We are a home inspection company with inspectors licensed in Illinois and Indiana. We have been inspecting homes since 2007. More detailed information about our company philosophy, the areas that we serve and the types of inspections that we perform are provided below.
We have done the research, and we know what home buyers do and do not want in a home inspector. Our company philosophy is built around providing our clients with a thorough, easy to understand home inspection report that is written with their best interest in mind.
WHY choose US?
Just about every company says it - "We're the best!" Guess what? We say it too! But you shouldn't hire us because we say we're the best. Best is a subjective word that is essentially meaningless. Here are a few unique characteristics of our company that we think will help you decide if we are the right home inspectors for you.
EXPERIENCE
We are professional home inspectors. What we are is what we do. This is not our side hustle or hobby. Inspecting homes is our passion and something that we work on getting better at every day.
Every inspector goes through our extensive training protocol. By the time they perform solo inspections, they have been in hundreds of homes. We are confident in our team members and we want you to be confident in them too.
There are no outside interests in our company. The ownership and team members are 100% in house. Our loyalty is to our clients, not outside investors.
OUR APPROACH
If we're know for one thing, it's for being thorough. While most state and association standards require a "representative number" of specific components to be checked, we check every component we can safely get to, provided it is within our scope of inspection.
We bring a common sense approach to home inspections. Sometimes home buyers will miss out on a good house because small issues were not communicated properly. We are not alarmists. "Death trap" and "ticking time bomb" are words that we do not use . We observe and report. If something is a potentially significant issue, we will relate that. Some issues may need to be addressed before you purchase the home, but there will likely be many that can be fixed over time.
The home inspection report is written in an easy to understand manner. We try to keep technical mumbo-jumbo and hard to understand industry specific terms to a minimum.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Time is valuable, and we know that. For that reason, how we use your time is very important to us.
We show up on time for the inspection. We typically arrive about 15 minutes prior to the inspection start time. If unforeseen circumstances cause us to be late, we will make sure to communicate that to you.
We don't waste time, but we don't get in a hurry. The bottom line is that if we hurry, we will miss things.
The inspection report is always delivered the day of the inspection. We do not finish reports on site, but take the time later in the day to make notes for clarification before delivery.
WE DO MORE
Your access to us does not end when we leave the property. We are available for questions before, during and after the home inspection. If you have a house related question years after the home inspection, you can call us and we will do our best to help you.
Some of the specialty tools that we use are:
Moisture meter
Infrared camera
Combustible gas detector
Multimeter
Aerial drone - we always make an effort to walk the roof, but in circumstances where we cannot a drone is used, if necessary.
Our Services
We perform home inspections, mold testing, radon measurements and sewer scope inspections in greater south Chicagoland and northwest Indiana.
STANDARD HOME INSPECTION
What is a home inspection? In its legal definition, it’s a non-invasive visual inspection of the readily accessible areas of a home and includes a written report on the condition of the inspected systems of the home. In simple words, we look at what we can see, and tell you what we see and how it is an issue and what type of repair it may need. Usually a home inspection takes about 2-3 hours depending on the size and age of the home. We recommend that you be present at the inspection if possible. If not, we make ourselves available afterwards to answer any questions we can.
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SELLER PRE-LISTING HOME INSPECTION
A prelisting inspection or seller’s inspection is the exact same inspection we would do for a home buyer. Why would Prelisting inspection be a good idea? The buyer’s inspection may reveal issues that are a big red flag for them and cause them to walk away from the purchase. You can help prevent that by getting those items repaired ahead of listing the home and any buyer inspections. Repaired on your schedule, with no rush to get the first contractor available, and if you have any specific skills, get it done yourself. This speeds up the entire process when you finally decide to put the home on the market and the buyer’s inspection is done.
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SEWER SCOPE
Many homes have aging or damaged sewer lines from their house to the city sewer or septic tank. This can be an expensive repair. This inspection is not part of a standard visual home inspection. We recommend a sewer scope, which will involve inserting a camera into the line to show any collapsed or damaged sections. You will receive a video showing the camera view. This repair cost can be requested as either a repair item or a credit from the sellers. The cost is small compared to the expense of a new sewer line.
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RADON TESTING
While not required in order to buy a new home, we recommend that all homes get a radon test. Radon gas is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that is a byproduct of a decaying Uranium deposit under the ground. It’s very random in its location. It may be under your back yard but not under the house. Radon comes up through the ground and ground water. In an elevated level inside a home, radon gas can cause lung cancer. It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States behind cigarette smoking. Our test results will show the levels of radon in the home, and if elevated, you can request a remediation system be paid for by the sellers. Safety of your family is the number one reason you should consider a radon test.
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MOLD TESTING/AIR QUALITY
Elevated levels of mold in your home can be very dangerous to your health. There are specific mold spores that are known carcinogens and others can lead to respiratory disease, allergic reactions, and other health issues. Mold can also compromise the integrity of your home’s structure. While every home inspection includes looking for visual indications of mold, we are only able to provide conclusive results by taking samples. Getting a Mold Inspection can help prevent serious problems and costly expenses. We generally do not recommend getting a mold test unless someone who is going to be living in the house is known to be allergic or sensitive to mold.
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LEAD PAINT AND ASBESTOS TESTING
Older homes have a higher chance of containing lead based paint. (LBP) If your home was built before 1978, there's a very good chance it contains LBP. While the CPSC banned LBP in 1978, all the lead paint didn’t just dry up in the cans. It could still be found in many homes - it just couldn't be sold.
We can test your home for lead based paint and get you a report from a 3rd party lab.
Don’t let LBP prevent you from buying your new home. We can explain the effects and what safety measures should be taken.
Asbestos containing materials (ACM) were banned many years ago for use in homes. Like lead paint, it’s not uncommon to see ACM in older homes. It is our opinion that it should not deter you from buying a home. Knowing how to handle asbestos and its effects are very important. We can test ACM with our 3rd party lab and supply you with a detailed report and positive ID.
ACM products worked very well for many years and were used in many everyday building materials such as insulation, flooring, pipe wrap, duct wrap, siding and roofing.
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LIGHT COMMERCIAL
Looking for an investment property to lease or purchase? It’s vital to be aware of the condition of the property before taking ownership and assuming the risk. A commercial inspection will tell you the condition of the building and property, reduce the risk and maybe eliminate some concerns or identify a few surprises. The inspection will also help you budget for future expenses and repairs in the future. Call us to discuss your inspection.
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our team
what our clients say
We pride ourselves on our customer service. Whether they are a first time nervous buyer or a seasoned investor, we give all of our clients the same level of detailed and thorough inspections and hope that eye for detail shows through. Our reviews tell the story and if you feel that your inspection was worth the time and your hard earned money, we would love it and encourage you to leave us a review after your inspection. Here are just a few reviews from our past clients.
We learned so much from Scott! My husband and I hired Scott to inspect our new condo. He was on time and very courteous and really explained the inspection issues to us... We would recommend SLS Home Inspections to anyone.
- Emily
Scott was thorough, professional, and friendly. Scott did an excellent job of identifying and explaining the issues... I would highly recommend him to friends and family.
- Carol
Thank you for your time on this. Also, thank you for your explanations on the items and areas we spoke of... I had a good experience and will recommend you in the future.
- Scott's Client
FAQs
You may have questions about a home inspection. If you have other questions not listed here, call us and we will be happy to help answer them all.
No question is too small.
How much does a home inspection cost?
Cost of a home inspection depends on a variety of factors including: square footage, age of the home, extra outbuildings, location.
We offer a $25 hero discount to active and Retired Military, Paramedics, Firefighters, Police and Sheriff, Nurses and Teachers. Thank you for all you do to serve.
For pricing for a specific property, please call our office (815) 644-6271.
How long will the inspection take?
A complete home inspection generally takes between 2 and 3 hours onsite. This allows time for assessment of the home’s exterior, interior, mechanical and electrical systems. We welcome the buyers to attend the inspection and your inspector will work to thoroughly explain all significant findings. We can also spend as much time on the phone if you are unable to attend.
Can a home inspector fail or pass a home?
The short answer, No. An inspection is an unbiased report based on the condition of a home at the time of the inspection. A property can’t fail and the main reason is that any problem can be, or has been repaired. It is simply an informational tool for you to use when evaluating a property.
The Home Inspector With a heart.
Serving since 2007.
Inspections you can depend on for your Peace of Mind.
Anything else is just looking around.
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SERVICES
Standard Home Inspection
Seller Pre-listing Home Inspection
Sewer Scope
Radon Testing
Mold testing/air quality testing
Lead paint and asbestos testing
Light Commercial
GET IN TOUCH
(815) 644-6271
Illinois Home Inspector Entity # 451001503