Frequently Asked Questions

My pricing is dependent upon square footage, the number of bedrooms and the number of bathrooms as listed in county records or MLS. There are add-on fees associated with inspections on items such as sprinkler systems, pools/spas, detached buildings or outdoor kitchens. I offer a discount to first responders, active military and veterans, and first time buyers.

I prefer to first have a phone conversation to introduce myself, discuss the client's expectations, then the limitations such as weather conditions or the conditions of the house that may prevent inspection of some items. I then recommend they visit my website for an in-depth look into inspections, as there is a lot of information posted there. Finally, I highly recommend the client attend all or at least the last half of the inspection. This way I can answer any questions and give the client a thorough explanation of what I have observed.

I am a TREC Professional Real Estate Inspector, TREC #26068. I was trained at Champions School of Real Estate by a phenomenal instructor, taking 144 hours of class instruction, 40 hours of field instruction, and devoting endless hours to study. I was required to pass the National Real Estate Inspector's test, as well as two Texas Real Estate Inspector's tests. In addition, I am required to take a minimum of 16 hours of Continuing Education each year to maintain my license.

I am also a registered professional engineer in the state of TX, PELS #77745. While I am not a structural engineer, I have designed and supervised the construction of over 100 oilfield facilities during a career that spanned 35 years.

After retiring, I felt the knowledge and experience I had accumulated throughout my career, as well as having designed and built two of my own homes, was something I could use to help people. Inspection training gave me the skill set to do it. I provide a thorough inspection that gives the client peace of mind that that the home they are about to purchase is safe for their family, structurally sound and that all system components are functioning properly. My goal is to empower my client with facts so they can make a sound decision. 

Inspections have been for clients that have been:

- Homeowners about to sell, wanting to know what problems they may have.

- Homeowners concerned about their foundation or roof.

- Homeowners with warranties about to expire (11-month inspection).

- Prospective homeowners (buyers).

- Prospective owners wishing to purchase investment property.

A homeowner contracted me for a foundation inspection on a home just as the one-year warranty was about to expire. He had experienced serious problems on the exterior brick veneer, and drywall separation on the vaulted portions of his entire upstairs that had been repaired by the builder. I found that there had been serious settling of the foundation and movement in the structural framing, also uncovering drainage problems that could be possibly contributing to the settling of the slab foundation. The homeowner later told me the report I provided got him IMMEDIATE action from the builder.

All inspectors are required to provide their license number in all advertising formats.

1. Check the TREC website to ensure they are an active inspector. 

2. Check the TREC website for inspection violations.

3. Check their on-line reputation (Google, ThumbTack, etc)

4. Make sure that the inspector's insurance policies covering Errors & Omissions and General Liability are current and in force.

I recommend the prospective client visit my website to see an example of my inspection agreement, the TREC Form 7-6 report that I am required to provide and the foundation report (optional) that I can generate. 

The Inspection Agreement is straightforward and similar to most inspection agreements used in Texas. The agreement explains the rights each party has during and after the inspection. The Form 7-6 example explains what is to be inspected on the house and the deficiencies that were found on the property (the example is a redacted inspection). The Foundation Report is a redacted report made during an 11-month warranty inspection and is considered an Addendum to the TREC Form 7-6. Another resource I provide the "Your Inspection" page. It outlines the general inspection process.

Finally, for the enthusiastic individual there are the Texas Standards of Practice that defines the minimum scope of an inspection that inspectors are required to follow. They may be found on the TREC website - TREC Rules 22 TAC §535.227 - §535.233.