Mid-Atlantic was recommended to me by an architect neighbor. I am helping my son-in-law purchase a house in the Petworth neighborhood of DC, and it was my responsibility to find the inspector. I didn't want anyone recommended by the realtor because I figured they only got referrals if they approved the sale and the realtor got the commission. There were only 3 days to complete the deal, and it took one to find the inspector. I looked up Mid-Atlantic and nearly passed on them because of the 2011 review. I'm glad I didn't. The young woman on the phone convinced me that we would get an honest and objective evaluation, and the realtor (Evers &Co) also said it was a good selection though not the one they usually use or recommend. We agreed to pay the $650 fee for a standard residential inspection. Andrew Cleary was the inspector. We all met the next day at the Petworth house on which the agreed price was $650K. We could tell some of the renovation was slipshod, but in the two or three hours Andrew was there he said it was much worse than that -- totally incompetent. He identified 58 needed "repairs', including a new roof (it took a ladder to reach it and the owner must have figured no one would bother), shoring up a bathroom put atop a porch with no heating, dangerous electrical hookups, drainage problems, a new deck that was unsecured, and many many more. He said that the plumbing had not been done by a plumber, nor the electricity by an electrician, etc. The new air conditioning system was not even hooked up. On and on. Andrew was very confident and convincing, to the point that even the realtor showing the house told me that she thought too much needed to be done for my daughter and SIL to go thru with it. It was 5:30 pm by then, but Andrew e-mailed us his 45-page written report by 9 the next morning. It was all in there but the language was somewhat dry and canned rather than dramatic, which I guess is standard. The only problem I really had was his advisory estimate on the cost of the repairs, only $28K which was less than we had thought from what he said. We went back with $60K as our condition, just before the deadline. They countered with $25K but we said no and the deal was off. A day or two later they came back with an offer of $50K and we actually thought about it but there was a rainstorm and the basement had several inches of water so now the deal it totally dead. I had not realized it, but once there is an inspection, the owners have to disclose the defects to any other buyers which is why they were willing to cut so much. Our realtor did not give them Andrew's $ estimate. The $650 we paid to Mid-Atlantic saved us many thousands. But they still need a house. read more

We used this company in 2017 before moving into our current house, and we've been very pleased with the work we purchased for a few reasons. First, Alan identified many issues during the inspection, but even more importantly, he provided a report so detailed that it's served as a manual for our home over these last three years. And three years later, when we needed advice on contractors for some minor work, he and his team were happy to offer good recommendations. read more

We recently had Alan inspect our new home twice. Alan came highly recommended from a real estate agent we know. First during the construction process as a pre-drywall inspection which he identified a number of issues that needed to be resolved. Lastly he did our final inspection in which he identified over 120 items for attention. His attention to detail, explanation of what he was seeing and how things should be setup were invaluable in creating the comfort that our house was of the quality we expected. As in many things in life, you get what you pay for and Alan and Mid Atlantic exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend Alan and his team, I still can't believe the detail and attention he paid over our 5 hour final inspection. read more

There's a rule when purchasing real estate: Hire your own damn inspector! Because your realtor is not really working for you, and neither is the inspector that she/he recommends. I was manipulated into using Mid-Atlantic Inspections by an absurdly short inspection contingency deadline and now regret it. Not only did this company charge twice what I'd been charged in the Bay Area--and there's no way that inspections here cost more than in the land of 10,000 regulations--but the inspection itself turned out to be woefully deficient. Though Mid-Atlantic did manage to catch one life-threatening issue (along with a bunch of non-consequential, cheap-to-fix, items), they missed a number of significant structural problems and at least two major code violations. Since the property in question was pretty close to a 'gut-renovation', no code violations should have been there in the first place, especially not with a new gas furnace. But you know...money gets tight, developer cuts corners... Now I'm out about $14,000 for repairs, and that number is heading toward $20K. Thanks Mid-Atlantic. Great job. Hopefully now I've finally learned my lesson. read more

I have been blown away by the rigor and service from Alan and his team. We found him through a personal (very strong) referral in an attempt to find our own (non-agent referred) inspector. Alan was incredibly thorough and found several issues that caused us to re-negotiate. He was also reasonable about what needed immediate attention and what did not, but at least was thorough across the board. His inspection report remains a frequent source of information about our home. But what compelled me to write a review is the service afterwards. He has stopped by more than once, and answered countless emails from us as follow ups about our house. He has offered candid advice about dealing with issues. And he has never asked for more $ outside of the original inspection fee. Cannot recommend strongly enough. read more

I was disappointed with the lack of response from Mid-Atlantic Inspection. Alan has not responded to my emails or phone calls. It rained shortly after the home was inspected, when I went back there was a leak that created a small hole in the wall. There's no way that the inspector (Alan) could have known this. But, he could have returned my calls and emails when I called to ask him about how to proceed ..either repair or walk away before closing. During the inspection Alan made a point giving me his card and telling me that I could call with questions about my report or issues in the home before my closing. I tried calling other contractors/inspectors. But, every one said he would really need to see the water damage hole in the wall in order to have an idea of what was needed and if I could still risk purchasing the home. I am a single woman and this home is at my maximum price point. Every dime counts. My potential closing date is a week away. Every day counts, when my first email and phone call was last week. Yesterday, I had to make a decision on how to proceed without input from the one person who saw and understood the possibilities of what the water damage means to the home and my wallet. As a whole I can't speak poorly of this company. But, the fact that Mid-Atlantic pretty much dropped me as a client, as soon as I paid means that I can't refer anyone either. May be Mid-Atlantic is too busy with current clients to serve anyone else. Maybe this is simply how things are done in the real estate/inspection business and I have unreasonable expectations. Still, I want others to know what I thought of the entire customer experience. read more

I used mid-atlantic inspection services to evaluate a new home we purchased back in May. They were attentive, responsive, and extremely knowledgable. I would recommend them every time! Side note - I'm not sure what happened with the two negative reviews (that show up first via filter) but by no means are they rude or overcharge (a business charges what they charge - find another business if you don't like it). But yelpers can say what they want. read more

Mid-Atlantic handled the inspection of the home I purchased this summer. I was told there were a few very minor issues but generally everything was fine - roof was great, no major issues anywhere. Within a week I discovered that the entire second floor leaks when it rains...and I mean it POURS water. Even a cursory glance at the ceiling would have shown anyone looking that there was an issue...there are cracks in the drywall running from one end of the house to the other. Then all the drywall in the basement caved in from what was apparently a long-standing leak in the first floor plumbing -- and the wood inside was full of mold. I've now had two contractors ask me why I didn't have the house inspected. According to the guy today (here to repair the roof as much as possible) the inspector "could not possibly have looked at that roof if he told you it was fine." read more

I have bought and sold several homes, but have never experienced the level of personal commitment and professional expertise that Mid-Atlantic Inspection Services provided during - and after - inspecting my new home. The inspector's calm, competent and straightforward manner gave me the confidence to move forward with my home purchase. He spent time explaining the potential issues he uncovered and made sure I completely understood the current problems. He also spent time answering my questions about potential future issues and their costs, which was incredibly helpful and reassuring. Since moving into my new house, I recently contacted Mid-Atlantic when considering an upgrade on my sump pump. They were super helpful, gave really smart advice and were happy to share their extensive knowledge, even though they were not making a penny! I think this is an extraordinarily rare company in today's world. read more

Have had a terrific experience working with Alan. He inspected two properties for me. Inspection was thorough and complete. Issues identified, explained and prioritized. Answered questions on several items when the seller balked and I wasn't certain how to reconcile competing information. He was a thoughtful problem-solver to uncover true source of one particular thorny problem. Don't expect to need inspection again any time soon but if I do, will definitely work with Mid-Atlantic. read more

Alan is a cut above, and clearly knows what he's doing. Though I originally balked at his fee, he was very thorough, and later returned to my home after purchase to examine a lingering issue and make recommendations. Smart, responsive guy. read more

I have used Alan many times over the years and he does a good report. However, I had an experience this past month that I think calls into question his business model and makes it clear that he is more interested in collecting his fees than serving the customer's best interest. I asked him to inspect a 3-unit building that I had under contract. I was not able to be present at the inspection, but trusted him to do the job. When I got the report back, it recommended I bring in a structural engineer because the building had a significant lean. When I did that, the recommendation was to tear the building down. What I would have hoped is that, before charging me $2500 for an inspection, he would have called me and recommended that I consult the engineer first as the $2500 was wasted in the end. He declined to refund me or even agree that I had a point. I will not use him again or recommend him to others. read more

I love Mid-Atlantic Inspection Services! During this very hectic selling and buying market - they were always available to us at short notice. We actually used Mid-Atlantic for two pre-offer inspections and one inspection after we finally got a ratified contract. Andrew is fantastic! He knows what he is doing, he is a great communicator, and he is thorough and patient. We highly recommend Mid-Atlantic. read more