PILLAR TO POST - CUYAHOGA COUNTY WEST

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Mike was very courteous and thorough. He encouraged us to ask questions at any time, and had answers for everything that we asked. On a few items, he recommended seeking specialized professionals as he could not offer specific advice, but he gave all the information he could on those things as well.
The entire inspection took about 3 hours, and got downright nit-picky (which is exactly what you want when you buy a house!). Entire inspection results were printed out for us and given to us before he left for the day, and a PDF copy was sent that evening. Would absolutely use him again.

I do not recommend. I have been in my new home one week and have a full list of items that need fixed and should have been identified by inspector. Items not in code, water damage, appliances malfunctioning are just a few. I will loose money on this purchase have anywhere from 2000 -8000 dollars in repairs. Do not hire this company!!!

The inspection was very thorough, and detailed.  The results were presented in a printed presentation binder that covered each room and detailed all the things apparent in that room.  Mike was on time, and clearly had impressive knowledge of and experience in his profession.  The cost was higher than competitors (significantly higher than many), but I chose Pillar-to-Post based on positive recommendations of friends who had used him, and the thoroughness of the description of service provided on the website, and through conversations with Mike's receptionist.
The only disappointment I had was based on the expressed message that questions about the home were encouraged throughout the inspection.  I felt like many of the answers were more disclaimers than knowledge of substance.  It seemed like too much of the conversation was about describing the limitations of his liability than having a candid conversation about things he has seen in his experience, and things I could or should watch out for.
That said, the report generated was complete and thorough, and the home was purchased, and since moving in I have not found anything surprising that wasn't contained or disclaimed in the inspection report.  I do recommend Pillar-to-Post.

The individuals arrived on time and promptly began the Home Inspection.   We were impressed with their professionalism, attitude and computer skills.  Their computer system was set up on the premises.  As they inspected the home all info was recorded, once the job was done we received a print out on the spot.  That was great, no waiting!  Thank you guys for a Job Well Done!

Wonderful experience.  Mike was very thorough, very professional, and went over everything with us in detail.  We got our written report within hours of finishing the inspection.  I feel much better moving forward with the purchase of the home after his help.

They were excellent and very thorough with their work.

Mike would not enter the attic or crawlspace, nor climb onto the roof of our single story ranch. He also noted that the finished paneled basement prevented a visual inspection of the foundation walls, despite a horizontal crack in the mortar joint of a section of cosmetic brick. Recent removal of the paneling revealed a 60-ft horizontal crack across the entire length of the back wall. A structural engineer indicated to us that the cracked mortar joint should have justified a closer inspection of the wall, even if it meant removing sections of paneling...I don't know if the limited scope of Pillar to Post's inspection is considered standard for the industry, but considering what's at stake, I believe that a more thorough inspection was warranted. After all, it's the inspection company's obligation to act in the best interest of their client, the prospective home buyer.

Very nice. Did excellent work. Very helpful.

The son, Eric, inspected the first property, and his inspection affected the price negotiation and then our decision to not purchase that home. The father, Mike, then inspected a second home on June 2005. Some rust was noted on the chimney with inspection. Furnace and chimney were recommended to clean and inspect prior to first use. In the fall, both were found to be too unsafe to use and needed repairs costing more than $6500. The basement walls were bowed/it's an older home. Repair estimates by Mike were $2000. Repair costs were then greater than $5500 and are still not fixed. Visible plumbing and roof problems were later found by us. Repairs more than $2000. Numerous expensive repairs continued. We would not have purchased this home if we were made aware of just some of the problems and their accurate potential repair costs during the inspection.

Initially I was very happy with the service. I actually have used them twice. Looking back on it now about a 20 months later, I am unsatisfied with their work. I believe that they are hesitant about appending a deal that they do not make you appreciate the magnitude of some items that they report. I think this is the issue with many home inspectors. For example, during the inspection we saw condensation in between the window panes of multiple windows. Also there was plaster that was cracked or missing due to water damage. During the inspection, I told my wife that we needed new windows. Mike said, well I didn't say that they seem like they are ok just a little condensation. Well the condensation is ice build-up inside the house in the winter and water sits on the sill and eats at the plaster. We just replaced the windows, but now I am finding other items that should have been made clearer to us during the inspection (electrical shorts out in some areas).

BOTH OF THE MEN WERE VERY GOOD AND THEY DIDN'T MISS AN INCH OF GROUND. THEY ALSO EXPLAINED EACH AREA AS THEY WERE GOING THROUGH IT WHICH WAS HELPFUL.

THEY WERE ABLE TO COME OUT WHEN WE NEEDED THEM. HE DID GIVE ME A PROFESSIONAL HOME INSPECTION BINDER WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT HE PRINTED OUT FOR ME THAT DAY. HE SHOWED US WHERE ALL OF OUR VALVES WERE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. HE ALSO GAVE ME A HOME IMPROVEMENT DISK. THEY ALSO GAVE US A HOME FILE SYSTEM AS WELL TO KEEP RECEIPTS AND DOCUMENTS. WE WOULD USE HIM AGAIN. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO GAVE ME ANGIE'S LIST INFO. CAME OUT THIS PAST WEEK TO INSPECT MY BASEMENT. WENT OVER OTHER THINGS ABOUT HOME AND HOW TO KEEP DRAINAGE OUT THE BASEMENT.

MIKE WAS ON TIME, POLITE AND PROFESSIONAL. HE ALLOWED US TO FOLLOW HIM THROUGHOUT THE INSPECTION, EXPLAINING OUR OPTIONS FOR REPAIR AND MAINTAINING AS WE WENT. INSPECTION WAS DETAILED AND THOROUGH.

I WAS ON A VERY TIGHT SCHEDULE TO GET AN INSPECTION DONE FOR A HOME I WAS TRYING TO BUY. MIKE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO ACCOMMODATE MY TIMEFRAME. HE WAS VERY THOROUGH, EXPLAINING EACH PHASE OF THE INSPECTION, WHAT HE WAS LOOKING AT/FOR, AND HIS FINDINGS. A COMPUTER-GENERATED REPORT WAS PROVIDED AT THE END OF THE INSPECTION. I WOULD RECOMMEND MIKE TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR A HOME INSPECTOR.

AN EVEN BETTER EXPERIENCE THAN THE LAST TIME I USED THEM. RESPONSIVE, PROFESSIONAL, ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS AS THEY CAME UP.

VERY PROFESSIONAL OPERATION AND THEY WILL GO ANYWHERE. THEY EVEN HAVE A SYSTEM THAT EMAILS REPORTS TO YOU AND ALSO A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN PICK OUT PARTS OF YOUR REPORT. VERY AUTOMATED.

THEY DID A VERY THOROUGH JOB (SO THOROUGH I DECIDED NOT TO PURCHASE THE HOME DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF WORK NEEDED). THE WRITE UP THAT THEY PROVIDED WAS BEYOND COMPARE. THE ONLY THING I WOULD SUGGEST TO OTHERS IS THAT SINCE THEY GO THROUGH THE HOUSE SO METHODICALLY, YOU WILL WANT TO WRITE DOWN ANY QUESTIONS THAT COME UP, BECAUSE THEY DON''T WANT TO BE INTERRUPTED MID-INSPECTION.

MIKE AND ERIC WERE VERY NICE AND PROFESSIONAL BY PHONE AND IN PERSON. THEY PROVIDED A NICE BINDER OF INFORMATION ON THE INSPECTION, AND ANSWERED OUR QUESTIONS. WE ARE FINDING THEIR ESTIMATES ON REPAIR SERVICES TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER ACTUAL COSTS, AND AFTER HAVING OUR CONDO INSPECTED, WE QUESTION HOW DETAILED THE INSPECTION ACTUALLY WAS. IT FELT SOMEWHAT RUSHED.

ON TIME, EXTREMELY POLITE, VERY INFORMATIVE AND WILL USE AGAIN.

VERY GOOD, LOTS OF KNOWLEDGE, EXPLAINED THINGS UNTIL I UNDERSTOOD THEM. THATS HOW I FOUND ABOUT ANGIES LIST

MIKE WAS PUNCTUAL, POLITE, AND PROFESSIONAL. HE ALLOWED ME TO FOLLOW HIM AROUND THE HOUSE AND HE EXPLAINED NOT ONLY THE CURRENT CONDITION OF OUR HOUSE BUT ALSO WHAT CONDITIONS WE SHOULD CHECK UP ON EACH SPRING AND AUTUMN. IT WAS A TRULY EDUCATIONAL AND WELL-SPENT EXPENSE FOR ME. WHILE HE CANT PREDICT PROBLEMS (OR THE RELATED EXPENSES) AS WITH A CRYSTAL BALL, HE DID POINT OUT MANY THINGS WE NEEDED TO BE AWARE OF BEFORE INVESTING SO MUCH MONEY IN A NEW HOME. WE HAVE FOLLOWED HIS ADVICE AND WERE GLAD TO HAVE IT. HE PROVIDED A VERY NICE FOLDER AND DETAILED PRINTOUT.

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BOTH MIKE AND ERIC FULLY EXPLAINED THEIR SERVICES, POINTED OUT PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HOME, AND PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES. THEY WERE PROMPT, PROFESSIONAL, AND COURTEOUS.

VERY PROFESSIONAL, EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO MY SATISFACTION.