A Better Inspector

John completed our inspection of a home we were very interested in. It is extremely important that when buying a house you know exactly what you are buying. John went thru every facet of my house and educated me about the systems, roof, electrical and foundation. The report we received was excellent that included photos that helped show us exactly what was being mentioned. We couldn't be happier and feel that we know exactly what we are purchasing. Excellent work John ! Thank you !

They did a very good job.  The inspector was like a realtor and talked to the owner to get a time for the inspection.  He was very timely and professional.  He was very knowledgeable.  They were less expensive than another company we have used.  The whole inspection took about 2 hours.  They took a lot of pictures for the 70 page report. 

Update: October, 2014
I have to update my review based upon some recent findings.  Steve prided himself on being an electrician with an eye for detail.  We recently had some minor electrical work done by a reputable Angies List company and were surprised with the electrical issues Steve overlooked.  There is a circuit breaker in our panel that is the wrong manufacturer; On a previous inspection for another property, Steve told us how this could be a major insurance issue if there was ever a fire...well, he missed it on this one.  Also, two different sets of breakers were missing the ties between them, a major shock issue if someone flipped one breaker and not the other and began to work on the line....again, Steve missed that.  He also missed that three of the outdoor outlets were not properly installed.  I felt that I needed to post the update do to his comments about being an expert electrician and overly picky.... If he missed simple things in the panel, I guess I now understand why he is doing inspections instead of electrical work.....very frustrating.


Steve and his partner performed an inspection on a home we were selling and did a fantastic job....very detailed with a long list of minor/cosmetic items to consider, which would have been helpful if we had not been selling.   As a result, we decided to use him again on our purchase inspection.  There was a mix-up with the scheduling between the agents so Steve and his partner were not able to do the inspection when it was originally scheduled.  Once rescheduled, Steve came out by himself, which I was a little confused about.  I wasn't sure why he would need a partner one day and not the next day after the reschedule.
Steve brought a ladder where he could reach the first floor roof but couldn't access the second floor.  I found that to be a little frustrating but he stated he could see the second floor and everything looked fine.  Since I was paying for an inspection, it would have been nice to have him walk the roof.  As it turns out, the gutter on the second floor was pulling away in two areas.  In fact, we had a roofer come out after purchase to inspect once we saw water dripping and he indicated that the gutters were not attached to the rafters.  He was able to fix the issues but this is something I would think an inspector would see, especially if he had a ladder.
Steve provided us with the summary binder like we received on the previous inspectoin but I have to say that his inspection wasn't as complete as the first one he did.  Not sure if it was because he was by himself but I was disappointed.  In fact, the inspection was nothing like the first one we had done for the sale.  It was quite a shock.
Besides the roof issue, we noticed several other issues right after we closed on the home:
The first day we moved in, the water heater wasn't working.  I understand things happen but this was frustrating.
He also noted a tear in the carpet near the steps and advised replacement..  After looking at the spot noted, there is no tear in the carpet.  We've lived in the house for several months now and there is no tear anywhere.
After we moved in, we discovered that one of the bedroom windows had only a single pane of glass (they are double pane windows).  It had been like that for sometime since there was green and rust on the interior track.  We noticed this when the room got very drafty in the winter.  I was disappointed that Steve missed this.It was quite appearant to look at it and see the missing pane and something a trained inspector should have seen.
Two other windows do not open/close properly.  Again, how can an inspector missing something as simple as opening a window?
Also, we had requested a radon test during his inspection.  When Steve was there, he said we had not requested it.  When I told him I did via email and showed him the email, he responded that it would be cheaper for us to just do it ourselves via a test kit at Home Depot.  He also stated that the sellers could open the windows during his test and we would not have accurate results so we would be better off testing once we moved in.  If this is the case, then why would he offer the testing as part of his inspection.  Again, disappointing.  We did have it tested by a reputable company and had a remidiation kit installed.  However, it would have been nice to have this done by him as requested.
Overall, I give Steve a C on this inspection because I'm aware of the great work he did on our other inspection and am averaging the two performances.  Knowing the level of service decreased was disappointing and I don't think a grade above a C is warranted for this inspection.
I'm sure there are other inspectors just as qualified that would provide the service you are paying for.  On a side note, I was quite put off by his drinking stories and his continual pushing of contractor buddies that we could use for various work, if we wanted.

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Steve and the other inspector were incredibly punctual (arrived before we or our Realtor did).  They completed enough of the inspection before we arrived to then walk us around & explain their findings.  Steve's focus is on teaching the homeowner--about the new house they're about to buy (in our case), things to watchout for in the coming years, and of course, the issues to discuss with the seller.
Overall, Steve was thorough, professional, funny, and a pleasure to work with.  Since then, we've had a total of 3 inspections on the home (Comprehensive, Septic, and Structural), and Steve was by far the best.  I'd highly recommend him.
For what it's worth, my Realtor was thoroughly impressed and plans to add Steve to his referral list as well.

Finally, and as annoying as Mr. Wolfe is personally,  his charges for the work performed were, in my opinion, absolutely outrageous. As we were on a very tight timeline, I did not have an opportunity to shop home inspector services. Having failed to do so, and having checked with three home inspectors after paying Mr. Wolfe, I found out that I paid virtually double the cost than any other competent, certified home inspector in our area would charge. In summary, while his work and timing were satisfactory, you would do well to avoid dealing with this individual and his company. There are MANY others who perform precisely the same work at roughly half the cost, and you will have a more pleasant experience in dealing with ANY of them than Mr. Wolfe

Steve is awesome. He was punctual, personable, and professional. I asked about a million questions, and he answered them all very clearly and concisely. It wasn't until I had the home walkthrough with 'A Better Inspector' that I realized that the previous home inspection I had (for a house bought years ago in another state) was sub-par. Steve even provided me a binder with a bunch of information about the house, suggested maintenance, and recommended providers for various services. At the time of the service, there was also a coupon on the 'A Better Inspector' website. Long story short, the coupon ended up being expired but since it was still posted on their website, he sent me a gift card for the face value of the coupon. I usually don't post reviews but felt compelled to in this instance due to the stellar service and performance.

My experience went very well. The staff was very professional and knowledgeable in their field. The pricing was competitive with other companies. They were able to schedule on short notice. I would recommend this company to others, especially to those who live in northern Kentucky.

Steve was great.  We called to make an appointment and were scheduled for the following day.  He was able to get to the house early and had been working for nearly an hour when we arrived.  Very complete inspection with an explanation to us of everything no matter how big or small.  He made recommendations for upkeep as well as things to change and order of importance.  We finished with the inspection around 7pm and had a full detailed report, documented with pictures by 9am the following morning.  Definitely recommend ABI for a home inspection!

The owner, Steve Wolfe, and another inspector did a whole house inspection of the property. He responded quickly to our call and delivered everything he said he would do. He gave us a binder with lots of information about home inspections, definition of terms, answers to questions often asked and local resources. There was even a place to write notes while the inspections was going on and pages to fill out in the future when work is done on the home. 
Steve took his time explaining what he found and what he thought should be done. He was very thorough. Together with his other worker they tested things like water pressure, electric , plumbing. appliances and together they checked out the outside of the home, the roof, attic etc. Everything was checked. It was an old home, so he also explained some things we were unfamiliar with and what is ordinary to find in an old home that is different from newer construction. Pictures were taken of everything that needed attention and his written report with pics was clear, concise and delivered in a timely fashion.
At first we thought this company was expensive but after going through the process, we feel it was well worth it. Both gentlemen were very professional and courteous. We certainly would recommend this company to anyone seeking a home inspection. And we would use them again.

Steve and his team did an amazing job explaining every little detail (very nice as we are first time home buyers). He did an extremely thourough, yet effecient inspection. His input definitely helped us to decide if we were going to buy the house or not. We ended up passing on that property and have since moved on to another property. We will definitely have Steve and his team inspect future properties for us.
Pros:
Punctual - they were actually very early
Thorough - explained every last detail and even provided a binder with contacts for various contractors/services; report also with extensive detail and pictures.
Cons:
Cost a little more than other inspectors (with all the additional services), but very worth it!

We were very happy with what he did with the first house in May and so we had him come back in and do the 2nd house in June. He was very thorough. The approach that he took on the first house was to ask us why we were looking at that house, what the consideration for that house was and how important that house to us. He took the time to say that he want us to understand what we were getting on the house because there were actually structural issues and other things. We ended up not moving forward on that house based on the house inspection. He provided us a lot of information. We were organized and very professional. He identified a lot of stuff. He went through everything so you will have a much better idea. These are things you just want to do to help out.

Steve provided us with a prelisting home inspection on a home we are going to sell.  We weren't having issues but wanted to make sure things were in-check before we listed our home on the market.  Steve was very thorough.  We've had inspections in the past by others and they did not come close to comparing to the level of detail Steve displays.  He encourages you to stay right with him every step of the way.  He explains everything he is doing, looking for and whether the things he points out are issues or simply maintenance recommendations.  His report is also very detailed.
I would highly recommend Steve and ABI.

Steve and several team members conducted a home inspection for me and my husband on a house we are buying in Fort Thomas. They were very professional and covered everything in the home. They took the time to explain everything to my husband and even listed thing that would be beneficial for us to look at changing but not necessary at the time. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone. Thanks so much Steve! You made a stressful event very easy for us.

We hired them to do a Buyer inspection on our house. The inspection took a little over 2.5 hours but was very informative and complete. Our guy  was very helpful and was constantly explaining what he was doing, what  he was looking for, and what his findings meant for us. The last part  was the most helpful and helped us make decisions on what things we
wanted/needed to have the seller fix. He also had great recommendations  and suggestions for other services and contractors for some problems. He also got the report to us within 12 hours.
The company was extremely  flex-able, we only had a handful of days for an inspection and they  worked with us to meet those goals.The office was pleasant and very  accommodating on the phone (they called me back during off hours!). The  price was more then acceptable. I will recommend them to all my friends and will use them in the future.

The services provided to us by ABI was excellent.  He was very thorough and explained everything as we did our inspection.  He was late, as he wrote the wrong time down for our appointment.  Luckily, my husband and I both had the day off and this did not bother our schedules.  He was pretty quick on getting the inspection report back to us within 48 hours. 

It went well.

Excellent.  He showed my husband and me each time he checked.  He identified some code violations.  he was very clear on what he found and the next day he mailed a detail report with photos.

If you want to know what is going to happen in your house and when you can expect it to happen, call Steve. He is a wonderful resource. He showed up early and got up on the roof, went in the attic, and did some of the more tedious aspects of his inspection before we got there (so we didn't have to wait in an empty, unheated house).  Upon our arrival, Steve gave me a binder full of recommended service providers, pages for noting any home improvements we do to the house, and an explanation of all the yearly home maintenance tips and tricks to keep our home humming along perfectly. Not only did Steve take us all over the house and point out things to consider fixing soon, in the next five years, and in the next ten, he also gave us recommendations for increasing the home's efficiency overall in both large and small ways.
After our in person inspection, Steve sent a detailed email with photos and recommendations for changes to the home before purchase. Since this was an as-is sale, it was  more a "good-to-know" inspection than things the sellers could change, but it was nice to have Steve's assurance that we weren't buying a lemon.
If it came down to Steve Wolfe or Mike Holmes (from Holmes on Homes), I'd choose Steve. He's a real gem in a field of stones, and set our minds at ease.

Excellent job, extremely thorough and detailed evaluations of every unit and the structure/mechanicals. They were more than willing to spend time explaning what they were doing, what the issues were, and what was likely needed to address the problems.

He looked into very space, opened and shut all windows and doors.  Inspected rooftop, checked every electrical outlet, his thoroughness was masterful.  Provided an exhaustive report including multiple photos.

Punctuality:  I had to call to remind him we had an appointment. His computer was having issues.  I will use A Better Inspection to inspect the house when we find it.

He took the time to answer all our questions. He was punctual both visits (to set up and remove equipment). He also gave us the test
results quickly so we could submit the information timely to our builder. I would have no problem using this inspector again.

Provides a thorough and detailed report - including pictures of problem areas.  Gives discounts to military vets.

This is the second time I have had Steve perform a pre-purchase inspection (1st was on a house I bought 5 years ago). 
For the pest inspection he brings out a pest control specialist. 
The inspection went well reinforcing what I already knew was wrong and adding a whole laundry list of issues I need to get fixed after moving in (plus a couple of surprises - electrical and pest - the seller is going to take care of).  At the beginning of the inspection Steve gives you a folder with information on area service providers and a place for you to take notes on minor issues and when to spot when a minor issue will become a problem, etc..  I have a lot of work on the house so prioritizing what has to be done and recommending quick fixes on some issues was very important.
To get the most out of the inspection: show up, pay attention, ask questions and take notes as not everything an inspector can add value on goes to the inspection report.