TLDR: Best home inspector you could possibly ask for. Don't bother researching anyone else. Book Robert! Long Version: Our realtor highly recommended Robert and set up the appointment for us. Robert sent us all kinds of information prior to the appointment so that we'd know what to expect from him. I read through everything and e-mailed him back a few questions. He was quick to respond and very polite, professional, and clear. He also included tons of reviews in the materials he sent us. They were all 5 star ratings. I'm the kind of person who likes to read the negative reviews because those are the ones that usually tell you what you want to know. So I did my own Google search on him and his company to see what I could find. I couldn't find a single negative review over the course of his 20+ years in business. Needless to say, we kept the appointment. Even with all the highly detailed information Robert gave us, I still didn't really know what to expect since we're first-time home-buyers and have never done anything like this before. He greeted us warmly and one of the first things he said was, "I work for you, not your realtors." I thought that was great! He went through the house with a fine tooth comb, explaining everything to us and giving us lots of tips on how to save money on heating, cooling, plumbing, electricity, repairs, etc. He went up into the attic and into small, hot crawl spaces and other places where the standard home inspector doesn't go, per the MD SoPs. His standards are higher than the state standards for many areas around the home. I was thoroughly impressed with his dedication, attention to detail, and great customer service. You can tell that he really loves what he does, and he's great at it! I left the inspection feeling really good about the house and completely trusted Robert's assessment. He even used a drone to assess and take pictures of the roof and chimney, which came in very handy when the homeowner's association inspected the home and gave us a long list of things that needed to be fixed. With Robert's report and the homeowner's inspection, we were able to negotiate with the sellers to fix all the major things we didn't want to have to deal with ourselves. Robert and our realtors were both really helpful in identifying those things that were cheap and easy for us to fix and those things we should really stand our ground on and insist the sellers fix. It was such a relief to feel like we were valued customers of a highly intelligent and experienced home inspector. He even sent us how-to painting videos after the inspection when we mentioned to him that we would be doing some of the painting in the house ourselves! I can't say enough great things about Robert. All the people that our realtors had recommended so far were stellar. So although I didn't know what to expect, I knew to have high expectations. Robert blew all those expectations away and really went above and beyond for us. You truly cannot go wrong hiring him. It's one of the best decisions we've ever made, and we are extremely grateful to him. Thank you, Robert! read more

As a realtor I want my clients to have a good, solid, and thorough home inspection. Robert at The Home Detective is exceptionally great at what he does. I myself have learned so much from him throughout the years of recommending him to clients. I love going to home inspections when he's performing them. He's so well informed and I somehow learn something new each and every time one of my clients has a home inspection with him. He knows just about everything there is to know about a home. Another reviewer mentioned that he checked all the nooks and crannies of their home, this made me laugh because it's so true. He checks every single component of a home, from all the plumbing elements; running appliances to ensure they are working properly; checking inside furnaces and electrical outlets and panel; inspecting attics and crawl spaces to driveways and garages; exterior grounds; decks and patios; and roofs and chimneys. This is a shortened general list of all that encompasses an inspection with The Home Detective. An inspection with Robert may take longer than others and this is what any home buyer should and will want. A home purchase is an important transaction and a significant investment, you definitely want someone to take the time needed to perform a thorough inspection. The maintenance tips and advice he gives are very helpful and useful. It helps you understand what you should do to keep your home in great shape and prevent potential future issues. He even gives tips on how to save when using air conditioning or heating systems; how to prevent plumbing issues; and what items you should keep in mind to repair or monitor after occupying the home. My clients are always so pleased with Robert, they end up thanking me for recommending him for their home inspection. If you want an informative and in-depth home inspection, I without a doubt highly recommend The Home Detective and will continue to use them for all future home inspections. read more

Robert was recommended by our realtor and was able to fit us in on very short notice (a day or two after our offer was accepted). We met him at the house and followed him around as he performed the inspection over the course of approximately 3 hours. As we worked our way through the house he examined and tested every conceivable thing, making suggestions and answering questions throughout the entire inspection. Examples include pointing out outlets with reversed polarity, suggesting GFRI outlets in the kitchens and bathrooms, providing proper tips for how to maintain kitchen appliances, and even the proper way to situate yourself on the roof of the house if you need to clean gutters. He was methodical, thorough, and transparent in everything he did, and took the time to remove coverings to inspect hard to reach areas (such as taking the cover off of the electrical panel to inspect the wiring). In addition to this he is also very friendly and personable and hung around to talk with us for a bit after the inspection was completed. He seemed genuinely happy for us and our new home, and it's very clear that he takes great pride in his work. I actually had a great time during the inspection and learned a lot, filling up about 5 pages of a small notebook with tips and small things to fix. We were very fortunate in that our home did not have any major issues, and normally I would have been concerned and skeptical if an inspection were to come back with no real issues, however talking with Robert throughout the inspection and him walking us through everything he was seeing really gave me confidence in his assessment and in my purchase. I would highly recommend using the Home Detective! read more

There are people that work solely for money, and then there are people that work because they love what they do. And you can surely tell the difference. Rob falls in the latter category. On a Sunday morning at 8am during a holiday weekend, I was searching for an inspector to do a last minute, pre-offer inspection. I read reviews and called Rob - and I was not disappointed. First of all, he answered my call that early in the morning! Second, he walked through the inspection with me via phone, told me what he'd be looking for, and was able to book me during a last minute cancellation that same morning at 10am. During our call, I shared my concerns about the house, and I told Rob that the roof was one of my concerns. Well, when my husband and I arrived at the inspection, Rob had a drone that he was ready to fly over the roof to check it and make sure that it was in good condition! A DRONE! He then meticulously went through the rest of the house, giving us tips and suggestions on how to save money and keep our family as safe as possible. The whole inspection took about 5 hours and when I saw he was thorough, I mean he was REALLY thorough. He inspected that house as if his own family were going to move in there. After we got Rob's stamp of approval, we put an offer on the house with no inspection contingency and our offer was accepted!!! If it weren't for Rob, his availability, his friendliness, and his level of knowledge, we wouldn't have felt as comfortable making an offer with no inspection contingency clause. THANK YOU ROB! read more

We had a wonderful experience with Robert after being referred to him by our realtor. He was able to fit us in on short notice and made himself available the next day to do both our home inspection and radon inspection. First, Robert loves what he does. His passion for what he does was evident throughout our entire inspection. We are buying an older home, so we wanted a very thorough inspection to uncover any issues upfront. Robert did our inspection as if he were buying the home personally. We took notes as we went along because he dispenses a wealth of knowledge as he does the inspection that taught us so much about how to operate and maintain our new home. In the end, Robert spent more than 6 hours combing through every nook of this house!! We would recommend Robert to anyone buying a home as he will tell you honestly what he sees, and what he likes and doesn't like. Plus, he's personable and has a good sense of humor, so it's easy to hangout with him for a few hours. It's refreshing to see the type of work ethic that Robert has. He spent the time needed for our home rather than rushing us or the inspection. His prices are very reasonable for the value and education that we ultimately got from working with Robert. Many thanks again!! read more

Robert is amazing! He did an incredibly thorough home inspection for me, and went completely above and beyond - inspecting ABOVE code requirements! He tested every single outlet, window, and window lock in the home, as opposed to the only one per room Maryland requires, taking pictures of any defects he found that he then used in an incredibly comprehensive report he turned around for me same day on the findings from the inspection. I'm a first time home buyer and Robert was incredibly kind and gracious, spending hours at the inspection in every crook and cranny in a 2 story home, yard, and second structure on property, showing me how all the inner workings of my new home operate and helping give context on what issues are significant and which are minor. He taught me how to change my furnance filter, and walked me through how to paint the living room - even sending me youtube tutorials I'd asked for after! I learned a ton from the home inspection from Robert, and will be recommending him to ever yone I know who buys! My relators recommended him to me because of the excellence of his work and depth of his knowledge, and I was extremely impressed. The Home Inspector rules! read more

It's tough to imagine a more thorough home inspection than Robert's. He spent close to 4 hours for our mid-sized home inspection, and worked hard to access a difficult crawlspace door under our sunroom. He took his time to go over every detail in the home, crawlspaces, and attics, and roof. His pricing was incredibly competitive given the level of service and attention to detail. I have complete confidence he left no stone unturned, and we won't have surprises, unlike our previous home purchase! Throughout the inspection, he took his time to explain best practices and recommendations to keep major appliances functional. I consider myself fairly handy, but he mentioned a handful of things that I hadn't heard of previously. He used a bunch of various gadgets during the inspection, my favorites were the IR camera to look for cold spots, the Geiger counter test of our granite countertops, and a 2.4GHz RF detector to see if the microwave had a faulty seal! The home report is thorough, with devices marked and detailed photos so that there is no ambiguity on what needs attention. If we purchase again in this area, Robert will absolutely be getting another call. read more

cannot recommend The Home Detective enough. He is so completely thorough and truly reviews the house as if he is going to purchase it. Our experience may be a little different than other reviewers in that he saved us from buying the house that was not for us. He completed a home inspection for a house on which we had a contract. After completion of his thorough inspection, he uncovered a number of issues that let us know we had to either renegotiate the purchase price, or walk away. We attempted to renegotiate the purchase price (or receive seller assistance in addressing the issues), but the seller was not willing. THANK GOODNESS for Robert. We walked away from that contract and soon after found the home of our dreams. Later, the property that Robert inspected ended up dropping the purchase price by the $20k that we had requested and still sits on the market today -- nearly 5 months later. So we are SO grateful we spent the money with Robert to save us from our own contract, and ensure we ended up with the RIGHT house.... and what will likely be our home until retirement many many years from now. Thank you, Robert. read more

If only there was something higher than 5 stars! Robert is AMAZING. His thoroughness is remarkable. He is extremely personable and shares his knowledge. A 2 story house took 5 hours - that's how thorough he is. He does not miss anything. As he told us, if you're looking for a quick or cheap inspection he's not the guy. He is worth every cent, and I will note his pricing is competitive with others I looked at. We will certainly be hiring him as we need future inspections. He wasn't just doing the inspection either, he was giving us information on what we can do for our current home before we sell or rent; and even advice on baby proofing (we have a little one on the way). He told us several times to call him as we make little changes around the house so we buy the best items - like an under sink water filtration system. He cares about his clients and that shows. You can tell he's doing this because he truly enjoys what he does, not just for the money. We will not hesitate reaching out to him as we have questions doing stuff around the house. Robert should be your first and only choice for home inspections. read more

If you are buying a home in the DMV area, call Robert at The Home Detective. You won't find a better inspector, and will walk away feeling confident that you know everything you can about your prospective new home. I can't speak highly enough of the service that Robert provided. He was incredibly thorough, spending a full morning to inspect the entirety of the property. In addition to the normal inspection procedures, Robert also works over all appliances, walks the roof, and provides helpful advice on maintenance, home repairs, and small things that you can do to immediately improve your home upon purchase. I walked away from my inspection not only confident that I knew everything I could about the home I was purchasing, but also with a game plan for what kind of maintenance and repairs I could plan for in the first 3-5 years of owning our new home. Robert is incredibly courteous, professional, and provides the best service in the DMV area. Buying a home is a stressful process for anyone, having someone like Robert walk through the home with you is an investment that will pay off for years to come! read more

I can't say enough good things about Robert (the Home Detective); he's the best! I'm a first time home owner and I wanted the most thorough, detailed inspector I could find. I got him! Robert is incredibly thorough, generous with his time and knowledge, and kind. I really value that he aims to be both an inspector and an educator. While going through the inspection he taught me all kinds of things I need to know about my house and various ways to maintain and improve it. But, his generosity didn't end there: he sent along a very detailed report for me to use in the buying process, several documents helping to map out what home maintenance will involve, and informally recommended electricians, plumbers, and window stores that he knows and trusts. I even called him a few days later to talk through a few questions that had come up while negotiating with the seller and he gave me another 45 minutes of his time and expertise. I would absolutely recommend him to friends and family and will certainly hope to use him again, should I ever need another home inspector. read more

We are in the process of buying our first home, and the contract we have is for an older home--definitely a "fixer-upper"--so a thorough home inspection was crucial to peace of mind moving forward. With a 70+ year old home, there is no telling what all can be wrong. Robert was incredible. Excellent communicator -- was running a few minutes late because of a huge traffic pileup en route, and called early to let us know. Robert showed up ready to work and was incredibly diligent in testing every part of every room and every system. He also demonstrated infinite patience with my questions, patiently explaining what he was doing, why he was doing it, and offering home improvement tips and candid assessments of the home at every step of the way. I learned an incredible amount from spending a morning with Robert, and feel like he gave our home inspection the same attention to detail he would have given if he was buying the house. I couldn't be more enthusiastic in my endorsement, and will heartily recommend Robert to friends and neighbors in the future. read more

I was fortunate to get an appointment with Robert the day after we spoke. I was looking for someone who is very good and has a sentrilock key card. He's the answer to my prayers. He sent me samples of home inspection report and pictures few minutes after we spoke. They were pretty impressive. My husband came on time at the house. He was already at the house and have started doing some work. He probably came 10-15 mins ahead of us. His experience speaks for the quality of his work. He is very thorough. He explained to us every single detail. He also gave us tips/recommendations and things that we should keep in mind. He puts red dots on the things that he noticed so it would be easy to spot and remember. He also put those cards and instructions for the valves. That's a huge help. It took him 3 hours to complete the inspection. He sent the reports in the evening the same day of the inspection. It was very detailed and has all the things he noticed/took note of. My husband and I were very happy with his work and how the inspection turned out. read more

Used Robert to inspect our new home in Olney MD a couple weeks ago. He was very thorough, offered maintenance tips/tricks, advice on things having nothing to do with his actual home inspection (but other things in the house), and generally was very professional/knowledgeable about home upkeep and repair. Very friendly, easy to get along with. Robert has lot of drive to get things done, but in a thorough detail oriented way. Explained things as he went along in the inspection process and spent roughly 4 hours in my house. He also brought a ladder and got on the roof and looked around. Most people only look from the ground with binoculars now days, but Robert got up there and was able to find a couple issues that would have been difficult to see from the ground. Provided a comprehensive report of his findings that was easy to read, detailed and provided clear recommendations on what to fix and why. Overall, Robert is detail oriented, client serving, and very knowledgeable. I would recommend working with him to other home buyers. read more

Robert, was recommended by my realtor. He is a experienced, honest and calm. He spent 5 hours inspecting my 3 level townhouse. He covered the entire house inside and out. He conducted a radon test. He inspected: exterior deck-steps, steps to (front/deck), exterior trim/panels, rear bay window, gutters function, downspout, rear downspout, concrete foundation, utility room, laundry room floors, shingle roof, plumbing, kitchen sink and lower bathroom sink, bath, toilets, dishwasher, water heater, HVAC , air filter, light/fixture, exterior lamp post, smoke alarms, windows, ceilings, gas valve at fireplace, kitchen disposal,dishwasher, range, microwave. Etc. He went above and beyond the call of duty. His report and pictures of the property bought to the attention of the seller; the need to repair the items that where not in good shape. He gave me pointers to maintain my house for each season. He completed a very thorough inspection of the entire house. I would recommended him to my family and friends without a doubt. read more

A friend had recommended Robert after he inspected their home and so we decided to go with him. It was important for us to have an inspector that was working for us and no one else in the real estate transaction. While doing his inspection, he also helped educate one of the members of our real estate team, who was also very impressed with how thorough his work was. He inspected a 1495 square foot DC row house that had undergone a gut renovation. Even though everything was new, he helped us put together a list of about 30 items for the seller to correct. He spent over three hours with us the first time, educating us as he went along. He got us the inspection report in 24 hours which was well over 10 pages. He was able to do a re-inspection to confirm that everything was fixed which took over an hour. Despite delays and a blizzard, he was flexible and responsive despite scheduling glitches that had not thing to do with him. He also gave us tips on how to make the place more energy efficient. read more

Where to even begin?! Robert deserves a review as detailed and as thorough as the home inspection he gave us, however, words could not even do justice for the exemplary service he gave us. But I'll do my best... Robert left no stone unturned when inspecting our 127 year old house. His knowledge of such a historic property was unparalleled. He knew exactly what to look for in a house of this age. Robert takes attention to detail to the next level. While most people would assume a new roof has no issues, he climbed up there to find the only nail sticking up and preventing a shingle from laying correctly. Robert also goes as far as to educate his clients throughout the entire inspection. For someone like myself who doesn't know a whole lot about houses and homeownership, the insight and information he provides is invaluable. Take it from me, if you have anyone other than The Home Detective Robert Goldberg doing your home inspection you are doing yourself a great disservice. read more

After looking for a Home Inspector to inspect my home on July 4th weekend, Robert was available and willing to work with me. Robert, provide all his credentials before the start date. He also provide you with a sample report, safety tips, and other information before the Home Inspection date. Within the 24 hour period he provided the report and additional recommendation in upkeep of the house. Robert, checked all outlet, windows, and more than what I expected. He answer questions that I have concern and check spots that I was concern with. Robert showed me possible way to save money on electric bill, how to maintain and extend the life of the driveway and more. He checked above, behind, under each area and took the entire three hours walking the house. I needed the report by the next day and he gave it to me within 6 hours. This gave me time to make a decision before the due date (the following day). I highly recommend Robert to anyone that is looking for a home. read more

I would refer Home Detective Services to anyone buying a new home and would want a thorough inspection. I was surprised that Robert went through every room, window, door... and gave great advice to save money and remedy all issues. He took the time on every room appliance and explained great tips and tricks which I will believe help save money in the long run. He has amazing energy and always looks at everything in good light also very knowledgeable it seems on everything from old furnaces to new dishwashers to etc. He answered every question we had and usually gave multiple avenues to take to find the best solution for you. I received a lengthy detailed inspection and report with pictures that day and I was happy to have a short simple overview outline that I could read easily. I now know exactly what I am getting into when purchasing my home which is a lot better than finding out and being sorry later. read more