Incredibly poor service and lack of accountability. We hired this company for a home inspection, and they completely missed extensive mold on the basement ceiling caused by a leaking steam shower. This oversight ended up costing us $15,000 to remediate and repair. When we confronted them, they came back out to the property and saw the visible mold themselves, yet they still refused to take full responsibility. Instead, they offered a insulting $1,200 settlement. I highly recommend looking elsewhere if you want a thorough and honest inspection. The pictures below show the mold found on the basement ceiling, as well as the mold discovered after we had to rip apart our shower. It's funny Ross says what the public should know.   First the adjacent steam shower unit he talks about is 14' away from the actual shower that was leaking. And was not leaking during inspection.  This was noted that it was fixed years earlier by the previous owner.  The closing of the house was not 90 days after the inspection it was the normal 45 days that is very common. Also the lack of construction experience by CBI.  When first confronted about the leak I was informed in an email that we were told there was caulk issues around the shower. Anyone that has ever put in or been around a walk in shower knows the shower doesn't leak because of the water proofing membrane.  Not caulk.  What this means is the shower should not leak before tile, grout, and caulk are installed.  Once again not experienced with construction practices. All I have to say is watch what you sign when hiring a building inspector. We were denied by there insurance company due to waivers being signed taking all liability away from CBI before they even stepped foot on the property to perform the inspection.  Oh yeah.  I didn't mention the house down the street that they missed the kitchen sink leaking and the wall of mold behind it. Got our family twice they did. read more

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Morgan came out to do or condo inspection. Very thorough and high quality report! Website technology makes it so easy. Thank you! read more

This is the second time we've used CBI for inspecting our potential home, and they continued to do a great job! We used Ken Whitelaw for the first inspection, which found a multitude of issues which we would have otherwise written off as minor. We also learned ALOT from Ken as he walked through the condo, testing appliances, etc. as he explained what he was doing and why. At the second inspection, he was just as helpful and detail-oriented the first time around. This time, the condo was in an older building, and Ken remained thorough and made sure (again) to pay attention to details in the condo. I've added CBI to my list of dependable Chicago vendors and highly recommend Ken! read more

I hired CBI for a condo inspection because I had hired them for my previous condo 4 years ago and I was able to schedule with the same amazing inspector, Scott. He was meticulous, took his time, and showed me important things as he moved through the place. He explained things to me clearly and is just a nice pleasant person. Scheduling was easy, communication was excellent, price was market price. Highly, highly recommend. read more

On time, personable, and professional. A very thorough work product at the end that didn't take a long time to receive. A little pricey but I feel it was worth it. I would recommend if you are looking for a compute do an inspection of your property. read more

We did not have a good experience with Chicago Building Inspections. A home inspection by this company was performed by potential buyers of our home. While inspecting the electrical panel the inspector removed the cover for inspection and then while replacing the cover he pinched a wire between the screw and the side of the panel causing damage and causing it to smoke. Prior to him doing that damage we had no electrical issues. At our cost we hired a professional electrician to fix the issue in which the electrician verified the damage was caused by the negligence of the inspector. The inspector did not take responsibility, instead on the report he stated it was a preexisting electrical issue. We feel the inspector harmed our chances of selling our home with a false report. read more

I had a leak in my home and hired Chicago Building Inspections to conduct a moisture intrusion test, which came up incredibly short of expectations. The inspector did an incomplete job in looking at the potential sources of the leak and generally provided little if any value - and cost $500 for one hour of work. In the end, the report stated that "Moisture staining was noted at one or more locations. These areas were dry at the time of the inspection. The inspector is unable to determine when any leaking occurred at these areas." If he'd simply tested the plumbing in the above bathroom by flushing the toilet, water would have come throught the ceiling. In the end, this was money wasted and just delayed the process of finding someone to properly locate and fix the issue. read more

They booked the inspection asap within my last minute needs due to travel to the city I didn't yet live so their responsiveness was much appreciated. This I didn't waste another trip to Chicago to see if the condo I wanted but wanted to be sure there were no serious issues, was sound inspection wise. The inspector Xavier Enriquez was very knowledgeable and professional and on time and explained anything I asked. He did a thorough but fast job of looking at everything for the report. The report was generated also asap the same day of inspection! All you had to do was click on a link to pay online (checking or bank account avoids the $13 fee for credit card) I am very happy with this company and would use them again in a heartbeat and recommend them to others. The $495 fee was well worth it. And every time I call the office they are very responsive like Molly. Thank you. read more

This team is absolutely incredible. They were fast to schedule my appointment , friendly , and funny . Ross did a thorough inspection, answered all my questions , and went above and beyond!!!!! I most highly recommend this company and I've had numerous inspections at other properties before this so you will appreciate how knowledgeable they are - for sure . Also, Ross explained things really well . He told me why he thought what he thought and was articulate . I will use this company only going forward with my future property Inspections . A++++ service !!!!!!! read more

My fiance and I recently had a wonderful experience with CBI and specifically with Ken Whitelaw. Our mortgage lender recommended him, and I'm so glad he did. Ken arrived a little earlier than our appointment and was very personable. He did a thorough inspection and made many notes on recommendations for repair. The notes equaled 41 pages.. and this was for a well-kept condo! We are first time homebuyers, so every part of the process seems intimidating, but Ken was open to questions and explained things well. Seriously, we appreciate all of the hard work Ken did for us, and I will use CBI again in the future. I highly recommend. read more

This is the second time I've used CBI for a new home purchase after my excellent experience with them for my current home. They responded quickly to my request with a timely date, and provided a user-friendly and easily understand inspection report shortly afterward. As a result, I received a very fair buyer's credit to address the issues uncovered immediately upon closing. I would use them for any future inspection again and again! read more

Ken Whitelaw is the go-to guy for all your inspection needs! He is incredibly accommodating to schedules and advocates for the best for his client's needs. Thank you Kenny!!! read more

Used Ross and team for multiple residential inspections and just had a commercial inspection. The entire team is incredible - thorough, patient, and experts. Always happy to walk through questions on site, give advice, and understand the depth of an issue and even general costs to remedy. Their reports always are a clear and provide a great roadmap to address issues. The best in Chicagoland. Look no further than Chicago Building Inspections. read more

This was my second inspection by CBI in the past three months. These folks are GREAT! We did not buy the first house based on what was found by their talented team. Buying the WRONG house can become very costly. Enough said. We now have a new inspection on a second property. Their report is proving, again, invaluable as we really want to purchase this property. Their information will save us $$$ along with providing a valuable tool for planning work on the property in the future. I'm a retired professional firefighter with a good understanding of structural and construction elements. In short, if you are intending to purchase a property and want to be completely confident on what you are getting, I strongly suggest using Chicago Building Inspections. read more

Love that you can book your appointment online and they respond immediately. Bill was great, he kept me in the loop on time and when he'd get to the property. He had the inspection report written up quickly and addressed everything I needed it to. Would highly recommend! read more

Morgan was great and very thorough, we used him for two home inspections. He even helped me out with an issue after the fact. I highly recommend CBI! read more

Great service, easy sign up and amazingly detailed report. It went far beyond just pointing out issues, it explained all of the important maintenance issues to keep Our new home in good shape and what to watch for. Love the website and easy way to create a list of items to be done. Also really liked the video- great personal touch! read more

I had the pleasure of working with Chicago Building Inspectors recently, as a first time home buyer I was pretty nervous about the whole home buying process, especially the inspection seeing that I was purchasing a 100 year old home. Everyone at CBI was amazing! They responded to my initial inquiry within minutes and I had an inspection date and quote within an hour of contacting them. Most importantly their entire team were extremely thorough and took the time to answer every single question I had before and after the inspection. I had my full 40 page report the next day and the primary inspector texted me to touch base and see if I had any more questions. Ken and Ross were my primary inspectors and I can't recommend them enough. Overall CBI did an amazing job on one of the most critical and stressful hurdles in homebuying, while offered top notch levels of communication and explanations. I wouldn't think twice to hire them again when the time comes. read more

Unreliable! I called to make an appointment for a re-inspection of my new construction home. Prior to the scheduled appointment from Molly saying, I would need to schedule the appointment I had made for a different time, claiming that she had emailed me, which was not the case. Extremely unprofessional! read more

Scott from CBI is the best! I was struggling to figure out a problem with my home long after moving in, and my wife suggested calling Scott to see if he could figure out what was going on. No questions asked, Scott came out with all his tools and helped us diagnose the problem. He's such a nice guy! Highly recommend Scott from CBI. read more

Morgan was very thorough and identified a number of things that we never would have discovered without him. Very easy to work with and did a great job. read more

Andrew was amazing! He came out to my new condo, answered any questions that I had and made sure I felt comfortable as a first time home owner. I was 5 minutes early to the appointment and by the time I got there, he had already walked the building and started taking notes. He took his time and pointed out several things I never would have through of! He made sure I knew where everything was so I would be able to check on it/fix it if I had an issue! read more

My partner and I are currently searching for a home and found one that we loved. Our offer went through and we hired Ken from Chicago Building Inspections to conduct the inspection of our potential new home. Ken was thorough, and even returned to the property after the initial inspection to double check and outdoor structure with a drone that he had continued concerns about after initially inspecting the property. Ken was communicative and timely throughout the entire process, and was patient and direct with us in the days following our inspection and report as we had additional questions about our pending purchase. We would recommend Chicago Building Inspections and if needed, will plan to hire again for future purchases. read more

We used Chicago Building Inspections for a condo we were purchasing and were extremely pleased with how thorough the inspection report was. We could not be present for the inspection, but Ken very clearly explained anything he considered significant. We felt confident that we knew the exact condition of the condo. read more

It was a pleasure working with Bill and the team at CBI. The inspection was thorough, fair, and done with care. The results were sent promptly and Bill made himself available for any questions throughout the whole process. I would definitely use this service again and recommend it to friends. read more

We worked with Morgan Hughes who was incredibly thorough and even answered several questions about what our options were for things that were not up to code or hazardous. I would use them again and can see why our realtor recommended them. I was blown away by how extensive the notes were and will recommend them to anyone I know in the Chicago area. read more

We used Chicago Building Inspectors for our new home inspection in Highland Park. Isac was our primary inspector. He arrived on time and did a really thorough job. They use thermal imaging as part of the review (which was great to see). Isac got up on the roof and inspected the entire crawl space, on his knees. He also took pictures of any/ all areas of potential improvement along the way, to document the final report recommendations. During the inspection, Isac explained the most important issues to me in real time as he discovered them, in layman terms that I could understand. He took time to answer all my questions. I was very impressed with the inspection and the quality of the final report that was produced. read more

CBI came recommended by our broker and we were glad we listened! Morgan was very detail oriented and explained everything in a way we would understand! The turnaround on the inspection report was quick and the software used to rely the information was really user friendly and informative. He made us feel like we knew all the information required for us to make a informed decision when purchasing a home and gave us confidence to make the right choice in investing in the property. I will be recommending CBI to any looking to buy a home! read more

My agent recommended Chicago Building Inspections, and I am very happy she did! Ken was both personable and professional, and his report was very thorough. As a first time home buyer, I definitely wanted to make sure I had as much information as possible about the property before taking the leap. Ken's report pointed out both major issues as well as minor recommendations that I may want to consider. He also pointed out items throughout the inspection and explained why they may be of concern. I would absolutely recommend Chicago Building Inspections, and will certainly keep them in mind for any future home purchase. read more

The inspector, Morgan Hughes, was friendly and provided a thorough report of minor and major issues to the 3-flat that I was interested in. He even included explanations of why repairs would be needed. This was extremely valuable for evaluating my offer on the property. read more

Isac did a great job. He showed up on time and was very thorough. Once he finished he pointed out some key findings. His formal report came back within 12 hours. Ï would highly recommend this company. They have the latest technology and a lot of experience. read more

Ken and his team were wonderful! They were open, honest, efficient, and very thorough. Would highly recommend and will use them again.

EXTREMELY thorough inspection on a 2600 square foot townhome. The inspection report was easy to read and therefore also easy to use as a negotiation tool when discussing various items that needed to be addressed with the sellers. Additionally, we will be able to use the pictures and notes with the townhome association to request roof and patio repairs easily once we take possession of the home. It was very simple to schedule the inspection on the website. Morgan arrived promptly on time and ran around the home getting all of the items. I was amazing at how efficient and yet also very thorough. read more

Extremely thorough report! Scott was super knowledgeable and spent extra time explaining things to us, so we could understand the concerns in more depth. The report was well outlined and comprehensive. Highly recommend. read more

There are a LOT of inspection companies out here and I've experienced a nice amount of them. But Chicago Building Inspections is top tier. The knowledge and expertise of Bill was amazing. And we were blessed with a heavy rain for that day. Bill pointed out some major problems and I am exceptionally grateful for that. Also, he recommended the sewer inspection and when I tell you I have not regretted my decision of going with this company I truly haven't. Please don't skip on the sewer inspection. You would be amazed on what they find. This was for a commercial property if you were wondering. The next property I acquire they are on my speed dial. Oh and Molly the phone representative is amazing and sweet because I literally called at the last minute and she was able to accommodate me. Thanks Molly. read more

Scott did a great job with our inspection! He was very thorough and completed his report very quickly. The report also prioritized the issues so that we could focus on the most urgent problems. Also, I had some follow-up questions after the inspection, and Scott answered them immediately. Would highly recommend! read more

What can I say about CBI other than they are the best in game! In a quest to purchase a Victorian home from the 1800s which we were not experienced with this level of vintage, we knew that we would need a detailed home inspection that not only knew what to look for in older homes but also knowledgeable with vintage built and material. CBI was not only on our agent's short list, but all the way at the top of the list. In our agent's words, "Ross is a perfectionist" and we knew immediately that we needed to book him. On the morning of inspection, Ross and his associate Bob came out to the site. We showed up on time, but it appeared that Ross and Bob were even a little bit earlier. They had already gotten started on inspecting the exterior of the building without needing to be told what to do and wasted no time. Upon first encounter, both Ross and Bob were incredibly professional but also personable. I was impressively taken aback by how fast they learned my name (not an easy one) and did not hesitate to say it. It's the little things such as this one that is indicative of the level of detail that translates to their home inspection quality. I loved how in sync both Ross and Bob were as they navigated from room to room. The most challenging part of the inspection was actually getting up to the roof that did not have direct access. Ross used his professional charm and asked the neighbors next door if they would be kind enough to let him in so that he could go up. At the end of the inspection, while Ross couldn't tell us whether we should go through with the purchase or not, his detailed report guided us to be informed consumers. We felt confident and equipped to make a big and important decision such as this one. His reports are detailed with many pictures and descriptive explanations--a dream come true for any real estate attorney. CBI's pricing is on the higher end but in my honest opinion worth every penny! It's cliche but true, you do get what you pay for. In our experience of purchasing a few homes before this, we've had inspectors that were almost as good as CBI and some that were subpar, and I can honestly say that it makes a big difference. Pay a little more up front so that you don't find yourself with a ton of big and expensive surprises down the line as a homeowner. *and going back to the roof situation, turned out there were some major issued that needed to be addressed pretty much right away. Had Ross not been able to get access from the neighbor next door, we wouldn't have uncovered $20k of damage* Thank you CBI for saving us!!! read more

Ross did the inspection for a condo we are buying. He was pleasant, knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and professional. Highly recommend him.

We hired Morgan from Chicago Building Inspections on the recommendation of our broker. He was incredibly thorough and detail oriented, leaving us with a lot of confidence in the inspection. Also, since the property is an older home, it was really important to us that Morgan had experience in sussing out the potential issues associated with a property that age. read more

Back in September, Bill from Chicago Building Inspections did our home inspection prior to closing. First of all, Bill was friendly and engaging, which always wins points with me. Secondly, he took his time and did not rush the inspection, and answered our questions along the way. The report that he wrote, and the format that Chicago Building Inspections uses, is incredibly detailed, well-organized, and includes pictures. Thus it almost reads like a manual for a home, which is incredibly helpful. I intentionally waited to write a review, to give myself time to live my new home and see if things were missed. But I'm pleased to say that Bill was very thorough, noticing things I never would have. This has not been my experience with past building inspections. Though I hope to remain in my home forever, I would use CBI again if needed. read more