Homeownership, while positive, is "not for the faint of heart" and it's really important that you have a team of trusted experts and specialists to help maintain the overall health of your home. For those issues that aren't easy to classify, you need the equivalent of a detective, but for homes...someone who can piece together seemingly unrelated pieces of data and observations and diagnose problems. I've recently added Jim Delgado to my team because of his experience and diagnostic abilities. Not only that, his mastery of issues related to DC homes and buildings was a thing to behold. His decades of experience allowed him to quickly assess multiple observations and concerns and provide a detailed, recommended course-of-action. Prior the actual site visit: 1. Mr. Delgado employed all of the most convenient forms of communication (examples: texts, emails, and video calls). This made it very convenient for me to relay my concerns and prepare for the site visit. 2. Mr. Delgado requested a detailed list of all my concerns and observations. This allowed us to structure the site visit so that our collective time was used wisely. During his site visit: 1. Mr. Delgado evaluated and assessed each item (read "potential problem") on my list of concerns. 2. He then provided his opinion on each issue along with examples he'd encountered throughout his career. 3. He proved to be extremely thorough, but patient, when explaining the origins of an issue and educating his client (me) on viable courses-of-action for resolving problems. His assessment and recommendations alleviated a considerable amount of anxiety within my household. And thus, I cannot recommend Mr. Delgado's services enough should you encounter the inevitable concern or mysteries that come with homeownership. read more

Jim Delgado helped me so much years ago when I purchased my condo in 2018. He was my Inspector, and I will never forget how kind and helpful he was for me during that time. The whole experience of buying a property was very daunting for me, and I recall him treating me almost as I would expect he would have treated his own family member. He was always available and responsive, and most importantly, he was kind-hearted and skilled. I would recommend Jim to anybody for home inspections! read more

I was searching on yelp for someone good and based on the reviews I used Jim for my inspection, he was honest and straightforward. He was helpful pointing out things i could diy and things i really would want to entrust a professional with. He was personable and thorough. Even though my agent was a few mins late to let us in, and the seller didnt leave the house, he stayed in a positive posture and didnt let that throw off the inspection. I felt more confident paying a little more with him versus going with a 3.5 star larger company who may miss things. read more

Jim Delgado was originally recommended to me by a friend who bought her first home before age 30. She used him exclusively for several properties and expressed she felt he was trustworthy and thorough and always alerted her to subtle issues with homes. On her suggestion I tried Jim and from the first inspection had no interest working with anyone else. He is a father and as a first time home buyer I felt as though the issues he pointed out empowered me as a first time buyer. I ended up using Jim on 3 properties in the deanwood area of DC. 1 single family detached, 1 multi unit, and 1 townhome. Structural and suspicious water damage deterred me from the first properties. The last property which I pursued turned up no alarming or high risk issues in Jim's reports--so far I have not encountered anything he did not already reveal in this inspection. His extensive years of experience in the DC system really become apparent quickly to the advantage of the buyer. Jim gives tips and pointers to inform the buyer during the process. His report write ups are detailed with high resolution photos and are very easy to read. Additionally he quickly turns around any needed revisions if you feel items are missing. Lastly, the home buying process for a novice is stressful and full of surprises and dishonest people. It's important to have people surrounding you that can be trusted to be ethical and look out for their client's best interests (safety, financial, health, and peace of mind). Some pics attached of Jim in action! When he came back up from the crawl space (which the seller claimed to not know whether it existed) I knew this was not a property for me even though the upper living levels looked decent. He gets his hands dirty and loves a challenging property!! Book with Jim! read more

Delgado & Associates - Home Inspectors Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Jim is the BEST! He provided a full home inspection for us on 10/2/21. Jim is a friendly, yet thorough inspector with decades of experience. Jim spent over an hour going through the inspected house, along the way offering very insightful knowledge about the proper usage/condition of areas inside a home. His final report included over 30 points of concern, ranging from severe to lower priority. He saved us from a purchasing a home that would've needed at least 50K in repairs, and a possible conflict with county property. His concise and detailed report allowed us to walk away from a future nightmare. We trust to only Jim for future inspections. read more

When you're buying a home, you need to bring in your own expert before you pull the trigger on a big purchase and Jim got into the guts of the home and gave me a comprehensive assessment that saved me money during closing. He's professional, his assessments were well documented so I could forward them to the seller's agent, and the whole process was seamless. He also gave guidance on which concerns he found ABSOLUTELY needed to be resolved versus things that were a bit amiss. Truly a professional service and everything he came back with, the seller acquiesced to resolving. I selected Jim based on his Yelp reviews and now I'm adding my experience with Jim because those other positive reviews were spot on! read more

Jim is an incredible person. We were lucky to have found him! My wife and I spent over a year looking for our home (many different inspectors, none we liked), and we didn't find Jim until after purchasing. Seeing his track record, we called Jim in for council on what to do first. Jim gave us great information, and helped us prioritize renovations vs imperative fixes we needed to budget for in the near and distant future. He had specialized knowledge and tools that gave us insight into the condition of our new home. He is the type of inspector I wish I had found in the beginning of our home buying search, but I'm ecstatic that we found him now. I would recommend him to ANYONE, both current owners and active buyers. We cannot thank you enough, Jim! read more

In case you wonder why Jim got such a perfect rating - Well I would put 100 stars if I can!! Jim is incredibly kind, warm-hearted and will give you 100% solid fact and extremely professional opinion. Truly and deeply cares for buyers' interest. He doesn't only do inspection. He educates you about houses, loopholes in the housing market and how to negotiate. I'm actually not his client - my home is located in areas where he doesn't cover. Instead of telling me good luck and hanging up, he pulled up the home I'm purchasing from the internet and told me in fine details what could possibly go wrong. When realizing that my home has some potential defects, he went above and beyond giving me suggestions on how to approach the deal. This is the best inspector ever - you shouldn't miss Jim. If in doubt at least have a short phone interview with him. Then you will know Jim get perfect rating for a reason. :) read more

Jim is the best (and really, on a league of his own) when it comes to providing guidance and top-notch inspection. Even though my partner and I were purchasing a new construction, Jim meticulously checked every corner of the new home; quickly produced a very thorough inspection report; and provided us with good tips on how to make sure the home systems are working properly. He's also accommodating and someone who you can truly lean on! Highly highly recommend! read more

hands down one of the best and toughest inspectors I've ever encountered. Many sellers and agents call him the deal breaker! I am a real estate agent and can tell you that not many agents will be brave enough to use Jim because he will find the most minimal repair needed even on a new construction property. When I need my personal property inspected aside from my clients, Jim is whom I call ! read more

I'm sitting next to my home inspection analysis written over 5 years ago by Jim. It's still being used today in discussions of the scope of work for renovating my home. The level of meticulous detail he had in alerting me to everything in need of work still impresses me enough to write this years later. Keep doing a great job, Delgado & Associates! Exceptionally thorough! read more

Mr. Delgado came out and did a wonderful home inspection for us. He was very thorough and helped us decide whether we wanted to purchase our home. He is very sociable which I appreciated, it seemed like we'd known him for years. He was accommodating for our busy schedules and communicated promptly with any questions we had. We really appreciated all the insight he provided about existing issues and things to look out for in the future. I have recommended him and will recommend him to all my friends in the area! read more

Mr. Delgado provided an outstanding service for my home during a challenging dispute with a company. He went above and beyond in helping to dispute my case, he was not concern regarding payment. He provided adequate, reliable and vital information to help me. He spent a adequate amount of time in making sure my needs were met with follow up phone calls after the service was delivered. He is an exceptional business owner who provides personable assistance to his customer. Due to his knowledge and consistency I was able to successfully have the job complete. I recommend his services to anyone who is looking for an exquisite customer experience. read more

The Management: Jim is a great and chatty guy that will inform you about every possibility that may happen. Even if you come with a list of questions, he will give you more than you expected! I used him for two houses and both were thorough, one was a full inspection and the other was a pre-inspection. Although I had to write my own notes and take pictures, the pre-inspection was very in depth and Jim guided me on what to note and what to take a picture of. My friend also used him for her condo and loved him. I will definitely be recommending him to my friends in the future! The Process: You schedule and book everything online, however if you are on a bit of a time crunch, like I was, I was able to call and schedule something in the morning on memorial day! Jim is really accommodating. The only confusing thing is the payment, you have to type in the amount for paypal and don't really get a confirmation that it has gone through. Other than that the process was a breeze! read more

Jim was wonderful to work with, and his years of industry experience gave me the confidence I needed to feel comfortable with our purchase. He was able to hone in on specific issues - even after presumably 'fixed' by other contractors - that still needed to be addressed to do things 'the right way'. I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for an accurate, truthful representation of what a home's condition is. He's worth it! read more

I recently had a roof installed on my home. I dropped my guard and allowed someone who was "doing work in the neighborhood" come and give a presentation. I thought that the presentation was honest at the time and offered a little more than the average roof install. After I signed on to have the install, a second party came to reassess the attic and arrange for the actual placement of materials, etc. At this point, I was informed that most of my boards would have to be replaced, upping the original estimate by several thousand dollars. We got beyond that when I threatened to not go through with the install -- my first red flag - and the second rep spent a lot of time in his vehicle communicating with his superior. The install took place, and I immediately asked about the scheduling of an inspection by the County. I was told that a permit had not been pulled and was not required. I went on line to double check what I thought I already knew and was told by the installing company yet again that only if certain other conditions existed that I did not need a permit. I then called the County and was put directly in touch with the office who oversees roofing installs and was told in total four times that a permit was necessary. I notified different levels of the ROOFING company, BOTH ORALLY AND VERBALLY as to what I found and finally stopped hearing from them altogether. I utilized American Express's help (as I had paid a very small portion of the bill using that card) to attempt to get the attention of this company again. They never responded to American Express and the case was closed. I finally wrote to the CEO of the company and requested a written signature for delivery and filed with the Maryland State Consumer Affairs Commission in an attempt to get this company to "pull a permit and have the install inspected." I finally got a call from the CEO, who had pulled the permit after receiving my letter. He informed me that though the permit was pulled, the case was now closed. In an attempt to get a little peace of mind (because now, I am certain that I have been scammed) I began looking for a housing inspector who would take on the small job of inspecting my roof. After reading some of the reviews on Yelp and other places, I decided to choose Mr. Delgado. He has a very busy schedule, but we did finally hook up and he informed me to go to his web site and schedule a particular day and that he would come by. Sensing my anxiety over my situation, I received several messages from Mr. Delgado. The last one was on a Sunday about mid-day, and I thought he was calling to get me on the schedule. However, I learned that he wanted to leave the job he was working on and asked if I would be available in about an hour, as he needed to travel completely around the Beltway from Montgomery County to PG County) to examine the project. He arrived less than an hour later. Upon arriving, he read my contract, went to retrieve his ladder and ventured into my attic to examine the work done. He used his flashlight and pointed out to me (from his position in the attic) certain things that occur when a roofing job is performed and how in many instances certain things are not adhered to but that all boards were placed according to contract, H rods were properly installed, and roof vent was as it should be. It has taken me a while to write this review because there was just so much I wanted to say regarding this gentleman's passion for his work and wanting to be honest and fair. I hope that I thanked him enough for the peace of mind that he has given me as I yet await hearing from the Maryland Consumer Affairs Commission and to notify the PG County DPIE office that I would like to have my roof properly documented in their records. read more

Jim is very thorough and knowledgeable. He's also great at explaining any issues and suggesting resolutions that are understandable and cost effective. Add to that his kindness, generosity and dedication to his craft and you have a fabulous home inspector. I wish I had known about him when buying our house 10 yrs ago, will definitely use him in the future. read more

Jim Delgado is a retired DCRA building inspector that now provides home inspections. I highly recommend working with him as he is extremely knowledgeable, thorough, and patient. I truly sensed that he cares about relaying safety issues to home owners. I appreciated his professionalism and responsiveness, and highly recommend his services. read more

Jim is extremely knowledgeable and really tries to only be of service in informing his customers of his honest opinion of their would-be homes. I asked Him to come out and give 2nd inspection after my first inspector gave a wishy washy incomprehensive report. Jim came out and laid out everything I needed to know to decide whether or not to move forward with buying the home and also made more recommendations I should consider as a new home owner at the house or any other house. I would hire Jim again in a second. read more

Mr. Delgado arrived promptly as promised. He was knowledgeable and patiently answered our questions. We would never proceed with a home improvement project without first contacting Mr. Delgado. read more

I would give Jim Delgado 10 stars if I could. After going through the home buying process a few times, and having worked with and observed other inspectors, Jim is the only person I would hire to inspect a home I want to purchase. His experience is unparalleled, and he is truly dedicated to giving the buyer all the information you need. First, scheduling was super easy. He has an online appointment system, and he is very responsive to text messages and emails. Don't bother leaving a voicemail; he is busy out inspecting homes and writing reports, etc. Email or text him if you need him. I went into this home inspection with serious concerns about the property. I knew the home needed work, but wasn't looking for 203k rehab loan. The property was listed a bit over market for the neighborhood, but our contract was for a fair market price. The previous buyer walked away after his home inspection, and his inspector identified a host of problems I hadn't noticed the two times I visited the property. Jim inspected all of those things, and identified some of them as problems, others of them were not serious concerns, and he assuaged one of my serious concerns that I had before I saw the first inspection report. Jim was literally climbed like a rock climber into the attic, which we were told was not accessible, and which the previous inspector did not inspect. He got down in the dirt outside the home to get under the front porch to document problems that no one, not even the last inspector, had revealed. Ultimately, the house turned out to be a much bigger project than I was willing to take on. I knew it would be a lot of work, but didn't anticipate the level of rehab the property needs. Even after looking at it with two different agents (the first of whom fired me because he thought my below-asking offer was too low for the property, which he insisted was in good shape with newer systems. hahahaha!), there is no way I would have known just how much work was required without Jim's expertise. He emailed me my report the next morning, after spending hours writing it up, and he was willing to revise it when I noticed some details that mattered to me were missing. He was more than willing to answer any questions I had about the report and about the property and the work it needed. Jim Delgado is a GEM! I would not hire any other inspector, and I recommend him to anyone who needs a great home inspector. read more

Jim Delgado is brilliant and thorough. He inspected many houses for me- finding hidden fire damage, foundation "patch jobs", and more. When I finally found the house I bought, I bought it with 100% confidence after Jim inspected it. He impressed me, my family, and my realtor. Trust me- you need Jim. read more

Jim recently completed a home inspection on a small 1-BR condo I was considering buying. He was extremely thorough; the fact that it was a small well-maintained condo in a seemingly well-maintained building did not reduce his vigilance. I got the sense that he takes his role seriously, but that he also has an innate curiosity that drives him to explore every nook and cranny of the home. I believe that he noticed things others may have missed. He was also willing to spend a bit of time explaining and answering questions about all of the issues he noted, large and small. He was incredibly knowledgable. Although thorough, I felt he was fair and measured in his opinions. Jim also followed up with the manufacturer of a damaged heating source with questions and forwarded me the answers, as well as an electronic copy of the manufacturer's manual that had been provided to him. He even provided guidance regarding questions to ask the electrician I arranged to get a work estimate from. I have no doubt that if I had additional questions remaining, he would be responsive. I should note, I had the report in less than 24 hours; it contained a high level of detail and photos depicting issues identified. After working with Jim I felt confident that I understood the issues the condo had and what needed to be done to move forward with a purchase. I'm not sure what else one could ask for in a home inspector. Highly recommended. read more

We have used Jim for multiple inspections. Once for a re-inspection because our first inspector (from a big name local company recommended by Redfin) said everything was ok, but left us with a few questions. Jim found multiple issues which would have totaled ~$15K to fix (missing structural star on side of row house, lack of Tyvek under addition, lack of crawl space access, etc.). Jim saved us from walking into a house that looked nice but would have been a nightmare. Now that we own a home, we have also used Jim to diagnose water issues in our basement, and check on work another contractor did. He is consistently generous with his time, dedicated to his craft, and one of the best to have in your corner. He gives an objective assessment. He is busy, and can be hard to get in touch with. DON'T GIVE UP!!! Jim provides expertise that could save you thousands of dollars. read more

I'll keep this short and sweet: every other five-star review says it all. Jim is an invaluable resource to homeowners and homebuyers. A part of me didn't want to get the word out about Jim because it might get a lot harder to get an appointment, but he absolutely deserves the recognition for the service he provides the community, read more

I am in the middle of buying a house, I have the feeling that I am being pulled in all directions. So many different people I am working with to get the job done. I hired Jim on my own (through Yelp reviews), without any referrals from my agent or anyone else involved in the house sale. Jim has been the BEST decision I have made through this entire process. I had HONEST feedback from him concerning the house i keep asking myself who stands to gain from this house purchase? Cui bono? I can say that Jim stands to gain nothing and his honest opinion is his calling card and why he has such good reviews. In addition, I just like him, great guy, great energy, sticking to my intuition here. and ALSO, Jim charged me nothing because of some circumstances that we all found ourselves and this to me is further proof of his absolute sincerity and desire to offer facts and information to HELP people make the right decisions. I would not buy a house without him! Such a great guy and really good at what he does. read more

Jim came and did a pre-purchase inspection for a home in Bethesda. He was really easy to work with and clear about his approach. When he arrived he was friendly, methodical, and had a wealth of helpful knowledge about HVAC, insulation, structure, drainage, electrical, roofing... you name it. He took his time with our questions and kept it lively. read more

Jim was extraordinarily thorough and offered insights that helped me, as a first time home buyer, save money on homeowner's insurance, etc. A few friends had worked w Jim before and recommended him to me, and I can see why. I'd never work w anyone else. (Thank you, Jim!) read more

Jim is awesome! Even though he did not do my inspection he exceeded any expectations I had. Jim sent me an email before my inspection to tell me what I should look for, what information I should ask my inspector. He gave me valuable information that as a first-time buyer I would never know. His advice helped me make an informed decision about not only my home purchase but the type of insurance I should invest in and even the questions I should ask my building owner. Overall I could not recommend him enough!!! read more

Great details, helpful explanations, and all around friendly service. Would recommend for any home inspection you need when buying. Jim can explain anything and everything (in two languages) whatever the issue. read more

We were very happy using Jim as our home inspector. The inspection ended up finding a lot more negatives than we expected, but Jim made us feel like he was catching everything. He genuinely cares about being honest and transparent about the house you're buying. He even offered to speak to the owners for us regarding some questions we had. He also rolls with the punches, barely batting an eye when the sellers' dog bit a real estate agent. I definitely recommend Jim, just be prepared for some bad jokes along the way :) read more

Stop your search! You're not going to find a more professional, knowledgeable, honest human being than Jim. He will inspect your potential purchase like his own child was moving in. You want a home inspector to be independent of the transaction, in other words, not referred from your realtor or any other party to the transaction. Inspectors referred to you by a realtor are not going to be on the "go to" list very long if contracts keep falling-out by issues they find in the inspection. Jim will tell you the true reality and give you and idea of costs involved to remedy, as well as what's a priority and not an immediate priority. I was super happy and would 100% recommend. read more

See all

I'm so glad I chose Jim to be my home inspector! He inspected two large homes for me in Washington, DC, and I would definitely use him again. Jim's inspections are "tough," and he works on behalf of the buyer's best interest, not the realtor's pending deal. Even though he's pricier than many other inspectors, the extra cost may have saved me from a $60k issue other inspectors may not have noticed. Jim is experienced with the DC City Code, and his identification of some noncompliance issues caused me to withdraw from my first contract. I was able to enter into a contract on my second home with full confidence that if there were issues, Jim would have found them. Jim's report was quick (within 24 hours) and thorough (he gives low- and high-end estimates for fixing/replacing every issue he identifies). This price figure gave me great leverage for my repair negotiations with the sellers, and allowed me to budget appropriately. He also will go through the house and tell you what you should fix immediately, versus what you should just "keep an eye out for." Jim also genuinely cares for his clients. He helped me deal with the DCRA when trying to remedy the Code noncompliance issues, and checked in with me up until closing. Especially if you're nervous about the homebuying process, you'll be in great hands if you choose Jim. read more

Jim is likeable and thorough, but makes too many mistakes IMO. He inspected my 1950's house (pre-listing inspection) and flagged the following: 1. In basement, cracks in concrete floor slab around columns "could indicate house settlement." Actually, no, floor slab cracks can indicate other things, but not settlement. If the house had settled there'd be cracks in the upper floor walls, doors wouldn't open/close easily, floors would be sloped, etc. 2. Under kitchen sink, air admittance valve "should be easily twisted off and on." Actually, no. I called in my (very experienced and reliable) plumber, who said "It should be tight, so it doesn't leak! If I needed to take it off, I'd just cut it out." 3. In circuit breaker box, frayed breaker-to-wire connection of old cloth type circuit wiring might spark and "burn the cloth." I called in my (very experienced and reliable) electrician, who trimmed the frayed ends for aesthetics, but assured me it wasn't hazardous, and if it were, the County electrical inspector (who approved recent renovations) would've caught it. 4. In basement, Jim recommended baseboard electric heat or a mini split system. Actually, the existing (new) HVAC, with gas furnace, is zoned, with the basement on its own zone. When I explained, he said it's expensive to run it that way. Actually, no. Before the zoned HVAC was installed, I did have electric baseboard heaters, and they were expensive to run, plus they were a fire hazard. I took them all out when a blanket that fell against one of them got scorched. I presume newer electric heaters are safer, but I'd guess they're still expensive to operate. Jim didn't appear to really understand the concept of zoned heating. He also pointed out that the cinderblock walls weren't insulated. This is true, but the basement is almost entirely below grade and therefore not exposed to wind. Most of it's below frost line. So lack of insulation there hasn't been an issue. 5. Speaking of insulation, Jim objected to the spray foam insulation in a renovated upper room, for two reasons. One, it's flammable. This is true. However, industry recommendations are for it to be covered with a fire-rated material (such as 1/2" gyp board), which had been done, so it wasn't an issue. Two, at the raised ceiling, it would prevent detection of roof leaks; presumably water would just rot out the roof deck and not leak through to the ceiling below where it would alert the occupants to a problem in the early stages. Actually, open cell spray foam is permeable, and that's what was used between ceiling and roof, in order to detect leaks early. Closed cell is not permeable, and that's what was used in the walls, for the higher R value. 6. In hall bathroom, he stated bathtub was fiberglass. It's the original cast iron tub, which can be easily verified by observing that a magnet sticks to it, or by removing the plumbing access panel and observing the back of the tub. He also stated walls and ceiling were gypsum wallboard. They're plaster. 7. In attic, he observed that the bathroom ceiling fan venting runs under the insulation. This is true, but the venting's operation can be easily verified by observing the flaps on the vent caps (on side of house) open and close as fans are turned on and off. Luckily, he had a moisture meter, and was able to determine that areas of the basement (behind paneling) that I couldn't see, and was concerned about, were OK. And of course, there were a few items he found that did need fixing (which of course I fixed), which is why I asked him to inspect in the first place, so I'm glad I hired him. But I felt that his hunt for defects turned up enough items that weren't actually defects that his conclusions could be needlessly alarming for a potential buyer. read more

Jim far exceeded my expectations. He was more than prompt, and found things in a newly built condo that most wouldn't have pointed out. He was clearly knowledgeable in the field and made sure that I thoroughly understood all that was being explained. He walked though every aspect of the inspection, answered all questions and even offered to speak with the developers with me. I am buying through HPAP and he was very transparent with explaining what would and wouldn't be covered under the program. I would definitely refer Jim to friends, family, and use his services for properties to come, read more

I truly can't say enough good things about Jim. We contacted him for a pre-offer inspection based on Yelp reviews, and where other inspectors couldn't make time to come out for a couple of weeks, Jim squeezed us into his schedule to come out within a day or two. He's very straightforward and honest, and doesn't try to sell you on anything you don't need. He offered to do a walk-through inspection sans report for us in case we wanted to save the money. I'm glad we opted for the full report, though, because it's so thorough and clear that we refer to it all the time now when we're considering contractors for our fixer-upper house. Jim is not only super thorough and honest, but he's incredibly knowledgeable. He has a background working as a DC code inspector, and has been working as a private home inspector for decades. Plus, he has renovated his own home by hand over the years. He was able to point out things we needed to fix ASAP, versus things we could wait on. On top of all of that, Jim's the nicest, most patient man you'll ever meet. As first-time homeowners, we had about a billion questions, all of which he encouraged and answered in plain language to make sure we understood. And, when we did our initial inspection, we didn't have access to the attic. Jim came back out later - after we had already purchased the house - to do an attic and roof inspection, all on his own dime. He wouldn't even accept a tip. (Also, he's hilarious, which is an added bonus in stressful house situations.) You would be remiss if you went with anyone else to do your inspection. Seriously. He's your guy. read more

Jim Delgado did a home inspection for me this week. He was professional, extremely thorough and added in advice not necessarily part of a home inspection but that was very useful. I felt as if he was looking out for me in all ways and I can now move forward on the purchase with confidence that I know what I am getting. I highly recommend Jim Dalgado if you want a property (house or condo) inspected. Sandy Mitchell read more

Jim is a one of a kind gem in this business. He is very passionate about seeing people in homes where their families would be safe and sound. In July 2017, Jim found three big issues with a house I wanted to buy. He said, 1) within a year, I will need to replace the old HVAC system. How do you do a whole new remodel and not replace the HVAC. Within the first month of moving in, I had to replace the faulty, old system. 2) the seller should finish the electrical job that it looks like he started, he should have done a heavy up. Jim was so right about this issue. I've given up on trying to get a permit from the seller and I plan to work with a trusted electrician that Jim recommended to me. Also, Jim at the last moment was my advocate and sent the seller a detailed message about the dangers surrounding not completing an electrical job. Although it didn't change things (this was already after closing), Jim was there to provide documentation. Although I decided to get the house as is, Jim really prepared my mind for the items I would need to do to the house. He helped me understand why I needed certain things, the process, and how to go about solving my problems. Jim was also very encouraging and told me that I can do it and tackle one thing at a time. I really trust him as a first-time homebuyer. I will use him again when I purchase other property. Thanks Jim. read more

I recently had Jim as a home inspector for my condo in Alexandria. I am a first time homebuyer, and Jim not only inspected the condo, but also gave me a lot of pointers as far as what I would need to know for maintenance in the future. Jim was incredibly thorough in inspecting the condo, answered all of my questions and even double and triple checked anything that I asked. I didn't feel like the inspection was a business transaction, rather it felt like a friend who was looking out for me. I really appreciated all the tips he gave me and how much he seemed to care about my welfare and making sure that I was buying a quality property. I only wish that Jim also worked as a contractor so he could do all the repairs! I completely trust Jim and would use him again in a heartbeat! read more

I'm so glad there are still honest people around! Jim, went above and beyond the call of duty. We were looking at a fixer upper and Jim was willing to go down into a crawl space that we didn't think was possible to fit it. He was able to find structural damage that could have been detrimental to the integrity of the house and renovations we were looking to do. I would definitely recommend his services to anyone needing a thorough inspection. read more