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Sherlock Home Inspections
Complete Home Inspection, Batt, Rolled or Reflective Insulation Install or Upgrade, Toxic Lead Testing,
About us
Choosing a qualified, honest, and experienced home inspector can give you the knowledge and confidence you need to make sound decisions. At Sherlock Home Inspections, our comprehensive inspections and commitment to honesty and accuracy bring peace of mind to every client.
Business highlights
Emergency services offered
16 years of experience
Services we offer
Home inspection. Pest & termite. Air quality. Mold, mildew & fungi. Water quality. Bacteria. Nitrates. Pathogens. Well & septic. Chinese drywall. Wind mitigation. Lead. Occupancy & condition. Storm assessment inspections.
Amenities
Emergency Services
Yes
Free Estimates
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Reviews
4.5165 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 82% | ||
| 5% | ||
| 3% | ||
| 2% | ||
| 8% |
Showing 1-25 of 165 reviews
Jay N.
Dec 2017
They came unprepared to inspect a tall roof and wrote up an ambiguous inspection report that led to a long, messy, time consuming dispute on roof repair costs. If the inspector had come prepared, the dispute wouldn't have existed, and one would not have to separately hire a roofing company to do the job that the inspector could have done. Their sales pitch said - we "go above and beyond", a claim based not on quality of results but apparently on some bureaucratic standards of ladder length - the minimum required ladder size was 20 ft, and that they used 22 ft. After the inspection, when the inadequacies in the report were pointed out, their reply simply amounted to "no, we are not required to do that". That's not my idea of "above and beyond". The sales pitch said - "we move obstructions". In reality their report says - "unable to inspect properly due to obstructions". They missed some big plumbing issues like a water hammer. Other inspectors said they would charge for 4-5 hours to inspect a house of that size. Sherlock inspector was more expensive and yet wrapped up in just 3 hours. In hindsight, I should have gone with other inspection companies that charge $50 more but include a wind mitigation report AND use drones to check the roofs of tall houses.
Response from Sherlock Home Inspections
"Strange that this is the first I am notified that he was not satisfied ??? Inspector did get up onto the lower section of the roof, but the 2ns story was UNSAFE. Lower section had several cracked & broken tiles, obviously in need of repair. Dispute between buyer & seller is silly - we recommended that they contact a roofer for an estimate of repairs. Not sure what he's referring to about the water hammer ??? If we are faster than some other inspector it's because we are efficient at what we do NOT because we somehow cut corners. We always take as long as we need to do a thorough comprehensive inspection. We delivered a very detailed / thorough 48 page report with over 200 photos. RE: Wind Mit - Unlike other inspectors, we did not take his money for an inspection he didn't need. Rather we explained ~ You shouldn't need a Wind Mitigation Inspection since the house was built in compliance with the Florida Building Code (with a permit application date after 3/1/2002). Some insurance underwriters have made the argument that the previous occupant could have sold hurricane panels for scrap metal, or somehow vandalized the house. However, most insurance companies will not assume that the home's protection from strong winds has down-graded since its original construction."
Samual T.
Jul 2017
i am a first time home buyer and as anyone knows you NEED an inspection done in order to get homeowner insurance. when i called the gentleman on the phone went through all their inspection types and what would best suite me. as the house i am buying is a mobile home and over 20 years old a 4 point was a must have. when inspection day came the inspector had called me in advance to let me know he was running a little late, as i was myself, and he showed up at the time he informed me (20 minutes later). As soon as he got there he introduced himself and told me the steps he was going to do. as he was going through his inspection he told us what he was doing and why. the second he found an issue (big or small) he pulled me aside and let me know what the next steps were to get that to pass. he was very friendly, professional, thorough, he answered any and all my questions that he could. i am satisfied with his service and when i need another (any type) of inspection again i will be calling sherlock homes again.
Response from Sherlock Home Inspections
"Thanks for your thoughts. It's good to know that we have maintained our own expectations of professionalism & customer courtesy. Remember, we define a referral as "Sending someone you care about, to someone you trust and respect." Please don't keep us a secret!"
Judi K.
May 2017
The inspector missed an epoxy patch on the pool filter and I had to replace it immediately or risk draining my pool when it popped off if I wasn't home due to temperature fluctuations in the weather $500; The owner told em I shouldn't be complaining about a missed $200 item. A missing 220 outlet for the dryer which resulted an an additional $1200 expense for me because I had to upgrade the electrical box in order to install one. There were photographs of outlets throughout the house with a charge detector in them but no mention of the missing one even though the laundry room was referenced. The report said my roof was good but it leaked at the transition so it took me by surprise. I don't think reports should say if a roof is good or not good if they really don't know. The last one is that the pool liner was white. White pools are not uncommon where I came from but in Florida it means it is really old and I was not advised of this. New liner replacement $4100.00. Mentioning that the liner slipped about 6 inches is not as important as mentioning that the liner is old. I might have negotiated a better price had I known these things. There were minor things in the report that had already been negotiated in the offer to purchase. It did not go well when I wrote a polite email to the inspection company. and instead of doing public relations I was threatened. In my opinion this was a worthless service that I relied upon that cost me money because I did. There are higher expectations of home inspectors in Wisconsin. I don't really know if the other things inspected that were reported as being good, really are and I guess time will tell because who has the time and money to go looking for problems except home inspectors. Taking pictures of the water coming out of the faucets and proving that the stove burners go on are things I did myself when I walked through the house. I don't really feel that the State of Florida expects much of these inspectors in general and I don't know why lenders require these inspections because in my opinion they prove anything. I have a back ground in real estate in another state and I consider this experience as shocking. This home inspection covered little things I checked myself and the things I couldn't check or don't know about were missed or misstated....like the "good roof."
Response from Sherlock Home Inspections
"Quite simply, this is a CrAzY lady! We did a very thorough home inspection for her A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. We delivered a 30+ page report with over 85 photos. Why she's posting this bad review now is anybody's guess. I remember she went on and on about how everything is so much better in Wisconsin. FROM MY NOTES: Her lender didn't require an inspection. The pool filter housing patch was on the inspection report. It was fine, but she must have been convinced by some pool guy to buy a new one. Dryer outlet was there, but she upgraded the type of outlet to accommodate her high-end dryer, which meant that she also needed to upgrade her electrical panel. This is the first mention of a roof issue ??? Inspection report mentioned that the pool liner had slipped 6 inches which is why she had a pool company replace it. The fact that it was white = old ? WRONG, they still sell white liners today (they just aren't as popular)."
Linda A.
Feb 2017
Very well.
Central S.
Jan 2017
All when well. a very complete home inspection. detailed, and covered all areas of the home. this is the company one would want to hire to ensure the home you are buying is not flawed. very professional, and get the jobdone right at a good price.
Frances C.
Nov 2016
I called them on Monday morning. An appointment was set up for Tuesday am. Todd was quick to respond to my questions an was very accommodating. The thorough inspection was performed on time and was as thorough as though we had been there. The verbal report was given over the phone. We later received our emailed report as promised.
Sylvia C.
Jul 2016
Excellent! Professional , reliable ,courteous and knowledgeable? I would recommend this company
Karl B.
May 2016
I have been investing in real estate for years, and have seen good and bad inspectors. I?ve used Sherlock before, recently used
them again, and will continue to use them in the future. These guys are the best at what they do! If you want to know everything about a house, I recommend them highly
them again, and will continue to use them in the future. These guys are the best at what they do! If you want to know everything about a house, I recommend them highly
Linda C.
Apr 2016
unknown
Nathan W.
Mar 2016
Awesome. Great customer service received when I first called, they clearly explained all they would do. The inspector showed up early and was extremely thorough, personable and knowledgeable too. After the inspection we got an overview of what was found and the actual report was emailed the next day. The report was packed with tons of helpful details and color pictures. I feel like I know almost everything about this property now... Sherlock Home Inspection delivers.
Joe V.
Mar 2016
The inspector was quick to reply to my call and scheduled immediately. Was on time and professional. The report was just what we expected and I received it the same day as the inspection.
I wonder if some of the reviews on this company take heat for the findings of a house rather than the service they provide. Seems like a shoot the messenger kind of thing.
I was really happy with everything Sherlock Home Inspection did.
I wonder if some of the reviews on this company take heat for the findings of a house rather than the service they provide. Seems like a shoot the messenger kind of thing.
I was really happy with everything Sherlock Home Inspection did.
Thomas V.
Mar 2016
unknown
PAUL D.
Mar 2016
unknown
Mark G.
Jan 2016
I noticed that the owner responded to the review posted on 11/12/15 stating that the person's review was bogus and that he wishes that they would have given him a chance to respond. I found this funny because in our situation, we have given him weeks to review a horrible experience that we have had and he denies all responsibility for the issues we are having.
We have used Sherlock Home Inspections on two previous occasions a couple of years ago and had excellent experiences with them. The inspector that completed our previous two inspections arrived alone and was thorough and knowledgeable. We actually decided not to move forward on our home purchases based on his reports. Fast forward to our most recent home inspection and I'm disappointed and frustrated to say that we had a horrible experience. Two home inspectors arrived. One of them worked the entire time, the other man stood at the counter and chatted with my realtor at least 80% of the time. He frequently commented on her looks and appearance. It was very strange to the point that my realtor and I both commented on it.
The home inspection was completed on 10/9/2015 and we moved into our residence on 12/7/15. Our first night their we tried to take showers and realized that the hot water wasn't working in our main bathroom. We contacted a plumber, from Angie's list, who came out immediately and assessed that we had a corroded cartridge, valves and pipes. It was the professional opinion of three licensed plumbers that this level of corrosion would have been present at the time of home inspection. We reviewed our reports and noticed that there was no mention of the hot water working in this bathroom. We also noticed that there was no mention at all of this bathroom and that there were no photos. This was strange because they took photos of all of the other bathrooms, appliances and every other area in the home whether it was functioning or not.
We contacted Sherlock Homes and the owner denies all responsibility and says that if there was no mention of the hot water not working in our report then it must have been working on the date of inspection. We went back and forth multiple times over multiple weeks sharing the opinions of our realtor and plumbers and pointing out that the the bathroom in question was not addressed at all on the home inspection report. Despite all of the facts pointing to a major home inspection fail, the owner of Sherlock homes denies any responsibility. In fact he was insulting in his responses.
This is unfortunate because a few years ago, I would have highly recommended this company. Maybe they grew too fast for their own good and are hiring poor home inspectors to keep up with demand. Do yourself a favor and avoid this company. I do not take it lightly when I have to leave a negative review and I rarely do so. If you look at my Angie's list reviews, more than 90% are positive. We were just so disappointed and frustrated not only by the poor home inspection but by the owner's response.
We have used Sherlock Home Inspections on two previous occasions a couple of years ago and had excellent experiences with them. The inspector that completed our previous two inspections arrived alone and was thorough and knowledgeable. We actually decided not to move forward on our home purchases based on his reports. Fast forward to our most recent home inspection and I'm disappointed and frustrated to say that we had a horrible experience. Two home inspectors arrived. One of them worked the entire time, the other man stood at the counter and chatted with my realtor at least 80% of the time. He frequently commented on her looks and appearance. It was very strange to the point that my realtor and I both commented on it.
The home inspection was completed on 10/9/2015 and we moved into our residence on 12/7/15. Our first night their we tried to take showers and realized that the hot water wasn't working in our main bathroom. We contacted a plumber, from Angie's list, who came out immediately and assessed that we had a corroded cartridge, valves and pipes. It was the professional opinion of three licensed plumbers that this level of corrosion would have been present at the time of home inspection. We reviewed our reports and noticed that there was no mention of the hot water working in this bathroom. We also noticed that there was no mention at all of this bathroom and that there were no photos. This was strange because they took photos of all of the other bathrooms, appliances and every other area in the home whether it was functioning or not.
We contacted Sherlock Homes and the owner denies all responsibility and says that if there was no mention of the hot water not working in our report then it must have been working on the date of inspection. We went back and forth multiple times over multiple weeks sharing the opinions of our realtor and plumbers and pointing out that the the bathroom in question was not addressed at all on the home inspection report. Despite all of the facts pointing to a major home inspection fail, the owner of Sherlock homes denies any responsibility. In fact he was insulting in his responses.
This is unfortunate because a few years ago, I would have highly recommended this company. Maybe they grew too fast for their own good and are hiring poor home inspectors to keep up with demand. Do yourself a favor and avoid this company. I do not take it lightly when I have to leave a negative review and I rarely do so. If you look at my Angie's list reviews, more than 90% are positive. We were just so disappointed and frustrated not only by the poor home inspection but by the owner's response.
Response from Sherlock Home Inspections
"This client insisted that since her cartridge was clogged, that the inspector should have known that it was going to clog. I SENT HER THE FOLLOWING: Obviously the cartridge & valves were the cause of the issue, but multiple licensed plumbers cannot reasonably conclude what the inspector found 2 months ago. As I explained earlier - one day it works, and then the next day it doesn’t. Photos 57-58 appear to be the guest bath shower head & tub faucet. He was there, he inspected for & reported “Water pressure, draining, & hot water appear good throughout, except as noted…” The photos clearly show the water flowing. Our standard operating procedure (SOP) is to include the inspector’s hand in the photo under the water stream if it is not hot, and then comments would reflect no hot water. This was not the case. I understand your frustration, but it is much more reasonable to conclude that this issue was building over time & just recently (within the last 2 months, SINCE the inspection) came to a head. Rather than concluding that the licensed inspector who does this every day, who did a very thorough job, who noted several issues the house including multiple plumbing issues, was derelict in his duties & somehow missed this one. Then she tried to say that he didn’t inspect that bathroom at all, so… I SENT HER THE FOLLOWING: WHAT? You have 2 ½ bathrooms ~ correct? Looks to me like photo 53 = kitchen sink Photo 54 = Master bath shower Photo 55 = Master bath toilet Photo 56 = Master bath sink Photo 57 = Bath # 2 shower ~ isn’t this the shower you are referring to? Photo 58 = Bath # 2 tub ~ isn’t this the tub you are referring to? Photo 59 = Bath # 2 toilet Photo 60 = Bath # 2 sink Photo 61 = ½ Bath toilet Photo 62 = ½ Bath sink Is this incorrect? It worked at the time of inspection. If it doesn't work now, that is unfortunate, & I am truly sorry for the situation you are in, but we cannot predict future issues. Dear Reader: If you are looking for a Home Inspector who goes above & beyond industry standards, who inspects areas of the home & conducts procedures during the course of the inspection that most inspectors don’t, who delivers a very detailed & comprehensive inspection report, then Sherlock Home Inspections is the company for you. However, if you are looking for a scapegoat to blame for any future issues that may arise, then PLEASE – call someone else."
Tracy P.
Nov 2015
Inspectors argued with my realtor, did a half assed job
Response from Sherlock Home Inspections
"I sure would have liked the opportunity to address these BOGUS complaints before getting such a poor review. I’m not sure what was expected, but our Inspection Report for this property was 52 pages & included 158 photos. Sherlock Home Inspections goes above and beyond industry standards. There are several aspects and components of a home that inspectors are neither required to nor restricted from inspecting. WE INSPECT THOSE AREAS………. Examples: Pest Inspection / Chinese drywall / Appliances / Irrigation System / Pool, Pool Deck, Pool Enclosure, Pool Equipment / Seawall, Dock, Boat Lift / Well Equipment / Cosmetic or Aesthetic Concerns. There are also several procedures of a home inspection and tools for inspecting that inspectors are neither required to nor restricted from completing / using. WE CONDUCT THOSE PROCEDURES & USE THOSE TOOLS………. Examples: Inspect the Roof from the Rooftop / Climb Ladders / Enter Attics and Crawl Spaces / Move Obstructions / Operate Electrical GFI’s & Breakers / Manipulate Plumbing Shut Off Valves / Open the Main Electrical Panel / Open the Air Handler / Use Inspection Tools - Outlet /GFI Testers, Electrical Meters, Laser Thermometers, Moisture Meters, etc. *** MOLD *** Our standard Home Inspection includes an examination of common surfaces and materials where mold, mildew and fungi usually grow. However, we also offer an Air Quality Inspection (below) that was denied by the client. Air Quality Inspection (Mold, Mildew and Fungi) ~ Air samples will be taken (inside & out) for the purposes of locating un-seen mold, mildew, and fungi, and observed over 72 hours to determine the approximate concentration thereof with relation to normal ecology. We will provide an estimated spore count & if it is high, recommendations for remediation. *** WELL *** An inspection of the well equipment was included in our standard Home Inspection, and we reported Problems with Water Softener. Additionally, we did a Water Quality Inspection. The only issue with water quality was the Hardness (CaCO3) = 150 grains per gallon (Acceptable Limits: Zero grains of hardness). Suggested Remediation = add salt to, repair, or replace water softener (which was on our report). *** PEST *** The Pest Inspection reported all of the following pests: Milipedes Mud wasps Paper Wasps Carpenter Ants Fire Ants Crazy Ants Spiders Mealy Bugs Palmeto Bugs The pest company that conducted the Pest Inspection quoted $195 for the initial treatment of this house before regular pest control service. I’m not sure what she means by “argued with my Realtor,” but that particular Inspector constantly gets praise & rave reviews from EVERYONE. All of our professional inspectors are not only experienced and knowledgeable, but also friendly, approachable, and well-spoken. • Customer Service is # 1 in our 9 Core Principles “Our clients' interests always come first - Our experience shows that if we serve our clients well, our own success will follow.” • We are winners of a the Angie’s List Super Service Award multiple years running. • Please take a moment to check out all of our “A” Reviews on Angie’s List. • I would also suggest that you review the member’s “Report Histogram” when considering this poor rating of us."
David F.
Nov 2015
unknown
Rogelio M.
Oct 2015
I'm still trying to figure it out.....can't complain about these company or the service.....I just don't know if it was really worth it.
Rene M.
Oct 2015
unknown
Steven D.
Sep 2015
unknown
Roy B.
Sep 2015
unknown
Response from Sherlock Home Inspections
"????? We have no customer by that name & we never inspected that address Also - How does one get A's & B's throughout, but Overall = C ?????"
Deborah M.
Aug 2015
unknown
Ziyad L.
Aug 2015
Arrived ten minutes late but called before hand. From there everything went very well. Spent a lot of time explaining the process and the details of the inspection. Called out all issues while in the house and even asked me to show him my areas of concern at which point he spent extra time inspecting those areas.
I would use him again.
I would use him again.
Peter P.
Jul 2015
unknown
Deborah V.
Jul 2015
It was a two person team (husband and wife) that did the home inspection and they did a thorough job. It took a couple of hours but they really checked all aspects of the home, even noticing a small amount of discolored paint (in a very dark room) that ended up being a small area of moisture in the wall. They both gave suggestions for how to get things repaired and what to look for when hiring companies to do that repair work.
The pest inspection was also very well done. It was included in the inspection at no extra charge and the company provides quotes to do initial and ongoing pest control, which is helpful as we make decisions for what we want done in the house.
Great job and I would definitely recommend the company to others.
The pest inspection was also very well done. It was included in the inspection at no extra charge and the company provides quotes to do initial and ongoing pest control, which is helpful as we make decisions for what we want done in the house.
Great job and I would definitely recommend the company to others.
Rosi V.
Jul 2015
I called this company because I was getting ready to purchase an older home that had been vacant for over two years. I made an offer that was contingent on passing inspection. Although I loved the house, I was hesitant to jump in without really scoping it out.
I spoke with Todd the first time I called. He answered the phone on a Sunday evening too. He was exceedingly helpful, answered al my questions and explained the process very thoroughly and in plain English. I told him I wanted the extra inspections, even though it was a little out of the ordinary, because of the fact the house had been empty for so long.
On the appointed day and time, Jay Tappen came out to do the inspections. He was punctual and very professional. He let me follow him around during the inspection, explaining everything he was doing. He patiently answered my questions as we went along and made a few recommendations on some minor issues he found. Jay finished up, made sure I was satisfied with anything I didn't know and then promised to deliver (via email) all the inspection reports within a day.
I was not disappointed. Jay came through, the house passed with flying colors and thanks to Jay's and this company's expertise, I will be closing on my new home tomorrow (as of this writing).
I highly recommend this company and would use them again if I ever needed them. My cost for the inspections are higher than normal, because I wanted them to do pretty much every inspection possible, above and beyond the standard 101-point version.
I spoke with Todd the first time I called. He answered the phone on a Sunday evening too. He was exceedingly helpful, answered al my questions and explained the process very thoroughly and in plain English. I told him I wanted the extra inspections, even though it was a little out of the ordinary, because of the fact the house had been empty for so long.
On the appointed day and time, Jay Tappen came out to do the inspections. He was punctual and very professional. He let me follow him around during the inspection, explaining everything he was doing. He patiently answered my questions as we went along and made a few recommendations on some minor issues he found. Jay finished up, made sure I was satisfied with anything I didn't know and then promised to deliver (via email) all the inspection reports within a day.
I was not disappointed. Jay came through, the house passed with flying colors and thanks to Jay's and this company's expertise, I will be closing on my new home tomorrow (as of this writing).
I highly recommend this company and would use them again if I ever needed them. My cost for the inspections are higher than normal, because I wanted them to do pretty much every inspection possible, above and beyond the standard 101-point version.
Licensing
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FAQ
Sherlock Home Inspections is currently rated 4.5 overall out of 5.
Sherlock Home Inspections accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard
Yes, Sherlock Home Inspections offers free project estimates.
No, Sherlock Home Inspections does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Sherlock Home Inspections does not offer a senior discount.
Yes, Sherlock Home Inspections offers emergency services.
No, Sherlock Home Inspections does not offer warranties.