CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
About us
Champia is a 27year old company that conducts home inspections throughout metro Atlanta and North Georgia area. All of the inspectors are ASHI certified and for new construction we also have International Residential Code (IRC) certification. We STRONGLY encourage the buyer to attend the inspection and accompany the inspector. Wear comfortable clothing. Along with inspecting the house you will also learn how to maintain the house with information on winterizing, changing filters, and other tasks that are necessary to maintain a home. This is your time to ask questions and get all questions answered. Plan on the inspection lasting three to four hours for the average house. The inspection report will have all defects presented on a summary page where it is easy to analyze. The report is broken into pertinent sections with photos of defects shown in the appropriate location. The report will be emailed to you and your agent on the evening of the same day as the inspection was performed. The inspector will leave his cell phone number and will be available to answer questions about the inspection at no charge. You may also call at any time in the future with questions .
Business highlights
Emergency services offered
38 years of experience
Services we offer
Residential and commercial building inspections, mold testing, radon testing, water certification and termite letters.
Amenities
Emergency Services
Yes
Free Estimates
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Reviews
4.654 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 85% | ||
| 4% | ||
| 4% | ||
| 4% | ||
| 4% |
Showing 1-25 of 54 reviews
L R.
Feb 2020
I paid $1,156 for a "complete" package which included the home, sewer, radon, and termite inspection. The home inspection was completed in 2.5hrs which was quicker than I expected for my large home. The big issue came with the termite inspection. The company Champia uses as subcontractor couldn't provide the certificate that shows no termites because the home is stucco and they would require a 4-6inch gap be cut around the ENTIRE home in order to inspect and certify. This caused major issues as there was no explanation - just an email with an attachment that vaguely said no certification was completed. When I called to get a refund for the termite inspection they gave me a refund of.......$45. I feel insulted they expect me to believe they paid a subcontractor $45 for a termite inspection and certificate. Now I'm scrambling to finalize this part of the home buying process.
Kirby M.
Aug 2017
AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE—I hired Champia to inspect a home my family and i found online and loved. They came out and looked at the home and had a few minor notes in their report, but overall it seemed like the place really was a dream come true and we bought it for the asking price. A few months later we moved in—and our nightmare began. Leaks from a 40+ year old squishy/cracked roof, no A/C ducts going to 2 bedrooms, rotted wood with potential mold, unsafe/unusable fireplace, and an uprooted driveway that will need to soon be replaced…wow…how they missed all this— I will never know. I had 3 different trusted and highly recommended roofing companies come out and they all said the exact same thing, the roof was a ticking time bomb..I contacted Champia and told them and they sent out the SAME inspector who missed all these things to do a “re-inspection”, so i walked around with him and pointed everything out and i could see in his eyes he realized his mistakes. He said “they’d take care of this”…But After a few weeks i heard back that they would not fix anything but “the leak”, that all 3 roofers I brought out were lying to me and that my roof was perfectly fine. Wow…so they they thought i was imagining this water dripping on my head? The squishy roof, the cracks, and the copious amounts of rotted wood? Fixing the leak wasn’t going to cut it…because believe me there are numerous leaks and new ones keep popping up—thats what happens when you have an unserviceable roof that any paid professional should have easily spotted when they saw all the rotted wood and felt squishiness and cracks under their feet…right? Not these guys… or was something wrong with the inspector the day he came out? Vision problems? Hangover? No sleep? How was this possible? Champia claims to have Errors and Omissions insurance on their website, which made me feel comfortable when i hired them..that they could back up their report—but thats a lie too.. because they won’t use it, and now they are only offering to refund me my $504 inspection fee…which is horrible because now I have a $25k roof replacement coming up, A/C ducts to be run, and fixing this uprooted drive way— i’ll be in for close to $35k before all is said and done thanks to Champia. This is my first home and my family and i put everything we had into its purchase…now thanks to Champia it’s become a nightmare. Its a sad day when companies like this are allowed to keep their doors open and hide behind the fine print in their contract to avoid taking responsibility for their negligence. You think another inspection company would have caught these very obvious issues? OF COURSE. And if they hadn’t they would have done whatever it took to make it right….but not these guys. They have no interest in trying to take responsibility for what they did to me and my family. On their website they say you can call and talk directly with the owner, which sounds nice, but they wouldn’t let me through and he hasn’t returned my calls in over 3 months… I even sent him a direct FED-EX letter with my own photographs and proof of his gross negligence in hopes that I’d get through to him, that perhaps he’d want to come out and see these omissions and errors for himself—but he won’t respond. My real estate agent told me she will no longer recommend Champia as she had a similar issue happen with them recently….So do yourself a favor and avoid them at all costs if you want an accurate home inspection that won’t leave you stuck in a house that needs thousands of dollars worth of repairs.. I have contacted the local CBS news affiliate, the AJC, and will leave reviews wherever possible until Champia offers to compromise with me, until then Im going to do my best to make sure that no one else falls for these guys’ traps.
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Champia inspected this property in November 2016. The first we heard of any issue was 6 months after the inspection when the customer called to say he had a problem with a leaky roof. Fortunately, Champia purchases a 5-year Platinum roof warranty with each home inspection we do so that if you have a leak during that period, we will repair it at no cost to the home owner. We helped the customer though our claims department and they offered to repair his leaks at no cost to him. Rather than get his problem fixed, he began claiming that the entire roof needed to be replaced because it was rotten. To understand his claim better, we sent one of our inspectors, who happens to be a Georgia Tech Engineer, to re-inspect and assess this claim more thoroughly. He used testing methods that go far beyond the ASHI (American Standard of Home Inspectors) standards that we would normally follow when inspecting a home. After climbing onto the roof, he first tested the deflection of the structure using a frequency meter which measured in the normal range. Then, with the customers permission, he asked if he could insert a knife into a beam that the customer suspected was rotten. The customer agreed and repeated hard hits on the back of a sharp knife did not impale the rafter more than 1/8". Finally, he went through the same scenario with some of the solid soffit. While there was obviously previous repair (filling) that had not been sanded, it was solid and the knife would not penetrate. After all of this, we offered to refund the customer's inspection fee in addition to fixing the two leaks he had by the chimney, however, he still refused. Several weeks ago, we turned all of this over to our E&O insurance as we had done all that we could to satisfy this customer by offering to fix his problem. They came to the same conclusion that we did and offered to refund his inspection fee. While this customer may want someone to purchase a brand-new roof, it is simply not necessary to repair his problem."
Carrie B.
Jul 2017
They did a thorough job on the inspection.
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to give us a review. We really appreciate you and your business!"
Brian W.
Feb 2016
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Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to give us a review. We really appreciate you and your business!"
Michael L.
Jan 2016
unknown
Mary M.
Dec 2015
Shelly was very thorough throughout the inspection (exterior and interior). She explained her findings to me in a way that helped me understand the inspection process better. As a first time home buyer, I wanted to be present during the whole inspection, which Shelly was more than willing to accommodate. The formal report was emailed to me in less than 12hours! (Less than the average 24hr wait period)...Brandon completed a thorough termite inspection and provided quotes for maintenance on the minor issues discovered.
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to give us a review. We really appreciate you and your business!"
Roarke D.
Jun 2015
An appointment for a home inspection was easily arranged and promptly kept. Inspector Shelley Belknap provided a thorough and meticulous inspection. She answered questions and gave explanations during the inspection. Her highly detailed written report with photos was delivered on the evening of the same day and included both required and recommended repairs. It was the best inspection report I have ever seen, either as a buyer or a real estate broker. I highly recommend Champia and in particular Shelley Belknap.
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to review your inspection. we really appreciate your business!"
Amy H.
May 2015
unknown
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to give us a review. We really appreciate you and your business!"
Wesly J.
Apr 2015
unknown
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to give us a review (removed member name). Please know that we are here to answer questions should you need us in the future. Sincerely, Bill Compton"
Andrea W.
Jan 2015
,
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to give us a review. We really appreciate you and your business!"
Lavar S.
Dec 2014
Overall the inspection went well. The inspector was very professional and knowledgeable. However, there were a few areas that were missed that we later identified after we moved in. We didn't expect the inspection to identify 100% of the flaws, so overall we were satisfied.
The price was good and I would use them again.
The price was good and I would use them again.
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to give us a review. We really appreciate you and your business!"
Marjorie B.
Dec 2014
Gentleman arrived early, he was already working on the inspection of the house. He was thorough and explained items he found and what needed to be done. Even though it was the day before a holiday, he emailed me the results and written report the next morning.
Andrea W.
Oct 2014
unknown
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to send in a review to Angie's List. We appreciate your business."
Barry C.
Sep 2014
unknown
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"Thank you for taking the time to send in a review to Angie's List. We appreciate your business."
Donald M.
Jul 2014
Home Inspection was scheduled for 2pm so I arrived around 3pm . Home Inspector Vince was finishing up inspection when I arrived. His first comments to me were "Nothing major wrong with house just some minor things." As we walked around house I asked Vince if he went on the roof? He said no that he looked at roof through"binoculars" and observed from the ground only, and roof looked in good shape.
, I thought this was very unusual as the roof is an important part of any house, and all previous homes I bought the Home Inspector always went on roof to inspect roof.
Roof pitch was not steep at all, so this was not a reason. Vince started explaining the minor problems/issues he found wrong with the house. Some of items like deck stairs need front face board were very minor, and I really wanted to focus on possible issues that might be costly down the road or possible immediate costly repairs or items, but Vince did not find too many major problems except for obvious tree uprooting section of driveway that need to be replaced and multiple trees that needed to be cut down or trimmed because the were overhanging house.
After I negotiated with owner for a small amount of cash in lieu of repairs .I purchased home. When I took possession of home I went on roof and was shocked to find 5-7 years of heavy leaf build up all over roof that Home Inspector did not see with "binoculars" because it was not visible from ground..
A 10 ft section of fascia was 1x4 when it was supposed to be 1x6 and the 2 inch difference was left open so any small animal could enter attic area. This was completely missed in Inspection report , because Inspector never went on roof , and did not see with his binoculars.
I later found a stash of acorns in the attic that the squirrels were storing because they had easy access to area. On the other side of roof there was a tile damage and a small hole in roof going into kitchen. The tile damage on roof was noted in inspection report , but since Inspector did not to go up on roof to investigate it made damage problem seem minor.
I went into kitchen after going on roof and found area of weakening drywall where after scraping found pebbles from roof tiles. I forwarded all my photos to Champia and asked how they could do a complete home inspection without going on roof.??
They explained that 80-90% of the time they do not go on roof and observe roof from ground only . After some more communication they agreed to refund my $375 .
I installed new 1x6 fascia board to keep squirrels out and paid Roofer $700 to fix and replace area where hole was leaking into kitchen. Also had to repair/paint drywall in kitchen where leak was .Also when I was on roof I discovered lots of rotted and carpenter bee infested cedar in chimney area, and roof area. This has cost another $550 to repair/replace. This all would have been noticed with a roof inspection ON THE ROOF, NOT FROM THE GROUND
, I thought this was very unusual as the roof is an important part of any house, and all previous homes I bought the Home Inspector always went on roof to inspect roof.
Roof pitch was not steep at all, so this was not a reason. Vince started explaining the minor problems/issues he found wrong with the house. Some of items like deck stairs need front face board were very minor, and I really wanted to focus on possible issues that might be costly down the road or possible immediate costly repairs or items, but Vince did not find too many major problems except for obvious tree uprooting section of driveway that need to be replaced and multiple trees that needed to be cut down or trimmed because the were overhanging house.
After I negotiated with owner for a small amount of cash in lieu of repairs .I purchased home. When I took possession of home I went on roof and was shocked to find 5-7 years of heavy leaf build up all over roof that Home Inspector did not see with "binoculars" because it was not visible from ground..
A 10 ft section of fascia was 1x4 when it was supposed to be 1x6 and the 2 inch difference was left open so any small animal could enter attic area. This was completely missed in Inspection report , because Inspector never went on roof , and did not see with his binoculars.
I later found a stash of acorns in the attic that the squirrels were storing because they had easy access to area. On the other side of roof there was a tile damage and a small hole in roof going into kitchen. The tile damage on roof was noted in inspection report , but since Inspector did not to go up on roof to investigate it made damage problem seem minor.
I went into kitchen after going on roof and found area of weakening drywall where after scraping found pebbles from roof tiles. I forwarded all my photos to Champia and asked how they could do a complete home inspection without going on roof.??
They explained that 80-90% of the time they do not go on roof and observe roof from ground only . After some more communication they agreed to refund my $375 .
I installed new 1x6 fascia board to keep squirrels out and paid Roofer $700 to fix and replace area where hole was leaking into kitchen. Also had to repair/paint drywall in kitchen where leak was .Also when I was on roof I discovered lots of rotted and carpenter bee infested cedar in chimney area, and roof area. This has cost another $550 to repair/replace. This all would have been noticed with a roof inspection ON THE ROOF, NOT FROM THE GROUND
Florence M.
Jul 2014
I think Champia as a whole is probably a good company. For example, Sue Scoville, one of their scheduling specialists was fantastic. She was responsive, she got me a deal when the inspector had to come out a second time, and she was extremely friendly and professional. I wish I could say the same about our inspector, Paul Garland. I was with him for the entire first inspection, asking questions, and being a responsible buyer. While some of the systems were not working (the seller's fault) and while I'm sure this was frustrating for Paul, this should not have affected the quality of his inspection. And yet when i received the report, I realized he had left off many items he had verbally mentioned to me (i.e. broken window pane, a dangerously rusted breaker box, etc.) I had to ask him to amend his report to add these things so I could go back to the seller and ask for him to fix these issues. He was also what I would call a "Debbie Downer." He kept repeating that he would never live in this home, which I found to be extremely unprofessional, as the house was found to be structurally sound in general. In addition, when he came out for a follow-up inspection after the rest of the systems had been fixed and turned on, he decided to show up several hours early to the inspection with no notice except an "I am on my way" phone call to my realtor who had to drop everything and rush over. He also forgot to fill out a Certificate of Compliance with Inefficient Plumbing Fixtures Replacement Plan Ordinance for us (required for our county). Consequently, he had to come back out a third time. He e-mailed our realtor saying he would come back out and when my realtor suggested a time, he never replied. We had to fight to get him on the phone, set a time, and two hours later, he called to try to change it again. I wish that there was better communication between him and the client and a little bit more attention to detail when it came to the report. Like I said, this just one inspector and judging by the way the company is run (easy to pay, easy to sign the documents and agreement, facility in scheduling), I think Champia may be a solid company. However, I can not give them a high rating based on this inspector.
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"We really appreciate your feedback (member name removed). We are constantly striving to improve our customer service by reviewing our fundamental behaviors weekly and cross-training on some aspect of inspections each month. I have already incorporated your comments into our next training session."
Catherine M.
Jul 2014
All of our issues were resolved. Bill sent one of his certified inspectors out to take another look and reevaluate our electrical panel and gfci outlets. He determined that they were in working order and they would take care of us. Thank you Bill and Joe for taking the time to come out and investigate further.
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"As a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), we take our job very seriously in order to keep the standards of practice high. When we make a mistake, we have a process in place to identify the issue and rectify it immediately. When [member name removed] called me about this issue, I began investigating it right away. In my inspectors report under the electrical section, he writes: “The GFCI receptacle did not trip when tested… This circuit was tripped at the main panel breaker prior to the inspection. Recommend further evaluation by a qualified electrician.” When I called [member name removed] back, I explained that this condition occurred prior to our inspection as noted on my inspectors report and read her the comments from the report above. I don’t think she believed me, because she asked me to send her the report. I told her that I am legally bound to only provide it to the person who paid for it. When she asked why we did not turn the breakers back on, I explained that we do not turn on power that is off during the course of our inspection because it may be off for a reason. Our job is simply to identify what we see and recommend further evaluation by specialist in areas that are found to be deficient. At that point, [member name removed] put her husband on the phone and he said that he is not sure why I was fighting them on getting compensation as he was certain that I carried insurance to take care of such matters. While I do carry insurance for any errors that we create, I believe that filing a claim that was not created by us is fraudulent and will not be a party to it."
William S.
Jun 2014
The inspector arrived on time, and was very courteous. He tested all systems, and that at least until now has proven to be accurate. However, the inspector failed to note rotting wood in the rear of the home on the soffit and failed to note the rotting window molding in the front window. When the molding was removed to be replaced, it was discovered that the OSB sheeting behind the masonry was completely rotted out. This should have been caught, and we are now facing very expensive repairs that might have been addressed prior to purchase. As I said the inspector was very nice, and courteous, but he refused to get up and inspect the roof, and was unfamiliar with how to unhinge the windows to free them up and clean , which made me suspicious of his level of experience. Champia had many good reviews, and I suspect they are capable of good inspections, but in my view this wasn't one of them. I can't in all honesty recommend their services. The purchase of a home is far to much to risk to this type of oversight.
I deeply regret I had to modify my original review. THINK TWICE BEFORE CHOOSING A COMPANY WITH A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. THIS ERROR COST ME OVER $4000 BECAUSE OF THEIR OVERSIGHT. CHOOSE A COMPANY WITH INSURANCE, NOT A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The offer to return my fee, is small recompense for their failure to do a proper inspection. Nothing was hidden or obstructed, and everything they should have noticed was in plain view. I am sadly disappointed in their response to my concerns.
Response from CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC
"While it is our policy to offer a refund of the inspection fee if a customer is not satisfied with our services, Mr. [Member Name Removed] wanted more. After investigating the complaint and having another inspector visit the property, our conclusion was that his claims were without merit. A judge agreed with us when Mr. [Member Name Removed] took Champia to court."
Salika L.
Apr 2014
unknown
Kunitra J.
Nov 2013
The technician, Mike Gonzalez, was professional and knowledgable. He was very tentative and helpful in explaining any issues that he found.
Phyllis R.
Oct 2013
I've used them in 2 different houses. He is fantastic and thorough. He took the jobs very seriously and didn't miss a thing. I even turned down a house that he said needed a lot of work done on.
Robert S.
Sep 2013
Inspector was early and had already started when we arrived. Very thorough and responsive to all questions. After the inspection a thorough and detailed report, with pictures, was provided just a few hours later. They also offer a reinspection at a reduced rate to check any repairs that were needed.
Sheldon M.
Sep 2013
THe inspector was there 20 minutes early which is always good. He did a great job. As a first time buyer it was important to me to know and understand what he was doing, and he explained everything and every step. He also explained how to maintain the property, what are the dos and donts, and overall a great job.
Glen R.
Aug 2013
I called Champia late in the afternoon and was able to schedule an appointment for the next day at 9am. Paul was there waiting for us when we arrived and got right to work. He was extremely diligent in his assessment of the property and looked over every square foot of the home. He took the time to discuss with us all of his findings and concerns.
We received a very detailed report that evening. Not only did it have everything that was checked but also a list of everything found along with a concise summary of all the issues. He even included pictures with arrows pointing to everything listed as a backup.
I am still going through the closing process but I can say that this report has certainly given me the backup to discuss with the seller what items need to be addressed prior to closing. My agent was so impressed that she got his contact info so she can add him as a resource herself.
I was thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and diligence of this inspection company and would certainly use them again in the future as well as refer them to others.
We received a very detailed report that evening. Not only did it have everything that was checked but also a list of everything found along with a concise summary of all the issues. He even included pictures with arrows pointing to everything listed as a backup.
I am still going through the closing process but I can say that this report has certainly given me the backup to discuss with the seller what items need to be addressed prior to closing. My agent was so impressed that she got his contact info so she can add him as a resource herself.
I was thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and diligence of this inspection company and would certainly use them again in the future as well as refer them to others.
Evan M.
Jun 2013
They were all good for everything.
Licensing
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FAQ
CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC is currently rated 4.6 overall out of 5.
CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard
Yes, CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC offers free project estimates.
No, CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC does not offer a senior discount.
Yes, CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC offers emergency services.
No, CHAMPIA REAL ESTATE INSPECTIONS, LLC does not offer warranties.