Homeplace Inspections Incorporated

Don Doty did a home inspection and missed a handful of things that we now have to pay for. He missed checking the main floor tub drain because if he had checked he he would have immediately seen that the tub does not drain and actually leaks into the basement. There are also several outlets that don't work -apparently he only checked a few of the outlets. I contacted him shortly after closing on the house and he was insulting on the phone and takes no responsibility for these issues. He actually put the blame on me and our realtor!

We were not at all impressed with Don Doty of Homeplace Inspections. His professionalism was poor and frankly he didn't seem very knowledgeable. We are not experts, but it didn't take more than a few seconds to figure out that we in fact DO NOT have a gas stove like Don said we did. He lacks customer service and did not at all make this experience pleasant. We wish we had never even hired him.

We chose Don Doty based on his touted credentials, his website and the fact that he's been on HGTV. MISTAKE. BIG MISTAKE. There are so many things we have found since acquiring the home that were NOT noted on the inspection report. Such as, when we lifted up one of the windows the bottom of it was so rotted from water damage that it actually fell off! When asked during the inspection what these brown stains were on the ceiling and wall he stated he thought it was "glue seeping through". What?! Yes, we have water damage. Plus, he stated in the report that he took pictures and no pictures were ever presented to us. There was snow on the ground and we could clearly see that he hadn't even walked around the property. We trusted him and paid him to be an advocate on our behalf and he failed to do so! I'm sure the ladder never came off his truck. WE WOULD NEVER...EVER...RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYONE!!! RESPONSE: Did you really just say that you noticed this property was a foreclosure??? IT WAS NOT A FORECLOSURE, I REPEAT, NOT A FORECLOSURE! In fact, it wasn't even a short sale! How could it be...the sellers had no loan on it and the taxes/assessments were paid up and current. We read the report (word used lightly), thank you. The stains I was referring to above were NOT in the attic, they are in a first floor room. Remember when I asked you about them and you stated that you thought it was "glue seeping through"??? Also, what about not walking around the property and what about our pictures you supposedly took??? We would like those, please. AGAIN, WE WOULD NEVER....EVER....RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYONE!!! Please learn from our mistake.

Don came in touting his incredible credentials - he had been on HGTV, Fox News, he's been doing this forever, etc. His inspection of our 3200 square foot home took approximately an hour and the walk-through was even faster than that. Don failed to notice multiple items during the inspection and those items that were critical were not brought to our attention during the walk-through. Since moving in, we have had to replace a water softener, washer, dryer, a corroded, leaking pipe and we had to reroute the dryer vent that was not actually vented outside and as such, created a very real fire hazard. We also found other issues with the home that were brought to our attention by the various professionals we've had to bring in to correct all of these issues (the dishwasher was not installed to code, our garage door lacks sensors that should have been installed over a decade ago). On top of this poor inspection, he left the house in such a state that the seller's Realtor asked if a bomb had gone off in the property and our Realtor had to come back to clean up after him. I am amazed he was able to make such a mess while not *actually* doing anything. To top it off, we contacted Mr. Doty directly to let him know of the overlooked items. His response was sarcastic, rude and unprofessional. Bottom line, I will do everything in my power to make sure no one is subject to his "services" again. Please don't make the same mistake we did - find another inspector.

I WROTE A LETTER WITH DETAILS OF THINGS THAT WHERE WRONG. HE SAID ONLY THINGS NEEDED WERE PAINT AND CARPET. DAY OF INSPECTION NEVER MENTIONED SEEING ANY WATER STAINS IN BASEMENT AND THEN WHEN I RECEIVED THE WRITTEN REPORT, HE INDICATED THERE WERE WATER STAINS ON CEILING, WALLS AND FLOOR. I ASKED ABOUT EVIDENCE OF FLOODING OF BASEMENT. HE SAID NO AS WELL. I CONTACTED A WRITTEN LETTER AND IN COMMENTS FIELDS ON WRITTEN REPORT HE CHECKED COMMENTS AND LEFT NO RESPONSE. 8/28/02 WAS A TWO DAY INSPECTION I DID NOT RECEIVE REPORT ON 8/30/03 IN MAIL BOX. BY THEN MY INSPECTION CONTINGENCY HAD EXPIRED, SO I CALLED 8/31/03 TO ASK ABOUT REPORT AND FOUND HE WAS OUT OF TOWN UNTIL SEPT.!NEVER MENTIONED LEAVING TOWN. SO I ASKED THERE RECEPTIONIST TO HAVE ANOTHER INSPECTOR TO CONTACT ME AND I RECEIVED NO CALL. AT THAT POINT I FELT I HAD TO HIRE ANOTHER COMPANY TO INSPECT. $310 WAS COST OF THE SECOND INSPECTION. SECOND INSPECTOR GAVE ME MUCH MORE DETAILED REPORT AND MORE DEFENSES AS WELL.