Advantage Inspection

Update 5/28/14. Dale conducted a re-inspection of repair work performed by the sellers. As in his initial inspection, he was very thorough and professional. Additional re-inspection fee of $125 was more than reasonable for the amount of work performed.

Dale arrived at the property on time and ready to work. He arranged with Hendersonville Pest Control to perform the WDI inspection at the same time so we wouldn't have to coordinate with the Realtor for the pest inspector to gain access. Dale did an initial walk through to become familiar with the home and proceeded to conduct a very extensive inspection. The inspection went from system to system, room to room, checking things that I would not even have thought to check. Windows, doors, electrical outlets, sinks, toilets, water pressure and temperature, breaker panel, air conditioning, heat, etc, etc. VERY thorough. Once he was finished inspecting everything inside the home he moved outside and used the same attention to detail to point out possible issues and things that needed repair. He moved on to the roof and attic, and finally the crawlspace. Dale's identification of structural, moisture, and mold related issues in the crawlspace have led us to reconsider purchasing this house unless substantial repairs by the sellers are made (which will be reinspected by Dale). Dale was professional, courteous, prompt, and competitively priced. I would highly recommend Advantage Inspection.

I live in Baltimore and needed to get my mothers house sold in Mills River. We called Dale and set up an appointment, he met with my wife and did the inspection. VERY detailed report. I came down a few days later. He came back to the house and explained the report and made suggestions to me that were extrememly helpfull. I fixed the problems he detailed.
Very impressed and would definately recommend his services.

They were recommended by the real estate agent and they could get the job done almost immediately because the closing was going very quickly. I think he did a satisfactory job. He was there a little over 2 hours. They got me the report almost immediately. They supplied pictures. The report was well-written so I would recommend them. I think he performed the inspection well and pointed out certain things. The pricing was average. I felt he was on a parwith other inspection companies. When I had a question, he answered it and in terms that I would understand. I was pleased. He spoke to me in a language that I understood. He was careful in what he was doing. He wasn't banging anything.

I didn't actually move into the house until the beginning of April as the previous owners didn't move out until the end of March. Within a couple weeks of moving in I had to replace 2 toilets that wouldn't flush and replace a 50-gallon hot water heater.
When the hot weather arrived the humidity in the large crawl space was so high that I had a service come out to check it; they found where there had been mold underneath on the ceiling of the lowest part of the crawlspace. Needless to say I needed to get a large capacity dehumidifier and it was placed in that area to prevent any further mold build up.
One of the outside water faucets did not work and I had to have a plumber come out and repair it.
In August i had a bad smell to the water so I had Buncombe County Health come out and test the water. He took a sample from the well head that, once analyzed, was found to have bacteria. I had to do a chlorination process, which for me was quite an undertaking. Advantage had done a water test that passed but he only took a sample from an inside faucet and not also from the well head. I know this because when I lifted the cover off the well head for the county health inspector, it was packed full of dirt filling the whole cover; I had to get a shovel to remove the before the county health inspector could take a sample.
Advantage also did a radon inspection that passed. But when the guys were working on the crawlspace humidity etc, we decided to have another radon test and- it failed.
The deck and railing all around the house is falling apart. The deck itself slopes in areas and is separating to the point it needs replacing and is in too poor condition to simply do a repair. It took me into November by the time I was able to focus on the deck situation; by then I had had enough.
There is more I could say on other problems but feel this is enough information.
Since all this came to light over a period of time it was November before I called Advantage to let them know what has been happening since I moved in; they never returned my call- and that is why I am writing this review. I paid the previous owners top dollar thinking pretty much all I was going to have to do was move in and enjoy my new home; repairs have been ongoing since April and have cost me in the thousands of dollars and am not done yet. I certainly would not recommend them.