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.
about us
Are you looking to purchase a new home? Whether to support a growing family, to decrease the size of your property, or build an investment portfolio, home inspections are highly recommended before you buy. While a property may look appealing, there may be potential problems hidden in crawl spaces, attics, around foundations and other areas. Let SLS Home Inspections help you spot problems before they become costly repairs or impact your health and safety.
THE HOME INSPECTOR WITH A HEART
Why is SLS Home Inspections “The Home Inspector With a Heart?” This video explains it. Sometimes things happen that make you take a real hard look at your life and how you’re living it. A heart attack in December 2012 was that event for Scott. If there is any lesson for anyone reading this or that watches the video, it’s the importance of listening to your body and making visits to your doctor a regular habit, hopefully before it’s too late. Scott was lucky he lived so close to an ambulance and was able to get to the ER for immediate help when seconds mattered most.
WHY choose US?
Do you want peace of mind? We can deliver. Thousands of happy and satisfied clients will say that we don’t just do a report and disappear. We are your consultant for as long as you live in the home. Our past clients constantly refer us to their friends and relatives and children. That is the biggest compliment we can get. Don’t make the mistake of skipping or going bargain basement on a home inspection. You want the best, we deliver for you.
SAFETY
You know what they always say? Safety is no accident. Your family’s safety is our number one goal at a home inspection. Period. It may be a big issue or something small and easy to fix. Either way, it will be in the report, usually with pictures.
PEACE OF MIND
Great thing to say, but not so easy to do. Buying a new home is very stressful. Paperwork by the mountains, packing up a lifetime into boxes, saving lots of money for all the costs of buying a home and changing schools or jobs. Sometimes major family events could be happening like a job change, wedding, new baby, death in the family or divorce. Worrying about what is going on in your new home is where we can help. Our inspection is designed to make the condition of the new home as simple and non-alarming, while still letting you know the seriousness of any issues. We will take the time after the inspection to answer any questions you may have. Peace of Mind? We can deliver.
EXPERCIENCE
Experience matters. That’s what you’re paying for. If you were getting eye surgery, you would want to know what experience that doctor had for your surgery. You would never say, “Who’s the cheapest eye surgeon around to operate on my eyeballs.” You would want the most experienced. Our team has completed thousands of inspections since 2007. Read our reviews, ask your friends, coworkers and relatives who did their inspections.
REPORT
Do you like reading reports with technical mumbo jumbo and hard to understand industry specific terms? Of course not, no one does. Our reports are well written, easy to understand with normal comments and with color pictures detailing and highlighting the issues. We ALWAYS deliver the report the same day. No Fail, everytime. The report will help determine what are the issues that are most important to you.
YOU SHOULD NOT CHOOSE US IF...
A) You want a cheap home inspection. Since we think our team members are the best, we pay them like it. Our fees reflect that. We are not interested in price matching or haggling, which would result in them taking a pay cut.
B) You want a quick once-over walk through of the home.
C) You think all home inspectors are idiots who get licensed over a weekend. The number of people who believe this myth is astounding. Unfortunately, there are home inspectors who help feed that narrative by their actions. Our team members are trained and knowledgeable and do not deserve to be degraded.
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, theres 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.
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
About Us
Scott's Story
Sample Report
FAQ
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