Buying a home is scary. It just is; and anything that can take the edge off the situation feels like a gift from above. My first foray into buying real estate two years ago was fairly straight forward--I bought a condo for myself to live in only three miles away from the apartment I had been renting. I live just outside Boston, so I had friends and family, and my real estate agent to guide me through the process as a first time home owner. Plus, I was buying a condo--not a stand alone home. A few months ago, at the advice of a friend, I decided to buy an investment property in the Sarasota - Bradenton area. This was a whole other can of worms: a stand alone house, as opposed to a condo, an entirely different climate, a part of the country I'm not familiar with, plus a good 1,000 miles away. I knew I wanted to do it--the timing was right, and my friend's investment was getting great returns, but it was scary. Plus, it's not like I have the means to jet back and forth from Boston to the Gulf Coast if a pipe burst or an alligator winds up in my pool... My friend who convinced me to buy in Florida recommended that I use Michael from Direct Inspections. I can honestly say that it was some of the best advice have ever gotten. I flew down to FL and met Michael and his team at my soon to be new investment property. First off: Michael is a pleasure to work with. He could tell I was out of my depths, and immediately put me at ease with his calm demeanor and easy going personality. He also came with his small army: pest inspector, roof inspector, septic inspector and AC company! The only people he didn't bring along were veterinarians to inspect the manatees, or the original cast of "Ghost Busters." Talk about covering all your bases. The inspection was so comprehensive that all my fears of owning a property so far from home were gone. I'm now the proud owner of an investment property that I have no worries about. Based off of a few issues that were found with the AC and a problem with the gutters, I was able to get those fixed as part of the closing. The deal went off without a hitch, and I can sleep peacefully at night knowing that I bought a house that is completely functional, and up to code. I also felt like I made a friend in Florida, so that if something does go wrong over time through wear and tear, I could call Direct Inspections and they would know who I should contact to fix anything that might pop up in the future. read more

There are a lot of "moving parts" when relocating and buying a new home -- and finding the right people to provide solid service and help guide you through the process is over half the battle. Direct Inspections and owner, Michael Koester are the right people! We are purchasing a home in Sarasota, and for the home inspection, our most-trusted real estate broker highly recommended Michael - even stating that "this guy is fantastic". After the home inspection, wind mitigation, and four-point inspection have been completed and the reports received, we absolutely agree - this guy IS fantastic! Excellent Communication: prior to the scheduled inspection, Michael called us to answer any of our questions about the process and to ask whether there were any specific areas of concern on which we would like for him to focus. During the inspection, he provided clear and thorough explanations, as well as practical suggestions for addressing issues and maintenance. Several hours after the inspection, he called us to check whether we had any follow-up questions, understanding that a home inspection can be sensory overload - especially since we have moved to Florida from New Jersey and there are many differences in the processes of home buying, home inspections, and just homes and properties, in general. One-Stop Shopping: Michael coordinated an "A-Team" of professionals to conduct the HVAC, pool and termite inspections. All of these people were proven experts in their specific fields. Timely and Efficient: we arrived at the home inspection right at the scheduled time, and Michael was already onsite working. The inspection lasted approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes for our 2 bedroom, 2 bath Ranch-style home. He worked in a cordial, pleasant, yet focused, detail-oriented and efficient manner. We received the inspection reports with photos within hours of the inspection. Beyond Customer Service: in addition to conducting and coordinating outstanding inspections, Michael shared some of his favorite tips for exploring Sarasota, as well as offered to provide referrals to any other services and professionals which we may need as we get settled into our new home. Thank you to Michael Koester and Direct Inspections! read more

Working with Direct Inspections was an absolute pleasure! My wife and I used online reviews to determine who we would use for our home inspection and we were very satisfied with our choice. Michael was prompt, professional, and incredibly informative throughout the whole process. Any time we emailed or called him with a question it was answered immediately. Of all the people we have worked with thus far in the home buying process he was definitely the most helpful and accommodating. Prior to visiting the house he asked if there were any specific concerns we had in order to make sure he addressed them during the inspection. We were thrilled that the HVAC and pest inspections were included in the inspection as it definitely cut down on our frantic scrambling around to get things scheduled during the 15 day inspection period. After the inspection we got an incredibly detailed report of the findings that same day, followed by a lengthy phone call to review the report and answer any questions we might have. As first time home buyers this level of detail was beyond helpful. The pest report took a little longer to get back because it came from a separate organization working with Michael, but he kept in contact with us while we waited, touching base with the pest company to let us know when we could expect the report. Again once that was received we had another phone call to review the report and answer any questions we might have. He even went the extra mile and made a few phone calls to help answer a question my wife had regarding potential termites! I cannot recommend Direct Inspections highly enough - especially if this is your first time buying a house and you have no idea where to start. Michael was absolutely the best choice for my wife and I, and we greatly appreciate the ease of working with him during the stressful process of buying our first home. read more

We are very happy with the services of Direct Inspections. Michael - the owner - did the inspections himself, and we couldn't be more pleased with the results. We are buying our final home where we intend to live out our years, and we certainly do not want any problems or issues. Michael was most understanding about our situation, and made sure that every part of the house, that was accessible to him, was thoroughly inspected. As with any house that is a few years old, there are bound to be some problems. We feel that Michael found them all, and made us aware of them so that we could address them properly. He found some cracked tiles on the roof which need to be replaced. He also found normal 'settling" cracks in the walls and outside concrete trim, which, although not major, would certainly have caused bigger problems. Because of the Direct Inspections report we will be sealing these cracks next time the house is painted. Michael also made us aware of certain areas of the landscaping that could easily be corrected with some new plants which prevent the washing away of mulch, and help drainage. Overall, we feel that Direct Inspections did a wonderful job, and they are well deserving the praise that we are hereby providing, as well as the praises that others have provided before us. This was not our first house purchase as we (but especially myself) have purchased at least 22 properties (in and outside of the USA) before. However, this was the finest report that we ever had the pleasure of receiving. Michael is a true professional, so we have no problems whatsoever in recommending him. read more

5 stars! This guy is extremely thorough. All around a perfect experience. He took pictures of almost everything he saw and noted everything he found as well as physically showing us everything (except for the roof issues as we did not want to climb up there, but he took a lot of pictures!) and he showed up with several different guys from different companies to properly check everything out- an AC tech, bug guy, etc. He was very communicative throughout the whole process, allowed us to stay through the whole process and ask him all kinds of questions and allowed us to pick his brain for all the information we could ever want on repairs or suggestions of what to do with certain situations regarding home improvement and fixing the issues found at-hand. He even climbed up on the roof himself to inspect it, so as we saw he is very hands-on and knows his stuff, he does not just delegate tasks to others. We found him on yelp and as you will note he has very good prior reviews, besides my own current review. Again totally worth the money and he even provided us a wind mitigation report for a little bit extra, which gives us a giant discount on our home insurance. I don't know much about inspections and home-buying but I have to say he made the process of the home inspection go smooth and provided us something like a 20-page report by the end of the day! All in plain English, easy to understand! We received a second report separate from his from his AC tech guy! Will use again if I ever purchase another home in the future! Highly recommended!!! read more

Highly Recommend Michael Koester with Direct Inspections!! Very impressed with Michael and his outstanding customer service. He is now at the top of my recommended inspectors list for all my Sarasota friends. Service I appreciated: 1) Ease communication and flexibility with scheduling. 4) Thorough and detailed Inspection. 5) Speed: I had the full report the same day!! Even though my appointment was scheduled last minute. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! I have been in Realtor in San Diego, CA for the past 13 years. I have very high expectations when I hire a home inspector for my clients or for my own personal properties. I was very impressed with Michael Koester and his superior customer service and work. My husband and I found and amazing opportunity to purchase a property that will be our future retirement home in Longboat Key, FL. I found the property on Wednesday and I was flying out to Sarasota on the red eye the next day. I contacted Michael Thursday to try to get an inspection done before we made an offer on the house. Michael was very helpful, accommodating to my personal needs and was at the property the next day at 10:00AM. Michael was outstanding! He was articulate, detail oriented and overly helpful. He really made an effort to help us understand all of our questions, and allowed us to make an educated decision on moving forward with our offer. We will absolutely use Michael for any of our future purchases, and will continue to refer him to everyone we know in Sarasota! Thank you Michael Koester, Direct Inspections!!! read more

Direct Inspections saved our retirement! I am so lucky to have found Michael Koester of Direct Inspections before we almost made the biggest mistake of our lives on a home in Venice. Rather than go with the inspector recommended by our realtor, I found Direct Inspections based on their excellent reviews. Michael Koester and his team arrived on time and found many issues with the home that we didn't have a clue about, including MOLD, which had NOT been disclosed by the homeowner. He also found faulty electrical wiring and an electrical panel box that is prone to go on fire. The roof also needed to be replaced immediately. There were many other things they found as well but I won't bore anyone with the nasty details. Michael and his team gave oral reports at the home. I had Michael's written reports within 12 hours of the inspection and then he called me to ask if I had any questions. Suffice it to say I am incredibly grateful to Michael Koester and his Direct Inspections as we were able to back out of a contract on a home that would have been a money pit. We also used Direct Inspections on another home in the neighborhood and we were able to go to contract on that home knowing exactly what we were getting. If you are buying a home, you need Direct Inspections looking out for you and your investment. If you are selling a home, Michael Koester and his company can help you find out what areas need to be taken care of before putting your home on the market. Direct Inspections is a WIN-WIN for both home buyers and homeowners. read more

I want to take a minute out of our hectic schedule of buying a home, and all of the stress that goes along with doing so, to recognize a GREAT local business. Our BIGGEST concern was the condition of the home, and if there were any underlying issues. Like most buyers, we didn't have a clue as to who to contact to give us a honest assessment of the condition. We don't run in those circles, so how do we know if the inspector is working with the agent to get the home to pass, or being honest? We've bought several houses in our time, and each Inspection was handled by one person. I've always questioned this. How can one person be an expert in every area? Pool/Roof/Foundation/etc? Direct Inspections(Michael Koester-Owner) brought a team of people, that specializes in all areas of concern. HUGE sigh of relief, when I saw this. Keep in mind, this was six(6) days before Hurricane Irma hit our area. Our future house passed with flying colors.. Post Irma(the next morning) Michael and crew were back out at the house again, to make sure nothing changed, as we are closing in ten days. He was more than fair on the re-inspection cost, and went above and beyond, pointing out things that needed attention. We HIGHLY recommend Direct Inspections, and Michael! Thank you SO MUCH, Michael!!! We are raving fans of YOU, and your team!! The Hardy Family read more

In 2015 I hired Direct Inspections to evaluate a home in Florida (I'm in Iowa). The job included two separate units in a duplex, including a four-point inspection and a wind mitigation inspection. Mike was very flexible and accommodated the seller's and my schedule. During the inspection, he was 100% on-task and thorough. He is also very personable yet straightforward. It was a pleasure to make his acquaintance. I'd hire Direct Inspections again and I recommend him without reservation. In fact, I'm hiring Mike to go back to inspect repairs made between the previous inspection and closing - saving me a cross country trip! I hired Direct Inspections again for the purchase an additional multi-unit property and Mike and his team came through for me again! Over the years, I've contacted Mike on more than occasion for references to other professionals and for his informal opinion on a number of matters. Each and every time, he is cheerfully willing to assist. I couldn't be more grateful. In all of my years in working with services associated with real estate, my opinion is that Mike Koester and his company are head and shoulders above the rest in terms of service, price, professionalism and availability. I've seen other reviewers lament the fact that they could not give him ten stars. I share their sentiment! read more

Upon reaching out to Direct Inspections I was connected with Michael K. who immediately went to work accommodating our busy schedule and providing insights as to how best prepare and maintain our vacation home. He arrived promptly in the early morning on the day of inspection and spent the first hour scrutinizing the home's exterior, before even ringing the bell to come inside. Thanks for saving the rest of my family the extra hour of sleep. By the end of his inspection he gathered us together and went through each area of the house recounting his observations. He elucidated issues and responsibilities in caring for our residence that we had not even considered, as well as answered all our questions and concerns. The contractors he brought with him, at no charge mind you, to inspect the HVAC and termite/pest concerns of the home, were very knowledgeable and courteous. Before the end of the day we received an incredibly comprehensive report, with pictures detailing each area of concern and recommendations for it's repair, in addition to noting parts of the residence that were in sound condition. I can't imagine a more professional, thorough and attentive person for the job; we are truly glad we found Direct Inspections. read more

My wife and I are buying our first house, and as it was an older one (1977), we wanted to make sure we had a thorough inspection. After reading the reviews here and on Google, we decided to call Michael. I was able to get an appointment within the week, and Michael was very prompt in working with my real estate agent to get everything scheduled with the sellers. On the day of, Michael brought in a small army of experts (roofer, HVAC, pool inspector and termite inspector) to go over the house with a fine toothed comb. The inspection lasted about 3 hours, and they inspected every nook and cranny possible. After they were done, Michael stepped us through the more obvious things they inspected and would need attention. Later that day, I was emailed reports from each of the experts as well as Michael's own report with more detailed information and a lot of pictures. He also sent me the 4 point inspection and wind mitigation reports that I needed for home owner's insurance. All in all I was incredibly impressed with Michael's professionalism and thoroughness, and would readily recommend him to anyone needing a home inspection! read more

As a first time home buyer, the thought of a home inspection was a bit overwhelming. I had travelled to Florida for 3 weeks from Pennsylvania to find and buy a home and managed to stick to my schedule. I did some research online and was very impressed with the reviews of Direct Inspections. Michael was very accommodating to schedule my inspection quickly. The morning of inspection went so smoothly! I learned so much about my new home. Michael and his crew of experts were right on time, thorough and everyone was very honest and informative. Michael went over everything with me and took his time to answer all my questions. He emailed me a very detailed report several hours later and the additional inspections for pests, roof and 4 point were also emailed very quickly. Michael also took time to call me later in the day after the home inspection to answer any additional questions and go over the report. I was very impressed with Direct Inspections and Highly recommend them! A top notch company, prompt and a great attention to detail. You can't go wrong with this company! They are the best! read more

I cannot say enough good things about this owner and his company! After a very expensive and underwhelming interaction with a home inspector that was recommended to me, I decided to take to the internet to find someone to do a wind mitigation inspection for me. After researching online customer reviews of inspectors, Direct Inspections really stood out. I called Monday night at 5:30pm and Michael answered the phone. We scheduled an inspection the following day at 8:30am and he was there by 8:25am. He explained what he would be looking at and what is required to pass the inspection for insurance purposes. He completed the inspection within 20 minutes and then discussed his findings with me . I asked him a ton of questions and he was so kind and patient with me and answered all of them! I received the completed inspection report in my email by 10:00am the same day- amazing! At my request, Michael also provided me with a few recommendations for repair work I need done. I highly recommend Michael and Direct Inspections - I just wish I would have found him sooner! Thank you Michael! :) read more

I would like to offer an excellent review for Michael of Direct Inspections. My experience was as follows. I placed the call randomly. Michael answered quickly. He answered my questions with detail and professionalism. I felt confident immediately that he was highly skilled and knowledgeable with no nonsense compared to many other inspection companies. His price was very fair. He was on time and performed a complete roof inspection using technology as well as personal attention. He was thorough. He found numerous issues that we would have no way of knowing they had been lurking had it not been for Michael and his diligence. Within a few hours he presented us with a comprehensive report complete with clear pictures. Later that day we had more questions and without any apprehension he answered clearly and completely. Michael's work yielded complete confidence going into our closing on the areas he inspected for us. I only wish we had found him earlier and had him inspect throughout the building experience. Lauren W. read more

I just decided to purchase my first house in Sarasota, FL and did my research before I picked my home inspector. I heard great things about Michael from different reviews on yelp and google so I decided that he was the person to go with. When I was scheduling my home inspection I had a specific date and time frame in mind and he had no problem accommodating me. The inspection included HVAC and Termite inspection from good independent companies. The people were very nice and professional when I talked to them and very helpful with the information they gave me. Michael from Direct inspector took his time and was very thorough in his inspection and his reports I received. I got the home inspection, 4 point inspection, and wind mitigation. After the inspection Michael walked us around the house (inside and out) giving us the positives and negatives of what he found. Overall I think I got a great service at a great price and I would highly recommend Direct Inspections to someone buying their next house! read more

I chose Direct Inspections based on the reviews they have earned. When I found Direct Inspections I sent an email for a roof inspection quote. In less than 5 minutes I received a phone call from Michael. I couldn't believe how quickly I had a reply to my request! That was only the beginning. On inspection day, Michael updated me on his arrival time and was even a few minutes early. The inspection was a thorough, informative and painless inspection. I had my roof and attic inspected since my 1 year home warranty was expiring. Michael found some issues and had a professional report in my hands in under 24 hours. I have since sent that report to my builder so they can perform the repairs. Michael was very knowledgeable and offered to share that knowledge with us. He was more than happy to answer any question we had. He even called to follow up and asked if we had any questions regarding the report or in general. If we ever need help again, Direct Inspections will be our only call. read more

Michael is extremely professional and helpful. When I was calling around for home inspections I wasn't sure who to go with until we chatted. He made me feel confident that we were going to have a very thorough inspection and he definitely delivered on that promise! We were going to buy a home and the information he provided helped us make a clear decision about our choice. I love that he brings in his own A/C and termite person to really make me feel confident in the inspection. He provides same day reports and specific reports the home insurance and bank wanted for financing. He also called back the following day and followed up to see if we had any questions. He's very efficient and thorough in his inspection, which is what everyone wants when you're trying to make a good decision about a home. So thankful he provided us with clear information and photos to help guide our decision. Michael is a lifesaver and I couldn't be happier with the service he provided! read more

We needed to find a wind and property insurer very quickly. A wind mitigation inspection was required. I called Michael Koester of Direct Inspections and could not be happier with his responsiveness and the quality of his service. He performed both a Wind Mitigation inspection as well as a CIT 4 Point Inspection. His work was very professional and I really appreciated the thoroughness of his responses to all my questions. Michael sent me the report immediately after he performed the inspections. I called him and he took lots of time to answer my questions and offered his advice about the issues I should discuss with our insurance agent. There is some followup work that may need to have done and Michael gave me the name of a professional who could provide me with that service. It is possible that if we have that work done we can save substantially on the insurance we purchase. I highly recommend Michael. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Michael and his team, they were absolutely brilliant. Firstly, we were first time buyers so we were very nervous, and secondly we were away from the country at the time of the inspection, but Michael was so reassuring and professional; he made it so easy. He was great at communicating and went through the whole report with me so I really understood. He has specialists for everything, so I could be sure that the roof guys were experts just as the air condition guys were experts. All the reports came so quickly, I couldn't believe it! I was able to go through them the same day and Michael took the time to give me some advice in light of some of the results. Michael was really kind and went out of his way to welcome us to the neighbourhood. It was the best experience I could ever have hoped for and I highly recommend Direct Inspections. Thanks so much you guys! read more