Benchmark Home Services

Mark was on time and very informative!! Through his detailed inspection we were able to negotiate with the home sellers. He was very patient during the inspection, spending approximately 6 hours to perform the home inspection. He answered all of our questions and the home inspection report was full of pictures, backing his findings, that were used during negotiations. While his cost is higher than most in the area, I am a firm believer in "You get what you pay for" and Benchmark Home Inspections confirmed this once again. I hope to be in the current house for some time but if there is a need for another home inspection I will certainly be using Benchmark Home Inspections!!!!!!!! Highly recommend!!!!!!!!

We were having a problem regulating the heat/air-conditioning flow in our home, especially on humid days. Most recently, Mark visited us and provided information about what was worrisome and what was not, about where the problem was and what was causing it, and about possible solutions we could pursue. Our meeting was helpful, informative, and provided the guidance we were seeking. We would go with Benchmark (Mark Bishton) again. But prior to this visit, Mark was the house inspector on our home when we moved to Bloomington, Indiana, last year. I spent the better part of a day, going through the house with him. First, Mark is a knowledgeable and professional inspector with many years' experience. He thoroughly investigated everything. His findings report was extremely thorough--more so than any inspection we've encountered. Plus, he was pleasant throughout the day, answering all my questions and explaining whether something was a problem requiring remediation or not. We would go with Benchmark and Mark Bishton again as an inspector, and indeed have recommended him, but also generally as someone who can answer a question about something going on in one's home. Better to hire Mark and then have more information about what corrective routes to pursue than assuming an answer. Mark perhaps may cost slightly more than other house inspectors (don't really know about that for certain) but he is worth every penny. Great guy and a great value. We encourage anyone needing this kind of home service to consider going with Benchmark. We have been especially satisfied in all our dealings with Mark Bishton and Benchmark.

Mr. Bishton was able to schedule the inspection within a couple of days of contact. He was much more thorough than any other inspection service I have used. His report is thorough, easy to understand, and provides suggestions for improving the property in question. This is the second time I have used Benchmark. The cost of service also included radon testing.

We were very pleased with Mark as a professional, and as an extremely competent home inspector. His experience as a builder gives him vision that other home inspectors can't offer. His report was very helpful. He took many pictures, and provided us with a detailed report. He not only listed concerns that he had, but provided documentation to support his concerns. This is not the first time that we used Benchmark, and I am sure it won't be the last.

As first time homebuyers, who were looking into a "fixer-upper" property, we were very nervous about the home inspection. Our realtor recommended Mark as an expert on older homes and he was fantastic. He got to the inspection even quicker than we had hoped and provided a very thorough report. We are out of town buyers and we greatly appreciated all the photos he took to reference issues in the inspection. He had knowledgable opinions on many of our concerns and was a resource for any other questions we had. He is very helpful, and we would use his services again in a heartbeat!

Mark is the only inspector in the local area that I feel like he wants to help us and make sure the home we are trying to buy is safe and is not going to be a money pit. Mark has a good eye and covers the house top to bottom and doesn't miss anything he saved us from buyin a bad house. To everyone else the house seemed fine but after he came and inspected the house it painted a different picture. Mark makes it easy with his well written reports with tons of pictures to back it all up. Mark not only shows you things that need replaced before you move in but he also tells you about stuff that will need replaced later on down the road or preventive measure you can take to help your house. I would recommend benchmark home services to anyone in the area trying to find a house.

Mark has done a number of home inspections for us, as we have purchased several investment properties over the years. He does a very complete and thorough inspection of the houses from top to bottom, and always explains everything he finds along the way. Mark is very knowledgeable and is happy to share his knowledge with us as we go through a house! Most of his inspections last several hours, as every single inch of the property is checked, and as Mark is making notes and taking pictures. A few days after the inspection, we receive a detailed, easy to follow inspection report, with every single thing clearly noted and explained, with pictures and captions. Mark has always made it clear that if we have any questions about anything he has noted in his report, or really anything to do with maintaining a house, that he is available for us to call at any time, and he will be happy to talk with us. Mark is a great guy, and we would never even consider using anyone else. I recommend him wholeheartedly!!

He wrote a very useful report which alerted us to potential problems which helped us prioritize the repair issues. In addition, he did a post inspection for us for an additional $250. While his prices are higher than other inspectors ($675 + $175 for radon check), I felt we got our money's worth. The report also included numerous photos which helped make everything crystal-clear. Afterwards, he encouraged us to call him with any questions we might have, plus he provided us with the names and phone numbers of repairmen who could help us. When you're new to an area this is very helpful! When we needed a plumber the second day we moved in, he recommended one to us who was able to take care of our problem within 24 hrs.

Mark's inspection reports are easy to read and understand. He includes labeled photographs of the home, including any areas that he refers to in the report so that you know exactly what he's talking about. As out of town buyers, we weren't able to be present for the inspection. This was not a problem because of how detailed and comprehensive his report was. He was available via phone for any questions we may have had and was extremely kind and professional in all interactions. Because he is excellent at what he does, he must be in high demand. We contacted him immediately after our offer was received and he fit us in two weeks later. This placed us a bit close to the 17 day mark, so he worked very hard to move the inspection up and was able to by several days. We had ample time after reviewing the report to talk things over and respond to our realtor. Really, I can't recommend Mark highly enough and we will most certainly be referring him to others and using his services again in the future.

It went great! We're first time home owners, and were nervous about the process, but Mark really made sure to accomadate our needs and check back with us to ensure understanding. The inspection itself was very thorough, and the report very easy to comprehend. Mark also left the door open for us to return to him for recommendations on needed repairs, and has tons of knowledge of and experience in the home industry. Very pleasant experience.

Mark did an outstanding job with the home inspection and made the proper recommendations with much detail. I had very few question when the inspection was over. Amazing.

The inspection I felt was very very thorough. I have a report that is 20-some pages long. I went with him and went step by step with everything. If he looked at something he wondered about it and would go outside to inspect it further. He went further than what someone would do to look deeper at any issues during the home inspection. I also appreciated his advice and recommendations because even afterward the inspection was completed if I had questions I would call him and address things to him with no issue. The information on his report was very very helpful to me.

Even though Mark wasn't able to perform the inspection, and the reasons were out of his control, Mark took the time to personally call me about the issue. He apologized for the inconvenience and offered to assist in any way he could. The level of care, concern, and integrity that his phone call showed was nothing less than exceptional. If you want an inspector who provides top-level customer service, call Mark.

The home inspection provided by Mark was thorough, informed by his many years in home construction and contracting, enjoyable, and educational. We feel confident in proceeding with our purchase of a condo that was built more than 50 years ago. Throughout the inspection, Mark informs the buyer about how he evaluates household components and systems, as well as how to avoid future problems. Mark does not hurry through the inspection. Rather, he engages the buyers in an ambling and some times rambling conversation that allows the buyers to inspect, comment, and ask questions. Mark's inspection report is concise, well written, and provides clear evaluation statements and recommendations. His service includes after-the-purchase advice and counsel. I recommend this service and would use it again.

After his inspection, Mark guided me to both indoor and outdoor areas in which he found problems. He explained that some of the dampness on the lower level was caused by the way soil was built up around the outside. He explained how checking drain pipes and redistributing the soil would improve the run off of water. Rotting of the base of windows and doors from the outside was caused by the outside of the doors and windows being metal and the inside wood. He explained the metal seems needed to be sealed against the glass windows. Finally, he discussed the settelling of the garage in one corner. We agreed that he would return at some later time with a structural engineer who would evauluate the problem.

Very pleased with the service provided by Benchmark Home Services. Mark also provides a lot of home maintenance/safty tips.

We were so pleased with Mark's work and then with how quickly he sent his report to us. He spent about 4 hours very thoroughly looking over the inside and outside of our home, discussing everything with us as he went through the process. He inspected the roof and attic (shingles, fireplace chimney, gutters, downspouts, insulation, trusses, decking, and subsurface gutter drains), exterior surfaces (siding, overhangs, porches, walkways, fences, and windows), heating and cooling (furnace, air-conditioner, humidifier, and fresh air intake), electrical, plumbing and piping systems (water and waste lines, gas lines, and water heater), building interior (wall-ceiliing-floor surfaces, fireplace, countertops, woodwork, and appliances), insect infestation, and the foundation/crawl space (joists, sills, beams, piers, sub flooring, insulation, vents, and moisture barrier). There were no surprises in his report, and his findings were coded so we could easily identify various categories (major defects, minor defects, evaluate further, monitor, suggestions & recommendations). Mark is a knowledgeable, interesting and friendly person, and we would highly recommend his services.

If you REALLY want to know what's going on with a home you've decided to purchase, Benchmark is the company to call. Owner Mark Bishton knows what he's doing and he will share with you as much information as you want to know. He's up front about what he can and can't do, and will refer you for further evaluation when he can't give you important information. He breaks down his findings in ways you can understand, so that you know the best ways to mitigate potential problems. He offers general maintenance tips based on the age of the house, type of materials he's referring to, and even offers tips on what NOT to do, if that's important. Additionally, Mark is willing to be your go-to for information even after your home inspection is complete. Having a unbiased opinion on future home repairs can be invaluable, especially if you're not knowledgeable in construction yourself. Mark was punctual, and a pleasure to work with.

I have used Mark's inspection services on two different properties and his attention to detail is second to none. On my last inspection he found major defects that would have cost me a lot of headaches and I was thankful that he took his time to show me exactly what they were. His final inspection report is the best I've even seen with many photos and helpful tips for both the buyer and seller (if authorized by the I will be using Benchmark again for inspections or to have Mark help repair a I have used Mark's inspection services on two different properties and his attention to detail is second to none. On my last inspection he found major defects that would have cost me a lot of headaches and I was thankful that he took his time to show me exactly what they were. His final inspection report is the best I've even seen with many photos and helpful tips for both the buyer and seller (if authorized by the buyer to share with the seller). I will be using Benchmark again for inspections or to have Mark help repair a project around the home!

Mark is terrific. He shared this line, which I liked: More of a home "interrogation" than a home inspection. In other words, Mark looked at everything, took his time, explained problem areas and shared thoughts on remediation. We were at the house for five hours! But when Mark was finished, I understood the problems with the house, the likely causes, ways to fix the problems, and how urgent the problems were. The written report, received within several days was equally as thorough. The entries were supported with picture and categorized issues as major, minor, evaluate further, and informational. I was able to make a considered decision about how to further negotiate the price of the house and to plan for what I want and need to do to the house after closing to fix problem areas and keep it in good condition. Attending the inspection with Mark was like going to Homeowner's School - absolutely worth the time and the money - not to mention how much fun it was to talk with Mark.

Mark arrived on time and ready to go. He spent approximately 5 1/2 hours with us, detailing the specifics of each and every nook and cranny in the home. He began with an inspection of the outside iincluding the outward foundation, the brick and mortar, the window casements, the door frames, the height of the steps, the concrete driveway, the sidewalks around the house, the cedar structures in the back, the drainage surrounding the house, the condition of the walkways and stairs, the roof (he got there to examine the skylights, the shingles, and anything else he could have a good look-see), .you name it, he made sure that everything was carefully examined. Then he began the inside inspection...OMG...you talk about thorough! I doubt the the current homeowner had any idea just how in depth Mark was going to look. I could never verbalize each and every step, but suffice it to say that he went up into the attic at all 3 accesses, he ran every appliance, he took the panels off the circuit breaker, he took the front off the furnace, he examined the air purifier, he checked each bathroom for signs of erosion of caulking, etc., he used to golf ball to check the flooring...I had no idea how thorough an examination we were getting. AND through all of this, he explained about everything he was seeing, he told us how to operate the furnace, the purifier, the ovens, the stovetop, the washer/dryer, etc. He even made sure we understood every detail about the house. Through all of this, Mark maintained professionalism and kindness, realizing we were clueless about some of what he was saying. I cannot say enough positive things about him. When you hire Mark to inspect a home, you get a total package...and then some. He even helped us to understand what we need to do to make our current house "inspection ready." Mark is the very BEST at what he does. You will be glad that you hire him to assist you with making sure the house you want to buy is a good buy.

Mark is that rare service provider who does exactly what he said he would do - something we always expect, but rarely get. He was responsive to email inquiries, was specific and clear about his time and commitment, provided explicit description of the work he would do and was early for the appointment to do the work. He was also very generous with his time in explaining not only the what, but why it was important, how it got that way, what we could do to keep it from going bad and what we ought to do to maintain it in future. In short, we got an inspection and also an education in keeping a house in good order. If you know anything, you will appreciate his attention to detail. If you don't know anything about houses or systems in houses, you need Mark even more.

Very thorough, provided very insightful opinions. Helped us to make sure corrections required be completed prior to closing and through his report we got a $2K credit on a new HVAC system.

Very thorough home inspection. Discovered a flashing issue on a newly installed roof that was causing water to leak into the wall and run all the way down to the basement. Tested all major systems in the home, including appliances. Provided a detailed report with lots of photos. Made suggestions on how to correct some issues and recommended another more qualified individual for a specialist opinion about the flashing issue. Probably saved me thousands!

When it comes to home inspections, Mark's is more like an interrogation. He put the house on the witness stand and ruthlessly cross-examined it until it gave up every secret and broke down sobbing. Inside and out, top to bottom, on the roof and in the crawl space - he didn't miss anything. Mark explains and teaches, suggests and advises, and thoroughly answers any questions. He provides a detailed and very thorough report that clearly separates the major issues from the minor annoyances. We bought the house, made several major repairs he suggested, and found even the hidden problems exactly as he predicted. Since then we've contacted him several times for advice and questions, and he has always been extremely helpful. We couldn't have been more satisfied. He is well worth every penny.