Lake and Mendocino Counties' Most Experienced and Most Qualified Home Inspector

BYRON DUERKSEN, ACI, CMI

                             
      ASHI # 249171       FHA/HUD # S0770         NACHI # 608209

Call Me:  707.245.7545 (cell/text) or 707.987.9970 (office)   Email:  housecheck@mchsi.com

                     

WHEN YOU WANT THE BEST, THE CHOICE IS CLEAR   CLICK HERE FOR TESTIMONIALS

Welcome to Housecheck Inspection Services. Since 2002, we have been dedicated to helping home buyers get a clear understanding of their chosen home selection, to address concerns and any potential issues, with the finest in home inspections and inspection reports.  Housecheck is locally owned and operated, not an out-of-state franchise. 

Housecheck offers affordable home inspections in Lakeport, Kelseyville, Clearlake, Glenhaven, Hidden Valley Lake and the surrounding area.  Call 707-245-7545 for a free estimate.

We provide a comprehensive and easy-to-read report averaging 60 to 80 pages; room by room, system by system, with lots of pictures and narratives.  No other inspection report can equal ours.  There are no acronyms to decipher and no check boxes (like "the roof vents were IN" and "the drainage system was RR") -- what does that means?   I promise you will not need a secret decoder ring.

More than 4,300 home buyers have trusted Housecheck to provide them with peace of mind in making their decision on a home purchase.   With our proven reputation for thorough inspections and quality reports, as well as a consistent A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, you can be confident in knowing what and who you are getting.

All inspections are consistent with the California Health and Safety Act and Section 7195 of the Business and Professions Code.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEND TO FIX SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEMS?

Never buy a house without an inspection.  Home repairs are one of the costliest expenses consumers face according to Consumer Reports.  A Housecheck inspection and report will arm you with the knowledge to negotiate the best possible price.  My Inspection Report is comprehensive, well organized and systematically covers every room, component and system.  There is no need for interpretation by anyone else.  You will readily understand a Housecheck Inspection Report.

THE REPORT IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF AN INSPECTOR'S KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE

Judge the home inspector by the quality of the Inspection Report which should speak for itself.  A professional report is well written, skillfully prepared, and leaves nothing to your imagination.  It should be well organized and systematically cover every room, component and system.  Some reports can be a disorganized volume of comments and pictures, with redundancies as well as omissions, that will leave you confused and unsure.  My reports are specific to your property from cover to cover, and contain NO FILLERS. 

CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE REPORT   (Look in your Download File)

ONE HOME INSPECTOR IS NOT THE SAME AS ANOTHER

Not in California because the State does not license or regulate home inspectors. This is not a time to shop prices because what you will receive differs a great deal depending on experience, credentials, training, insurance, report writing, and conduct of  home inspectors.  Every Housecheck home inspection is backed by a 90 Way Warranty and our Errors and Omissions Insurance.  Because there is no California requirement, DIY home inspectors offer neither one.

Buying a house is a major long-term financial commitment.  The level of service, quality of reports and background education vary widely from one inspector to another.  Go with a Pro. 

A cut-rate home inspection could be the most expensive mistake you'll ever make.  The few dollars you think you could save may cost you thousands of dollars down the road because of missed or overlooked defects, some of which can injure or even kill you.  California Trade Practice Act (Chapter 338) prohibits a home inspector from making any repairs to a property he has inspected.


                                            

WHAT IS A HOME INSPECTION?

First and foremost, it’s a good idea to know what a home inspection is. Basically, it’s an onsite inspection of a home carried out by a professional who will give his opinion as to the state of the house. This primarily visual examination is intended to detect defects within the home’s appliances and structural integrity. The assessment also focuses on components nearing the end of their lifespan, or having suffered damage due to neglect, and are deemed unsafe. The findings will be compiled in a written report looking primarily at the following components:

• Roof
• Structure
• Exterior
• Electrical systems
• Heating and Air Conditioning systems
• Plumbing systems
• Insulation and Air/Vapor Barriers
• Interior
• Mechanical and Natural Ventilation systems

It’s worth remembering that an inspector does a visual inspection and is prohibited from carrying out any invasive or damaging examinations.

HARD TO BEAT

To make sure you’re not buying a money pit, you need a Housecheck inspection before you commit to probably the most expensive purchase you have ever made.  As a former contractor, I built two story stucco houses, modular houses, and foundations on which to set mobile/manufactured houses.

My experience includes multiple terms as President of American Institute of Inspectors, as Region 1 Director for the California Real Estate Association and as a former City Building Inspector.  I have been a State Approved Trainer of licensed home inspectors in WA, OR and NV.  And, I currently serve as an FHA/HUD Inspector/Consultant.

With an MBA in Construction Management, I can tell you that home inspecting demands far more detailed education in every discipline than a general contractor.  Home Inspecting requires a unique combination of disciplines, skills and education involving many elements that are particularly complex in order to perform the very detailed job of investigating a property.

Beware of a home inspector who does not ask you to sign an agreement, because he has NO errors and omissions insurance.  This puts you at financial risk for any unreported defects.

HOME INSPECTIONS PLUS

Our main focus is to provide FULL SERVICE for our clients.  Our residential inspections are designed to be an educational experience for the buyers who receives much more than a report.   We include these additional services at no cost to you:

Free!  WALK-AROUND FOLLOWING INSPECTION - Following my inspection, I invite you to walk around with me to discuss what I have found, explore remedies and to answer any questions you have.  There is no time limit placed on this.

Free!  THERMAL IMAGING DETECTION - By utilizing my infrared camera, I can detect costly leaks and potentially dangerous electrical hot spots.

Free!   ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE - Backed by general liability as well as errors and omissions insurance. 

Free!   90 DAY WARRANTY - You will have a 90 Day Limited Structural and Mechanical Warranty from American Home Warranty, from the date of the inspection.

Free!   60 PAGE INSPECTION REPORT - Every page is specfic to the inspected home.  There are no fillers.  In addition to providing you with the PDF of your inspection report, I will mail you a bound, printed copy for easy reference.

Free!   E-BOOK FOR HOME MAINTENANCE - And, finally I will send you a valuable 225 page e-book.  This book is designed to provide you with tips and information to keep your family safe and your home in top condition.

"You simply cannot find a better home inspector anywhere, at any price."

HOME INSPECTIONS REVEAL THE ANATOMY OF A HOUSE

When you shop for a home, whether you are looking for a fixer-upper, new construction, or one in move-in condition, there are generally essential components that make up any structure.  Some things that are often overlooked are wear and tear, or components nearing the end of or past their life expectancy.  Another factor to take into consideration is the change in building codes and materials since the original construction.

Electrical System Inspections

An electrical system is part of the mechanical components of the structure.  A home inspector is not required to report on Code violations, but he is required to conduct a thorough visual examination of the visible aspects of a home’s electrical system.  This includes outlets, fixtures and circuit wiring and sometimes a thermal imaging camera can capture hot spots.

Plumbing Inspections

A home inspector can only be responsible for the components that are visible.  Much of your home’s plumbing system is hidden inside walls.  However, what is visible will offer clues.   Galvanized pipe is often an indication of outdated material.  Its corrosive qualities will cause it to fail before other materials.  Copper piping is preferable, but there are many other rigid and semi-rigid synthetic materials that are long-lasting and affordable.  Pex piping is the current preference and has outstanding durability.

Structural Inspections

A structural inspection takes full inventory of those physical structures that literally hold a house together.  When they fall into disrepair, whether due to the ravages of time, natural disasters, or faulty workmanship, they often cost big bucks to repair. 

 
Crumbling Chimney in Attic       Scary Crawl Space

This attic and the crawl space are where the most secrets are revealed.  A crumbling chimney is a fire hazard at the very least.  The lack of an upward draft that this causes could fill the attic with smoke and carbon monoxide.  Those falling supports under this two story home are scary and need immediate attention.

Deck Inspections

A home inspector who is not up to the task might very well miss the fact that the nice looking deck is a safety hazard.   And the startling fact is most do not know how a deck should be built, not even those who were contractors who built decks.  If they did, I would not find one in three decks unsafe.  CLICK HERE for more information 

THERMAL IMAGING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A HOME INSPECTION

I am a Certified Thermographer utilizing my infrared camera to reveal hidden defects. Thermal imaging or infrared allows us to see what our eyes cannot. CLICK HERE for more information

BEWARE OF UNINSURED INSPECTORS

You have a number of home inspectors from which to choose and you also have a lot to lose.  I have been contacted by home buyers who had someone else perform their inspection because they came to the realization that they had received a very poor report.  On a Lakeport home inspection the buyer had a $31,000 expense and on a Hidden Valley Lake home inspection, another had a $2,800 expense to correct the false and inaccurate information in the initial report.  Pictures in the reports were not pictures taken at these houses.

We stand behind every inspection we do with errors and omissions insurance and with a 90 day warranty.  The importance of having information that is accurate, complete, and unbiased should not be underestimated.  An inspection report is to provide you with total disclosure before you close escrow, to let you know what you are buying, before you buy it.

Continuing education separates a professional home inspector from all others.  I never stop learning.  I take audited classes and proctored exams.   I use state of the art equipment: tablets, drones, infrared camera, laser devices, and the most sophisticated software utilizing the Cloud, in order to conduct the highest quality inspection and produce the finest report available.

On a personal note, I have lived in this  area for 20 years, have built homes in this area, donated time and crew to working with Habitat for Humanity, am active in my church and have been on a local School Board for six years.

UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS

I have hundreds of satisfied customers because my service is not only of the highest technical caliber but my reports are unmatched.   CLICK HERE for more information

If you are about to put your home on the market, a pre-listing inspection will put you ahead of the competition.  It will alert you to any immediate issues discovered before potential buyers tour your home.  Then, any issues or repairs can be resolved ahead of time without rushing, which will help the home show better and give you time for repair choices.  This alone can save you a considerable amount of money.  Without a pre-listing inspection, defects can cause unreasonable price adjustment demands from the buyer or even kill the sale and escrow may drag on instead of closing quickly and smoothly.

You will have a beautiful and informative Inspection Report to show the buyers.  CLICK HERE for more information.