Only One Home Matters, Your Home.

Celebrate your new home worry-free with friends and family. Let me take the worry out of purchasing a new home in the North Bay area.

HOME INSPECTION SERVICES

We are here to help you make sure one of your most important investments is the right one.

A home inspection is important for the buyer of the home to gain perspective on the property. An inspection will help you decide if a home is right for you, and avoid homes that have substantial and costly defects.

A full home inspection covers all elements of the home from the driveway, to the foundation, to the roof. This includes all eight of the major systems of the home as well as the interior in a room-by-room inspection. For more detail – Go to Pricing…

A Pre-Listing Inspection is for homeowners who are planning to list their house on the market but have not yet put it up for sale. I will perform a full evaluation of the home’s readily accessible areas, helping you learn about repair and maintenance issues that you can either choose to address directly or otherwise inform prospective buyers so that negotiations aren’t negatively affected after the buyer’s own inspection is performed. Go to Pricing…

With today’s ridiculously competitive real estate market, many home buyers are forgoing their rights to a home inspection to make their purchase offer more attractive. I don’t advocate doing this, but I understand the market can force these compromises.

Not doing an inspection does not mean problems don’t exist. Don’t delay the inevitable or your family’s safety and get a complete home inspection. You should know what defects exist and address any potential safety issues as soon as possible. Any other defects can be prioritized, budgeted, and dealt with over time. If you purchase an After-Sale Inspection BEFORE you purchase a home, we include a Walk-Through Consultation. Contact us for more information…

Phased Inspections will take place at four different stages of construction on a new home: pre-concrete pour, pre-drywall, prior to the builder’s final walkthrough, and 11-month inspection. Each time we perform the inspection, we’ll be checking for defective materials, safety concerns, and other issues that should be addressed. Learn more…

All services include a comprehensive report and overview of your results, which can be discussed with me. Our Specialty Inspections are Mold Inspection, Pool/Spa Inspection, Solar/ Battery Inspection, Drone Roof Inspection, Crawl Space Seismic Inspection, Auxiliary Building (s), New Construction Inspections, and a Walk-Through Consultation Go to Pricing…

PRICING

How Much Does a Home Inspection Cost?

My process for pricing a home inspection is different from most inspectors. Most inspectors will set a price within a home size range; 1200 SF to 2000 SF. It makes no sense to me that a person with a 1200 SF house should pay the same price as someone with a 2000 SF house. Also, the next tier range is 2001 SF to 3000 SF. Why pay a substantial increase in inspection fees due to a 1 SF size increase? 

Please visit our Pricing page to calculate your inspection fee.

GSD Property Inspections Offers More Value.

I bring over 40 years of construction experience managing the construction of complex projects over three continents. I leverage that experience and knowledge by spending the proper time inspecting and writing detailed reports, utilizing the best tools and technology available. I offer more services than other inspection companies, even in my basic inspection package.               

Please visit our Pricing page to calculate your inspection fee.

SERVICE AREAS

I Perform Inspections in the Follow North Bay Areas

MARIN COUNTY

San Rafael
Novato
Mill Valley
San Anselmo
Belvedere Tiburon
Sausalito
Greenbrae
Corte Madera
Fairfax
Larkspur
Ross
Point Reyes Station
Woodacre
Bolinas
Inverness
Forest Knolls
Stinson Beach
Nicasio
San Geronimo
Lagunitas
Olema
Tomales
Marshall
Kentfield
San Quentin
Dillon Beach

SONOMA COUNTY

Sonoma_Cities
Petaluma
Rohnert Park
Sonoma
Windsor
Sebastopol
Healdsburg
Cloverdale
Cotati
Forestville
Penngrove
Guerneville
Glen Ellen
Boyes Hot Springs
Geyserville
Occidental
Kenwood
Sebastopol
Bodega Bay
Graton
Cazadero
El Verano
Fulton
Monte Rio
Vineburg
The Sea Ranch

NAPA COUNTY

Napa
American Canyon
Saint Helena
Calistoga
Yountville
Angwin
Rutherford
Pope Valley
Oakville
Deer Park

Qualifications

I Am A Certified Professional Inspector CPI®

InterNACHI® Certified

I am a member of InterNACHI®, an InterNACHI® Certified Home Inspector, and a Certified Professional Inspector CPI®.

California Association of Realtors C.A.R. ® Certified Home Inspector

I am a member of CCPIA®, a Certified Commercial Property Inspector

About Me

I have lived in Marin County for over 20 years with my wife, a fifth-generation San Franciscan. I have spent 40+ years managing commercial and residential construction projects. I have worked as an owner’s representative overseeing the construction of such icons as Tiffany & Co, Elizabeth Arden Salons, and Liz Claiborne. I have managed construction projects for industry titans such as Google, Disney Studios, and the California Institute of Technology, just to name a few. I am a licensed general contractor and electrician in California and a licensed general contractor in Arizona.

A house or building is made up of 100,000 plus individual pieces, from screws and nails to shingles, to light fixtures and water pipes, that need to be manually assembled in a cohesive order. Sometimes, there is a breakdown in that order, intentionally or unintentionally, and a defect is created. My experience allows me to know what it takes to put a building correctly together. Also, my experience will enable me to spot minor defects that could turn into significant problems in the future.

Choosing the right home inspector can be difficult. Unlike most professionals you hire, you probably won’t meet me until the appointment. Furthermore, different inspectors have varying qualifications, equipment, experience, reporting methods, and pricing. 

Ultimately, a thorough home inspection depends heavily on the individual inspector’s effort. If you honor me by permitting me to inspect your new home, I guarantee that I will give you my very best effort because only one home matters, your home.

FAQ's

As a home inspector, I go through a comprehensive checklist. I look at literally everything. You should prepare for the inspection beforehand to avoid unnecessary blemishes on the report.

Here are some things to double-check before your home inspection:

  • Keep receipts of any maintenance or routine services you’ve ever had on your premises will help. Organize them and have them ready to show to inspectors and buyers. For example, when was furnace serviced, chimney sweep, filters changed in HVAC, water heater serviced, etc.
  • Clear out the clutter in spaces like the attic, garage, basement, and crawl spaces, as our inspectors will need to get in there to check for moisture or perhaps damage. If they can’t access it, they’ll just mark it as “uninspectable,” which could prolong the inspection process.
  • Check for clogs by running water in every sink and bath. Clear any minor clogs before the inspection, as it can signify a plumbing issue in the report.
  • Replace the filters in the HVAC system. Dirty air filters can compromise the air quality in your home and will raise a red flag for the inspector.
  • Ensure the inspector can access the furnace, electrical panel, and water heater.
  • Make sure all light bulbs are working and not burnt out. If your light bulbs don’t work, it could signify electrical issues.
  • Proactively address any bugs, especially carpenter ants or termites. In any case, any sign of an infestation is bad for your house.
  • Trim trees or low-hanging branches that are too close to the roof. They can increase the possibility of roof damage and give rodents access to chimneys and other openings.
  • Repair any cracked windows and broken screens.
  • Lock up pets while the inspection is in progress.

Buying a home is sometimes the most significant single investment a homebuyer ever makes. Homebuyers should strive to learn as much as they can about the house before buying it to help minimize unpleasant surprises and unexpected difficulties. A home inspection may identify the need for significant repairs and maybe the need for maintenance to keep it in good shape or builder oversights.

In the most basic sense, a home inspector is a qualified professional who visually inspects the structure and components of your home and looks for any immediate or potential problems.

They also provide a written report describing problem areas and may also be highly recommended for further evaluation. If you like, you can also go over the home inspection report with your real estate agent (or broker) to decide how the results may affect the purchase of your future home.

Homebuyers can better understand their prospective house through the home inspection process, making informed decisions with confidence. If a homeowner is planning to sell their home, a home inspection can allow them to make repairs that will put their house in better selling condition.

I encourage my clients to attend the last thirty minutes of the inspection. I will then go over any issues of concern found earlier in the inspection and answer any questions you might have.

Yes! I am an InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) member. Through my membership, the courses they offer keep me updated on any changes in the home inspection industry.

If your home inspection reveals any problems, it is important to understand the severity of the defect. For example, a missing shingle or dirty air filter can be easily fixed at a low cost. However, if the defect is more extreme, such as a major foundation crack, wood-destroying organism infestation, or evidence of mold, you should find out how these problems can be addressed, and whether you can negotiate their cost with the seller. 

No. The report generated for you is intended only as a general guide to help you evaluate the home’s overall condition and is not intended to reflect the value of the premises nor make any representation of the advisability of purchase. The report expresses my professional personal opinions based on my visual impressions and experience of the conditions that existed only at the time of the inspection.

The average inspection should take 2 to 3 hours, depending on the condition and size of the property. More time will be required if additional services such as mold, drone, or solar are requested. I want to take the time to properly educate you on your house so you can make an informed decision. Let me know if your home or the home you are considering has any specific considerations that we need to be aware of.

I cannot do repairs on an inspection property because it would be a conflict of interest. I would be happy to suggest solutions for DIY repair and suggest which type of contractor you might consider evaluating any necessary repairs.

I provide a comprehensive report, a summary report, and photos with descriptions. I also color code the items found during the inspection, with red items needing immediate attention, orange as common maintenance items, and blue being preventative maintenance or cosmetic items. You should expect a report within 24 hours or less of completing your inspection. If a report is needed by a specific time, please notify me ahead of time so I can accommodate this request for an additional charge.

Since I am an InterNACHI® Certified Professional Inspector® who participates in the Buy-Back Guarantee, InterNACHI® will buy your home back if I miss something on your inspection.

 Here’s how this program works:

  • It’s valid for home inspections performed for home buyers only by participating InterNACHI® members.
  • The home must be listed for sale with a licensed real estate agent.
  • The Guarantee excludes homes with material defects not present at the time of the inspection, or not required to be inspected, per InterNACHI’s Residential Standards of Practice.
  • The Guarantee will be honored for 90 days after closing.
  • InterNACHI will pay you whatever price you paid for the home.

“You can buy a person’s time, you can buy a person’s physical presence at a given place; you can even buy a measured number of skilled muscular motions per hour or day. But you cannot buy enthusiasm; you cannot buy initiative; you cannot buy loyalty; you cannot buy the devotion of hearts, minds, and souls. You have to earn these things.” – Management’s Philosophy

Certified Professional Inspector logo by InterNACHI

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