We chose Every Square Inch (ESI) after researching several home inspection firms. We selected ESI because we followed our realtor's advice to find a comfortable fit. My husband has experience in construction so he appreciated Brent Warner's experience, certifications, and knowledge of home construction. Brent provided superlative service and went the extra mile to ensure we were satisfied. After visiting ESI's website, we felt that Brent was not only highly qualified, but also shared our values. His website is well-designed and includes a blog in which Brent posts articles ranging from tips on how to go green, how to maintain brick homes and the importance of programmable thermostats, to the dangers of aluminum wiring and mold. His posts help both Sellers and Buyers prepare for inspections and then maintain homes once purchased. We liked his yearly maintenance lists because it seemed to be thoughtfully and thoroughly researched and divided into one-time projects and yearly maintenance tasks. Of particular interest to us was his post on avoiding chimney sweep scams because our new house has a wood-burning chimney, a feature we've never had before. You can easily do your own research on these topics online, but at least Brent is providing his professional opinion based upon his certifications and experience. We believe his opinions are ones you can trust. Visit his website and note how many certifications he has in addition to his years in the construction and inspection business. We were impressed with his dedication to continuing education in his field as well as his desire to educate his clients. We learned so much during his inspection and will be visiting his website often to read more of his blog posts. His enthusiasm for well-informed and contented home ownership is contagious. Another plus: his threshold for defining defects is anything that costs $500 or more, not $1,000 like some inspectors. This was very important to us because we could not afford to buy a home that needed major renovation or even many moderate repairs. Every penny counts for us. Both Sellers and Buyers are able to accompany Brent as he does the inspection, which makes it easier to negotiate any repairs in a counteroffer. The Seller knows exactly why something is being highlighted and how it might affect an appraisal or sale. We felt completely at ease after the inspection because we knew exactly what needed to be repaired and why. In our case, the Seller had installed a new furnace and water heater and there was a back pressure problem that caused the furnace to shut off. The Seller was able to use Brent's inspection comments to get his furnace installers to correct the situation without any real hassle for him. After all, the installers had told him they'd done it right, but they hadn't. Therefore, both the Seller and Buyers can benefit from Brent's thorough inspection and experience. What surprised us was that Brent offered to come back after the heater installation repairs were made to do a re-inspection at no cost to us because it took less than half an hour to do; he also checked out the AC at that point because the initial furnace problem had prevented a thorough inspection pf the AC system. A small but thoughtful touch that I noticed: Brent wears disposable surgical covers on his shoes inside a house to avoid soiling any floor surface. Because he climbs on the roof, does crawl space inspections and steps into the dark recesses of basements, this is important both the Seller and Buyer. Our Seller had installed new off-white carpet on the second floor, so this was a small extra that was greatly appreciated. I had never thought to ask or expect such treatment. Brent arrives on time and does not rush. He limits how many inspections he does each day to ensure he can be as thorough as possible. He patiently and thoroughly answers all questions. He will also distinguish between defects that can be corrected as DIY projects and which must be left to professionals and why. Brent also provides sample reports on his website so you know what to expect. It reflects his personal and professional philosophy of forthrightness and providing quality service. We appreciated was his dependable and prompt response. What is totally unexpected is his willingness to serve. He told us to call or email him with any questions even after the home purchase is complete. He truly seems to live up to his ideals, and his inspection proved to us that his website claim to love homes is honest and profound. We have solid confidence that this home is truly our dream home. We are first time home buyers and feel grateful that we hired Brent Warner of Every Square Inch (ESI) to inspect this home. Both we and our fantastic Buyer's Agent were impressed with the quality of the inspection as well as Brent's attitude and performance. We highly recommend Every Square Inch.
Description of Work: Brent Warner, the owner of Every Square (ESI), provides four levels of home inspection packages up to 3,000 sq. ft., special rates for homes over that size, condos, duplexes and even four-plexes, plus a la carte services such as thermal imaging of interior walls, radon monitoring, mold testing (with a lab report), et cetera. He does not charge extra for crawl space inspection, detached garages or older homes. Each package level has clearly defined service parameters. We selected the Bronze Level (basic) package and were very pleased with its coverage for the split-level home we hope to buy. For example, the following Bronze Level description is taken directly from ESI's website: "Bronze Level Home Inspection up to 3000sf. All of the packages include a 450 point home inspection which includes - all mechanical components of the house (plumbing, electrical, heat & air), structural, foundation, roofing (I actually get on every roof I (safely) can, many inspectors don't), siding (if it is stucco I do a thermal scan free of charge) and everything in between. Like the name says - Every Square Inch - any part of the house I can gain visual access, I inspect. Report with photos, is delivered the same day. -Wood Destroying Insect (Termite) Inspection." Brent has a qualified Pest Control Specialist do the Termite Inspection who actually discusses his findings onsite during the inspection and will discuss any needed treatment options with a written cost estimate so you can compare with other vendors. Brent also covers the findings in the report he provides after the inspection. Brent encourages the prospective Buyer to accompany him on the inspection so the Buyer knows what is done, why it is important, and can provide feedback if the inspection is not up to the Buyer's expectation. Why is this important? Brent offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee if you let him know what you are dissatisfied with before he issues his report. The detailed report, complete with annotated photographs of any defects found, is sent to you via email at the end of the day. If you are not happy with his inspection simply tell him during or immediately after it, and he will try to accommodate your reasonable concerns on the spot. I doubt, though, that many people ever have a reason to complain. He is very thorough, thoughtful, and professional. He communicates clearly and fully, and pleasant to be around. He patiently listened and addressed all of our questions (and as first-time buyers, we had tons of questions). He understands how important buying a home is to most people, and we felt he inspected the house as if he were buying it for his own family. He comes prepared to do the inspection, bringing every tool and device he needs to perform the job and does not cut corners in how he approaches any area covered by the inspection parameters. Because you can print off a copy of the sample report on his site prior to the inspection, you can use it as a checklist to prepare questions and to double-check his thoroughness. Fact is, though, it seemed to us that he went above and beyond the basic parameters if he felt the house or our concerns merited it as long as it was within reason. Quality is often indicated by how well small details are handled. Brent turns on all the faucets, flushes the toilets, checks to see if the garbage disposal works, tests every single electrical outlet, flips light switches, listens to and measures air flow, will provide thermal imaging for exterior stucco surfaces at no charge. We noticed he even smells the air to catch any whiff of mold (even though we did not opt to have the house tested for it). Had he suspected a problem, we have no doubt that he would have urged us to check it out through him or others. Both his contract and the Inspection Report are written in Plain English to minimize misunderstandings and to make clear his findings. He documents any problems with photographs and commentary. Brent also provides sample reports on his website so you know what to expect. It truly reflects his personal and professional philosophy of forthrightness and providing quality service. We received the inspection report via email that evening. As buyers, you know that time is truly of the essence; you do not want to discover that your inspector did not provide a thorough inspection report because you may not have time to schedule someone else to do one. You do not have to worry about that with Brent. We are convinced that had we had any post-inspection questions, Brent would have answered them promptly. This is a man who appears to stand behind his word, who wants to promote customer service and satisfaction, and make sure you understand all inspection-connected issues.