windows, doors, and other areas. Vince maintained a good disposition throughout, however, and we were able to wrap up the inspection in ~2 hours. During the inspection, Vince was more than happy to answer my questions and engage in some interesting chit chat. I actually enjoyed the inspection, even though Vince was able to point out some significant defects. The report I received was thorough and complete with pictures. Overall, Vince did a great job (turnaround on the report was ~24 hours) in suboptimal conditions, all while displaying a great sense of humor. I'm not sure what more you could ask for.