We moved to Virginia from out of state into a new build and used HomeKey inspections after we moved in but before our builders warranty ran out (not what we would normally do, but with high competition for homes out here and us buying from out of state, we did it this way to secure the house). SO IMPRESSED with their inspection, we have moved many times (military) and my husband (a civil engineer) said this home inspection was BY FAR the best one we've ever had! This is our 4th home we have moved into, so we are very familiar with the process. You'd think a new build wouldn't have many problems to be found, WRONG. There were much more than I expected! But the good thing is that HomeKey found them all, and it's under warranty so they will get fixed. Jay was an absolutely AMAZING inspector, and went through every sq. inch of this place inside and out! They really think of everything- they even have drone photography for high roof areas! Jay was very detailed in his findings, and explained everything he found along the way (I opted to be there during the inspection). My kids absolutely loved him as well, my oldest is very inquisitive and Jay also explained everything to him and made him very happy to feel included :) The report was SO easy to read, even categorized and color coded into levels of importance! My husband was really blown away by the level of detail, findings, and depth of the inspection and reporting. (He was unable to be there in person). It was FAR better than other inspection companies we have used in the past. Jay even included a video clip of a faulty sliding door, and embedded it into the online report! I had also talked to the owner of HomeKey, Ian, before we made our appointment to get a little background about them. There is no question he cares about having the best home inspection company in the business and that his inspectors receive more training (much more than the state of VA requires) than anywhere else out there! After that, I knew that we would definitely be in the best hands, and we were! I couldn't ask for more, thank you Jay and HomeKey for doing an outstanding job and finding many unexpected hidden surprises in our new build (which we love, but good to know what needs fixing!) There are so many home inspection companies to choose from out here, but this is YOUR home (or going to be your home), so you really need THE BEST, which I can definitely say is HomeKey Inspections! So glad we found them, this many amazing reviews about a company are incredibly telling! Glad we listened to them and had them do our inspection!! And now I get to add my HomeKey Inspections story to all the 5star reviews! Sorry if this is an extra long review, but I like to be very detailed! (Which is of course, another reason I like HomeKey Inspections, they definitely care about paying attention to detail! :) read more

I hesitated to hire a home inspector since we are building a new home and receiving routine updates from the builder. We did decide to hire a home inspector for the 'pre-drywall walk-thru" with the builder and we are so glad we did. First, I'll write about our inspector and then I'll write about what our builder did with the inspector's report. Working with HomeKey Inspections is amazing - on short notice I called and was able to set up a home inspection. I cannot speak highly enough about this experience beginning with the pleasant and courteous lady who took my call and set us up with Jay as our inspector. Jay was extremely helpful right from the start - we met 2 days before our builder's walk-thru and he talked us through what the inspection would be like and was extremely helpful to answer all of our questions. He explained, documented, and sprayed purple spray paint on all deficiencies he found while constantly taking pictures. Jay was highly professional and thorough, teaching us along the way what he was looking for. He knew what 'right' looked like and could answer any questions we had. The next day, we received a full, extremely detailed inspection report with photos. Jay is a great American who did us a great service. He is truly smart, articulate, and very knowledgeable in this profession. Any organization would fight to have a team member of Jay's caliber on its roster. Secondly, we submitted Jay's report to the builder the day before our walkthrough - the builder's superintendent had Jay's report in hand and explained all the corrections they already had fixed before our walkthrough began. On nearly all of the issues that Jay raised, the builder had framers, plumbers, and electricians make the appropriate corrections. Sure, I could see some of the issues with my 'untrained eye' and the builder may have responded to these, but a home inspector's comprehensive report definitely carries weight with the builders to the point that they fixed many issues just prior to our walkthrough and the ones not resolved at the walkthrough, were completed the very next day before we came back to spot check. Bottom line, HomeKey is a first-rate home inspection outfit and Jay is a highly qualified inspector who clearly values what he does and is passionate about doing it well and teaching others along the way. We highly recommend Jay and HomeKey Inspections. They are definitely worth the price and are value-added to the home-buying process! We would hire them again in a heartbeat! read more

My home in the City of Fairfax was built in 1954. I purchased the home 17 years ago. At that time, there was no home inspection conducted (just a home warranty) and therefore I acquired a house with many deficiencies. Over the years, I have remediated many of the issues but as the years have passed more and more complicated issues have evolved and/or become known to me. As a homeowner sometimes understanding how to even prioritize addressing necessary repairs can be extremely daunting and overwhelming. After reading HomeKey Inspections excellent reviews and viewing their sample reports, I decided that it was time to get my home properly inspected. My assigned Home Inspector Mike Lawson was absolutely outstanding. Mike spent several hours with me going over every inch of my home and patiently answering all of my questions/concerns in detail. Mike left no stone unturned in inspecting my house. He really went above and beyond in helping to educate me on all of the issues that I am facing. What meant the most to me is that Mike understood how much I actually want to improve and repair my house not just to sell it one day but to preserve it as the homeowner for as long as I continue to live here. I received my Home Inspection Report right away and it is an absolutely outstanding work product. The report breaks down every sector of the home (exterior and interior) with detailed photographs of the deficiencies discovered while also providing specific examples toward addressing each area of concern. Most importantly, the report also gives you a summary of the Minor and Major Discoveries. This section is extremely helpful to me as I can zero in on prioritizing and addressing the most serious/urgent major discoveries flagged during the inspection. Bottom line, home inspections are not just for sellers/buyers. Literally, the Home Inspection Report is like having a personal guidebook/road-map to your own home. Every aspect of my experience with HomeKey Inspections was just great. I want to definitely thank Jennifer Solee for answering all of my questions on the front-end and again thank you so much to Mike Lawson my wonderful and kind Home Inspector! read more

Excel Inspections saved us $75-100k. They are nothing short of exceptional in every way. I don't do a lot of reviews, but I make the time for companies that deliver truly outstanding service - and Ian McNaught, Sebastian, and Jenn from Excel did just that. It is worth mentioning that I asked various close friends (in real estate) for recommendations for their best and most thorough inspectors. I was prepared to go with one of the recommendations, but, after reading one positive Excel review after another (especially with regards to thoroughness!), I decided to go with Excel. It was a good choice, as all those glowing 5 star reviews are deserved - and I'm adding mine. While the sellers had done a nice job of maintaining the home overall, it was a little older and almost 7000 square feet, so I obviously wanted a detailed inspection to make sure nothing was missed and to get a good idea how much we would be in for if there were any issues. The shake roof was also aged, so I purchased two separate roof inspections/estimates from shake roof specialists to gauge when it might need to be replaced. The upshot is we got what we paid for with Excel. Ian scoured every inch of the home, inside and out, over a 5+ hour inspection. He was professional, courteous, and incredibly knowledgeable - he patiently walked us through every nuance and explained things in a clear, straightforward manner. True to his reputation, he was fantastically thorough - he discovered subtle issues with the foundation, deck, and retaining walls - and even issues with the roof that the shake roof specialists missed. We received a lengthy, highly detailed inspection report early the next day. My real estate broker friend (out of state) reviewed the report and said it was one of the best inspections he'd seen in 20+ years in the business. Despite the seller's great care over the years, it was clear the required repairs would be very costly, so we decided to terminate the contract. It was tough to walk away, but not as tough as coming up with an extra $75-100k for repairs. When we do find our next home, we will use Excel Inspections again without a doubt. read more

I bought my first home last year and could not have been happier with the excellent service provided by Excel Inspections. Ian and his team are not only incredibly professional and knowledgeable, they are also kind and go the extra mile to make sure to provide a superior home inspection. The inspection itself was extremely thorough. The inspector encouraged me to be as involved as I wanted and happily took the time to answer my numerous questions. It was great to be able to have the same company provide a high quality radon test, and also to have the latest infrared camera technology to detect leaks and areas of heat loss/ insufficient insulation within the walls and roof. I had complete peace of mind that I could move forward with an accurate understanding of the condition of the house and needed repairs. The inspection report arrived in a timely manner and was very detailed. Despite it's length, it was easy to read through since it was broken down into the different major systems of the house and then further broken down into categories of problems/ repairs (e.g. major vs minor issues). There were plenty of pictures to reference for all the findings, and even helpful explanations of terms and other resources for more information which I found very useful. The high quality inspection and report allowed me to negotiate with the bank to reduce the price of the foreclosed house I was purchasing by $30,000! I continue to use the report to this day as a guide for working on improving my home. I have heard stories and read reviews for many other home inspectors, and I can honestly say that I have not seen any other company out there with as many constantly high reviews for both the quality of work and caliber of people as Excel Inspections. They are truly of the highest quality and integrity - something worth every penny when it comes to the largest purchase of your life. I highly recommend Excel Inspections to all my friends and family, and plan to use them again for any future needs. read more

I selected Excel for a pre-purchase inspection on a townhouse we are in the process of buying, based largely on the strength of their reviews here on Yelp as well as a call with them to discuss their services and our needs and expectations. I was not disappointed! In fact, everything about my interactions with Excel was positive and easy. The team was knowledgeable, professional, friendly and helpful throughout and their website was exceptionally easy to use from scheduling through to receipt of the final report. The inspection itself (in our case, it was performed by Chad) was thorough and informative. Chad was polite and friendly, arrived early and proceeded methodically and efficiently through the inspection. He took the time to answer all our questions during the inspection and also pointed out items that weren't issues but were just good things to know (like where shut-offs were for the water lines, etc.) and other general information about the property that I might not have noticed. The written report we received was long, detailed, well-organized and professional looking, with helpful photos of each issue identified (complete with superimposed red arrows to point out the issue, often from different angles) and lots of helpful information about both the issues, like why it was an issue, how serious of an issue it was, and how it should be addressed and the property more generally. The report was made available to us online (again, a great website) very quickly and, when I reached out to Chad with a couple of follow-up questions on items in the report, he responded almost immediately. This all may sound a little hyperbolic, but I've bought a few properties over the years and have not had a more positive experience from start to finish than I did this time with Excel. I recommend them highly. read more

I recently contracted with HomeKey Inspections to conduct a thorough inspection of my single-family home prior to listing it for sale by owner. I wanted to receive the inspection early enough so that I could prioritize the items to be repaired before listing my home, and have an overview of what I'd need to spend and how best to stagger the costs and timing of the needed repairs. My experience with Sebastian with HomeKey was exceptional in every respect. He carefully checked each window and door, HVAC and other systems, appliances, roof, chimney, foundation - literally every feature in my 3300 SF single-family home. You name it, he inspected it. The extremely detailed report was worth every penny I paid. It was well organized by section (Roof, Plumbing, Electrical, etc.) with a description of the problem/issue and photos of each item of concern. In addition, the importance (severity) of the problems encountered were prioritized for me so it gave me a good handle on what items should be addressed first and which could wait. I have owned three homes in the past 25 years and have worked with numerous contractors, home improvement companies, real estate professionals and others supporting the home industry. Never have I encountered a better value for the money and time invested than in this home inspection. Although not the cheapest inspection available, you get what you pay for, and I know the information that was provided to me will allow me to fully maximize my return on this home as an investment when I go to sell it. I'd give more than 5 stars if that was an option. Thank you, Sebastian - it was great to work with you! read more

Moving to a new area, unfamiliar with service providers, several of our friends recommended Home Key Inspections to complete a total exam of our new home pre-purchase. They were spot-on. Dealing with Ian was smooth and pleasant...despite our numerous calls at all hours, his phone was on and he was available. He responded quickly to our request, and suggested that Chad Winchell, one of his most experienced Inspectors complete the assignment. Not only was Chad punctual (as a former Marine and retired Naval Officer I/we appreciate this), he was the consummate professional, overwhelmingly knowledgeable, an extortionist (how he got into some of the attic spaces was awesome), and....very pleasant to boot! We had a troop of people observing the inspection and Chad handled all input professionally and sincerely....you could sense that he was a builder in his prior life, and able to handle all questions reflecting a depth of home construction knowledge, and a real interest in his job! The written report was issued within 24 hours of inspection completion. The report was comprehensive, easy to follow, with an abundance of photos illustrating issues found, and many suggestions on actions to take to effect repairs. With no reservation we recommend Home Key Inspections, Ian and Chad for any of your home needs...we are happy to serve as references. Ed and Diane Brill read more

I had an exceptional experience with Home Key Inspection, and I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Jay Carillo for the remarkable service he provided. Jay's inspection was nothing short of thorough, meticulous, and carried out with a level of professionalism that immediately put me at ease. From the moment he arrived, Jay's friendly demeanor and calm confidence made the entire process feel smooth and reassuring. He approaches his work with a genuine heart for the homeowner's best interest, treating every detail -- big or small -- as if he were inspecting a home for his own family. That level of care is rare, and it speaks volumes about his character and dedication. Jay has an exceptional eye for detail and a deep understanding of home systems and construction. He took the time to explain his findings clearly, never rushing, always making sure I understood what he saw and why it mattered. His commitment to ensuring the utmost safety and perfection of the home is evident in every step he takes. I am truly grateful for Jay's expertise, patience, and integrity. His work gave me not only clarity but peace of mind -- and that is priceless. If you want an inspector who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and genuinely invested in protecting your home and your future, ask for Jay Carillo. You will be grateful you did. read more

We had our first home inspection as first-time home buyers with Chad from Excel Inspections. We could not recommend him or this company more highly. First, Chad was very friendly and inviting. One of the first things he did was invite us to stay with him for the entire inspection and to ask as many questions as we needed. His answers were also pretty helpful for us as first-time buyers, and not too technical. We felt that he was trying to give us the whole truth and make sure our questions were answered. Second, Chad was thorough. He examined everything. He tested every major appliance, gauged every electric outlet, turned on every faucet, opened every window, and flushed every toilet. He examined the driveway for wear and tear. He looked at the roof. The insulation on the pipes in the attic. He pointed out minor but useful-to-know issues such as a drainage hose leading to our garden but instead of somewhere off the property, as well as major issues. All this information was then summarized in an easy-to-access online report that was intuitively organized and contained many pictures. Overall, using Excel Inspections definitely increased our knowledge about the property and reduced our stress. Would absolutely use them again and would enthusiastically recommend them to others! read more

HomeKey Inspections came to do a thorough inspection on my rental home. They found many issues I was already aware of, but even more that I never even saw. The professionalism of Wolfgang is superb. He took his time to really test the quality of the structure, appliances, etc. and gave me the education I needed to understand what's really going on in the house. He even crawled through spaces I never thought existed, found hidden issues I suspected but never verified, and used his gadgets to show me the proof of leaks, dampness, and even roof issues. He respected my space and time as my wife and I were working in our separate offices and he never came to bother us. With a new born and toddler in the house, he made sure to point out that our guardrails do not meet the standards and that could be dangerous to our kids sliding through to fall on the stairs and many other things. I really appreciate that out of the long list of things he inspected and found issues with, he made a short list of the MOST IMPORTANT issues to attend to FAST to focus my priorities and plan for in terms of timing and finances. I heavily and urgently recommend HomeKey Inspections! read more

For a new construction home, we contacted HomeKey who sent Jay to perform a pre-drywall inspection. We were satisfied with him and asked him to come back again just prior to our final walk-through. I was present for the first inspection and felt he was very thorough, so I didn't worry when I was unable to be present for the second inspection. Jay's reports were thorough as well. During the first inspection I asked a LOT of questions, which he did not object to. In fact he said he prefers it when people ask questions so they more fully understand his reports. The builder made several fixes based on the report. After the second inspection, which I didn't attend, I spoke with Jay on the phone at length regarding all the items of concern. Again he was very helpful and didn't rush me, even though it was a Saturday. The cost of inspections has risen since my first home a few decades ago, but the items/issues that a good inspector can catch makes them worthwhile. Jay was detailed, thorough and knowledgeable, so I felt this was very much worth the money and I would recommend him. read more

This review is for my radon inspector and home inspector. Jenn is always so helpful in getting us scheduled for our inspections and she will go out of her way to get the radon test placed in the home, in order to get the results back in time since you have to wait 2 days to get the results. She's also so sweet and pleasant! Sebastian had already done an inspection throughout the home search for my father so I knew I could trust his work. I requested him to do the inspection for my potential home and again, he did an amazing job finding minor and major issues and explaining them to my husband and I. I walked away confidently from that inspection, more aware of what defects existed in that home, which were pretty major. I was able to use that to my advantage in negotiations and I feel good knowing what potential health hazards exist in a home we're moving into with my son. I have already recommended Sebastian to many people and am forever grateful. He is the best! Excel Inspections are a pleasure to work with and I STRONGLY recommend them. read more

Excel did our pre-drywall and pre-settlement inspections. Darren was our first inspector and Wolfgang was our second. They were both AWESOME! Extremely friendly, knowledgeable, thorough and professional. Explained everything they were doing and answered all of our questions. Speedy turnaround on both reports (next day) so that we could forward to our builder for our builder walk-throughs. The reports themselves are tremendous. They categorize all findings into Major and Minor items, include pictures for all items, and summaries to make the highlights stand out. The reports can be converted to checklists for your builder, the sellers, or whomever you need to send them to. I HIGHLY recommend this company for all inspections, especially if building. Also, Jennifer in the office is fantastic. Super friendly and responsive. Cannot say enough great things about this company. In fact, we referred them to other neighbors in our new community (being built currently) and they too were extremely satisfied. Look no further, just book with Excel! read more

I was "so" impressed with the home inspection! In fact the realtor was so impressed he said the inspector was astounding!! He was very thorough with the inspection and did not run through the house quickly just to get the inspection done. He "really" cares about his customers. He did not leave a stone unturned. If there was something to be found - oh my gosh - he will find it. My husband is a rather quiet man but he even continued to comment of how thorough the inspector was with the inspection. When I came home I told my sister, father, and friends about the company. As customers, we all want good, honest service, especially in these days. He was on time and ready to work. He explained in detail everything he was going to do before he started the inspection and encouraged us to ask questions during the entire process. Everything was documented and he immediately advised us in detail of any problems with the house. He is very approachable and became not only a person we would like to work with again, but a friend. read more

We have used home inspection companies before and received what we thought were top notch service. Having dealt with HomeKey, twice, this month, the past services received from the other companies, pales in comparison to the quality of service HomeKey offered and delivered. The inspector, Wolfgang, was very professional, thorough, knowledgeable, clear and concise in his inspections, explanations and analysis. He issued a comprehensive and organized report. The home builder acknowledged and complied with the majority of the recommendations suggested by Wolfgang. Jennifer, the initial contact with the company, worked diligently and quickly to set schedules, execute changes to the scope of work and schedules. She explained what would take place, what the job entailed and what was expected from us, contractually. Just these two people alone have convinced us that HomeKey will always be the first company we will call to secure inspection services. We were over the top impressed because they showed they care. read more

FOR THE SMART AND WE'LL RESEARCHED BUYER I never write reviews online but I was so satisfied with the service from this company that I felt Compelled to do so. The house I'm buying in northern VA is relatively large and the inspector literally spent 7 hours looking at every single detail in the house. He encouraged me to follow him so that I could learn more about the house. He was able to find all the problems with the house. Once I got the inspection report I was so impressed with the document and the level of detail - now I have a bible of the house and I can fix everything that is necessary and I can have a reference for the future. This was like having somebody come and document every detail of the house square by square and teach me about construction materials, building codes, maintenance. The guy is so enthusiastic about his job it's contagious. Amazing. If you are a smart and well researched buyer do yourself a favor and hire Ian at excel inspections. You won't regret it read more

Been meaning to leave this review for some time now. My wife and I bought our first house a year ago, and Ian's meticulous inspection of our property helped us negotiate zero closing costs, a new chimney, and other improvements, amounting to a value of about $15,000 for us, all paid by the seller. While his advice during the inspection was only within the scope of a property inspection, for my wife and I, this advice transcended into very useful information during the remainder of the sale to closing. It has continued to be valuable since then with our experience as first time owners, particularly with the inspection report he drafted for us - essentially a homeowner's encyclopedia thoroughly addressing every issue with the home, categorized by the severity of the issue, and serving as checklist for home improvements. It's my go to reference for the property, and I could recommend his service based on the value of this inspection report alone. Homeowner in Alexandria, VA read more

We were very impressed by Darren and the Excel Inspections Team. We had a short turn-around time to meet the seller's desired closing date, and Excel was unfailingly cooperative. They had the radon detector in place within 48 hours of my contacting them, and they answered text-message questions even in the early AM. The on-line reservation system was easy to use, enabling us to book the inspection on Monday morning and have it fully completed by Friday evening during a busy spring season. The inspection was done very thoroughly, yet with commendable efficiency (under 3 hours for a 2800 sq ft single family home. Based on the report's thorough findings, we were able to swiftly prioritize what to ask the sellers to repair/replace, and the settlement of which items would be resolved by the sellers was painless (the report was not questioned in any way). I definitely recommend the Excel Inspections Team to anyone buying real estate in the Northern Virginia area. read more