My experience with Sterling Home Inspection Services started out reasonably well. Brian inspected the little house I am trying to purchase. He was personable, knowledgeable, and seemed to be paying close attention to detail. Thank goodness I am experienced in homes and inspections, because I found several very important details missed, and/or misrepresented on my inspection report. When you are negotiating a home purchase, it is crucial you have a detailed, accurate inspection report - this is for your own safety and financial protection. The following day I had a contractor inspect the crawl space area of the home where we found severe cracks in the foundation that were completely missed by the inspection. I know he missed the cracks because I was under the house with him the entire time, and know he didn't even go to that side of the house. I needed to know these things because I was trying to negotiate having the already uneven floors of the house repaired by the seller. Sure my contractor found the problems, but what if I hadn't hired a contractor? Who hires a contractor to inspect a house before buying it? We don't...we hire a home inspector to find issues like that. So here's where it really get's interesting. I responded to one of Sterlings follow up emails because they made it sound like they cared about my satisfaction with the service. I simply pointed out in my email a few items I thought would have been good to have on the report. I didn't ask them to come out again. I didn't ask them to add anything to the report. I just simply pointed the items out and asked them to contact me to discuss. I wanted to find out if they were interested in coming back out to take another look. It seemed like they really cared. I didn't get a response to my email at all. So I called a couple days later. I got Michael, the owner of the company. Let me be clear that I wasn't the slightest bit bothered or upset with the service at this point. So they missed a couple things...not a big deal at all. But Michael managed to upset me within a few seconds. Boy was I wrong about this company caring, or standing behind their work. Michael started lecturing me about how inspections work. He then started making excuse after excuse after excuse about why his company will never catch everything. I said I understood that fact, but would like to point out that many inexperienced home buyers really need this information to know what they are buying. Michael had more excuses about everything, but nothing pertaining to my questions or issues with my house. I was shocked by Michaels lack of concern or care for me, the customer. He had no interest whatsoever in asking what it was I needed, or wanted. The words never came out of his mouth. The more he talked about all the reasons he had to miss things in an inspection, the more upset and nervous I became about what else may have been missed. I don't wish this experience on anyone. Please look elsewhere for your inspection needs. I promise you won't have to look far for a company that cares about their customer. Sincerely, Jason L read more

I found Sterling searching on my own before my agent sent me some recommendations. I thought they were still the most impressive based on reviews, so I sent an email to Michael. He called me back within minutes (literally, as he was crawling out of an attic) and we set up an inspection for the next morning. We had Brian already doing some work when we arrived. Just like the reviews indicated, he had a table and chairs set up inside and a wifi hotspot. A cooler full of drinks and a basket of snacks - cookies, chips, etc. The Redfin agent who came out was impressed, said he'd never seen an inspector do that. Brian was extremely friendly and went over all the warranties, took my check and gave me a signed receipt without me having to ask, which was great. He then went back to work, I chose not to follow him around the house, instead doing some of my own measuring, etc around. Again, per the reviews, he compiled about 150 photos he took and gave us a walk thru on his computer when he was done. He explained everything really well - the stuff that looks/sounds bad but really is a simple fix and vice versa. He answered all my questions about the work that needed to be done. I got the final report - an impressive document with clickable categories and a table of contents, photos, and detailed explanations - first thing the next morning, along with another call from Michael to confirm I had received it and walked me thru how the html version and .pdf worked - maybe unnecessary since I work with computers for a living, but I can see how some folks would find that invaluable, and the thought was sincerely appreciated. So, in conclusion, the experience was outstanding. Myself, my agent, and friends/coworkers who I shared the report with were really impressed, and all said it seemed that Brian really "went to town" on the house and found all the things the seller was hoping to get away with. They were friendly, helpful, thorough, and had some nice extra touches. 10/10 will call Sterling for my next inspection and recommend them to friends. Also, the Military discount was much appreciated! read more

It might not make much sense to endorse a home inspector until you've lived in the house for a year or two, and seen for yourself if some issues pop up that he might have missed. I don't think that will be the case with the house Michael Wicklund inspected for me, in part because it is a very solid house, and unlikely to have any major problems. Nonetheless, I was impressed with the thoroughness of Michael's method, and the systematic way he went about his work. Though I was on site, he asked that I not follow him as he worked his way around the house, inside and out. He said the distractions my presence would provide would slow him down and the quality of his report would suffer. He told me we would review his report at the end of his 3 hour session, and he'd answer my questions then. Though I questioned his logic at the time, I saw he was right when we viewed the report together later that day. There were many, many pictures, enabling him to precisely show me where the problems were, oftentimes going through a progression of zooming in, from a wide perspective to close up images. That level of detail would not be available to someone following him as he worked. The value of these images is great, not only for my understanding of potential problems, but as literal proof for the seller that the home he is selling has some identifiable flaws, for which he must adjust his price. The report is a valuable document, that should save me thousands of dollars, and I think Michael did a very tidy job of making it all clear and understandable - both for me and the seller. I would absolutely use Sterling Home Inspections again. read more

I recently purchased a home this Spring and was recommended to Sterling Inspection by my Lender. I'm glad we made the inspection happen, as I was in a time crunch Michael came out on a Sunday when he normally does not work. We met at the house the day of inspection after speaking on the telephone couple of days in advance. He emailed me a link to where I would sign the inspection agreement, and where you can also pay for the inspection. I opted to write a check when he arrived. Once the inspection began Michael was very helpful in explaining different gadgets for the furnace, etc. he is very willing to answer any questions and seems to like educating people on their home and what needs to be maintained after moving in. He also brought a basket full of snacks, cooler with drinks while you wait around. I had to leave toward the middle of my inspection and had family members come over to see the rest through. The inspection results are sent via email with pictures and easy to understand colors for what is wrong, satisfactory, etc. overall I was very impressed with Michaels tech savviness. After living here for a bit I realized in a full bathroom I don't normally use (while bathing my dog) the drain going VERY slow...but I undid the turning plug and found saw dust clogging it up. Other than that Michael caught everything else! read more

This is my first review I have written but I am so impressed and thankful to Sterling Inspection Group that I felt I owed it to them to take the time to write something. My daughter started having serious health issues shortly after moving into a new rental house. I decided to try a home inspection. The office staff was easy to talk to and answered my questions about the process. Michael came to the house, did a look around, discussed various inspection options he could provide, prices and said to let him know what I decide. There was no sales job, but a knowledgeable person who hoped he could help. I hired Michael and met him at the appointed time. He showed with his camera, meters, and other tools and got right to work. He checked the moisture in the bathroom, did air samples, checked gas connections, crawled into the attic and under the house. He took pictures of every reading and told me if he saw a potential problem. It was not rushed and he answered any questions that I had. His years of experience as a builder and an inspector showed (he also told me of some of the trainings he has been involved with too). A few days later I had a VERY complete written report with pictures and lab results. He even called to make sure I didn't have any questions about it. I highly recommend Sterling Inspection Group. read more

My wife and I were in the process of purchasing a house in Puyallup and our real estate agent had recommended Sterling Home Inspection. Michael was very accommodating with our work schedules and agreed to meet us after we were off work so that we could be present for the inspection. When he arrived he had a crew in tow and they performed the inspection in a quick and professional manner. Each member had a specific duty and they set out on their way to accomplish that task. The crew took pictures of the areas they were inspecting so that we could see everywhere and everything as if we were right there with them during the inspection. They performed recall checks on all of the appliances in the home, as well as a pest inspection in addition to the home inspection. At the completion of the inspection they up loaded all the pictures and showed us room by room what they had seen, and explained any potential issue or things to keep an eye on. The report that we received at the end had detailed descriptions with color photographs of each areas that needed attention and showed what the problems were. This has been the most informative and professional house inspection that I have ever been a part of. I am reminded of the old adage of "you get what you pay for" in this case you get that and then some. read more

I have purchased many homes in my lifetime but I've never gotten an inspection this detailed. The inspector had arrived prior to the scheduled time and he was ready to work. He explained exactly what he would be doing and answered all of my questions with consideration and respect. When inside the house he removed his shoes and wore paper booties and when in the crawl space he wore a special protective suit which he removed outside. He was extremely careful not to dirty or damage the seller's property. When he finished we sat down and he explained what he found including a picture array on his laptop. Wow! I got the visual and the verbal tour! The pictures were on a DVD which was mine to keep. The final written report was available online including a safety report including recalls on the appliances, air handler, and water heater. They even gave me a 90 day home warranty! Honestly, I've never had or heard of a home inspection quite like this. This was a complete item by item survey which took several hours. No rush job done here. The company is dedicated to complete customer satisfaction. Having snacks and drinks was a nice touch too. I'll never use any other inspection company and I highly recommend you use them too! Angela B read more

I was nervous about the process, as I am a first time home buyer. However, the inspector made the process easy and comfortable. He, and his assistant, were incredibly thorough. He brought to light many issues about the home I am buying. During the inspection, he provided chairs, beverages, and snacks. After he completed the inspection, he sat down with me and went through his findings, along with the photo's of everything he had inspected. I received his written report the next day, via email. His report was very detailed and included all of the photo's, not just of the things needing repair, but the strengths of the house as well. This report gave me the information I needed to negotiate both repairs and the price of the home, which I would have otherwise not known, until it was too costly for me to afford. They include many 'bonus' things with their inspections, concierge service, 'buy-back' guarantee, re-call checks for all appliances (even if you replace them with new ones), and more. Yes, I very much recommend Sterling Inspections Group. I'd ask for Brian again, if I were needing another home inspection (which I hope never to need). He'll definitely be invited to our house-warming party! read more

We have used Sterling Home Inspection for two house inspections so far (crazy market, I know!) and I have only excellent things to say about their work and professionalism. Brian was the inspector in charge and he impressed us with his thoroughness and vast knowledge. He was extremely detailed and meticulous in his work and took a considerable amount of time (3-4 hours) to inspect the entire house. He presented us the summary of his findings, and we were able to understand even the hardest technical terms because of his wonderful way of breaking up the problems for us. The report was excellent, easy to understand and extremely informative and through. I loved the fact that they captured each and every defect or problem the house had and made knowledgable recommendations about future course of action too. Michael, the owner of the company, is also amazing! He is always ready to help where he can and his explanations are extremely professional, while his knowledge is vast and really impressive. I will use them in the future again (until I find my dream house) and I warmly recommend them to anybody who would like to have a professional inspection on the house they are planning to buy. read more

Our realtor referred us to Sterling Inspection and three other companies. We chose Sterling because Michael was the only one out of all off them to actually answer the phone. He was thorough even on the phone. Our pest inspection was included in the price, which is nice. We also received a warranty!!! Anywho, we showed up late due to traffic but our realtor was on time, and Sterling Inspections got right to work. They even turned on the water at the street because HUD didn't provide the service in WA. While they were conducting the inspection, we tried to stay out of the way so we took measurements of windows/doors for our renovation. His team was professional, accommodating, and friendly. A nice surprise was the basket of snacks and drinks provided by his wife. At the end, he and his team went over all photos of damaged/safety concern/repair items and explained it so that a novice would understand.....which we are. Overall, the experience was awesome, informative, and we were very impressed!!! We are a military (USAF) couple and forgot to ask about the discount, so if you are don't forget. It is listed on their website. Inspected 6/21/13 read more

I am raving about the service provided by Sterling!! The inspection was scheduled and set to take place in just one day. I showed up to the property early and Inspector Jon was already there, and had already begun the inspections on the outside of the home. The Inspector was swift, knowledgeable, professional, and efficient. When the Inspector had completed his work, he sat down at the table with my realtor and me to go over every picture, every concern, and what was not of concern. I received my report online the very next morning. And, as soon as I went online to download the report, Sterling was electronically notified that I downloaded the report and they called me on the telephone to walk me through the report and explained all aspects on the report and how to access different features, and what the symbols and color codes meant through out the report. I called my realtor and told him I was singing praises for Sterling. My realtor laughed and said he was very impressed with the service as well, and had told his business partner that Sterling is their number one go to provider for Inspections from here on out. A+ Sterling!! read more

Michael with Sterling Home Inspections IS as good as they come. Working in the real estate world where things seem to change daily, it's a relief to know that there are people out there, like Michael who will go above and beyond for you and your clients. Michael has been professional and courteous in every instance we have worked with him. My buyers that used Michael to complete their home inspection were very impressed by his thoroughness and attention to detail. Something that sets Michael apart from other home inspectors is what he does at the very end. Instead of just leaving the home and promising to send the report the next day he fires up his laptop, loads all the pictures from his camera, sits down one on one with the buyer and goes through every picture he took during his walk through. This enables the buyers to ask questions, and really understand what is going on with the home they are purchasing. As a full time Realtor, I find Michael's expertise and knowledge to be an invaluable resource and would recommend Sterling Home Inspection services to anyone considering buying a home. read more

Outstanding! The previous reviewer said it all. Michael is a highly motivated professional who takes a great deal of pride in what he does. We were working with a very short (5 day) inspection timeline, and he made it happen with a smile. And to top it off, he did a very last-minute sewer scope inspection for us at 9pm the next night! In the dark! We now have in our possession a beautiful 39 page pdf. file of the post-inspection report featuring images, captions, and descriptions of the findings. We have a live DVD of the sewer inspection. Michael clearly enjoys modern technology, and uses electronic media to add tremendous value to his service. He created what will essentially become the owner's manual for our "used" home purchase. We know where everything is located on the property, and have been armed with the knowledge to confidently prioritize modifications and repairs. Priceless. If you are debating whether or not to have an inspection done for whatever reason; have it done. If you need a reference; I know a guy! The peace of mind is HUGE. Thank you! read more

We high recommend you contact Sterling Home Inspection Services to ensure the home you're about to buy (or sell) is up to par. We were in the home buying process and if you don't know this already, let me tell you how stressful it really is. We had Brian out to inspect two properties for us. We had our hearts set on a home on 56th and Thompson in Tacoma, but Brian did his job and found what was wrong with the place. Turns out, it was waiting to catch on fire and crumble to the ground. There were foundation and old electrical issues throughout. The seller wasn't willing to fix these items, so we moved on. The home we're in now was inspected by Brian and we can't thank him enough. He told us what needed fixing and the sellers agreed to fix everything! We got lucky with this house and Brian was a part of that! I'm sure all of the inspectors are wonderful, but Brian was who we got and he was phenomenal. Thank you so much! read more

Our realtor referred us to Sterling. John S. inspected a home built in 2000, and was very thorough. He also spent more than an hour on a Zoom call with us and our realtor, in order to review the inspection report, and answer our questions. I loved the house, and thought it looked like it was in pretty good condition. However, John found a number of issues that were red flags. We got estimates on potential repairs, and it added up to at least $30K. In the end, we decided to pass on the house. Within a few weeks, we made an offer on another home, and specifically requested John for the home inspection. He completed another thorough home inspection, and we will soon close on the house, which is priced about $30K less than the first house. So, in the end, John and The Sterling Inspection Group will have saved us about $60K. A home inspection by a competent home inspector is money well spent. Thank you, John! read more

Great company to work with!! Yes they are very detailed. HOO WAA !! Give me the details as I do not want to buy a house (or anything) based purely on emotion, or sell a home only with an eye to personal profit. Michael is very personable, confident in his abilities as an inspector (without being offensive) and easy to talk to. His staff seem to be modeling themselves on his behavior which means he is a leader. This is my second duplex, Michael inspected both, Outstanding job, work ethic and pdf report. The snacks he provides are an added touch (I believe that is his wife's idea). The notifications I get about my appliances and other systems regarding recalls and manufacturer notices are far more than to be expected in an inspection company. I wholly endorse his company. Tell your buyer you wan Sterling Inspections. read more