I am a real estate broker who has consistently gotten great feedback from my clients for the work done by Stephen Kman of Essential Home Inspections. I also had him inspect my house.
Here's what he does right, every time:
1. He's thorough. He takes his time, he looks carefully. And he'll tell you frankly what he can't see clearly and so can't assess.
2. He isn't an alarmist. Particularly if you're buying an old house, you know there will be issues. He will show you what they might be (or what they are) but he puts them in perspective. Some of them are to be expected with older homes. Some are worrisome. Some are a red light. He doesn't treat all of them like an emergency, and explains what he thinks. And he suggests what your next step should be.
3. He doesn't pretend to be an expert in everything. Nothing is more frustrating than an inspector who makes sweeping statements that later prove to be dead wrong, simply because they should have directed a buyer toward a specialist. Stephen has always been careful to tell clients that he can target an issue, but their next step is to talk to an expert, whether it's a plumber, an electrician, a roofer, or a septic company.
4. He doesn't take days to get you the report. In fact, thanks to his computer program, he'll have your report the same day.
I have seen a lot of inspectors. I've seen people who only do one or two of these things, and some of them do none. I can (and do) strongly recommend Stephen Kman of Essential Home Inspections to any clients in Delware, Otsego, Chenango and Broome County. read more
