Criterium Liszkay Engineers

This inspection was timely and professional. Art was humorous and friendly. He was very thorough and examined more than I expected. He also offered suggestions for prioritizing necessary home repairs. His report was delivered via email later that day! If I buy another house, I'll use this company again.

I had a bowing wall and Nick Sung, one of their engineers, was sent (by recommendation of a friend). Nick told me how to measure the bow of the wall and how to watch it over time and when to take action. He provided me with a detailed report of his observations. He was professional and thorough. He is the only engineer from Criterium I would re-hire.

He was visibly disgusted at the state of the home, but when it came to the written report - the house seemed much better than he let on, giving generally adequate recommendations. We were left without adequate ammunition for a negotiation for a request for remedy. In one instance, flashing from a chimney was hanging off leaving a hole in the roof. He would only say the flashing needed repair, but would not put that this left a hole in the roof, even when asked. I liked his thorough work and saw many negative things he pointed out, but the report looked like most things weren't so bad.

Fred arrived promptly on time, was very polite and thorough. He checked grading and ground fault, and looked inside the electric panels for example. While we haven't moved in the house yet to definitely be able to be certain of the accuracy of the report, we were impressed by the details of the written recommendations. The only complaint that we have is that we received our written copy by mail the same day we received it through e-mail. We would have liked to have the e-mail copy quicker, as time was important.

THEY ARRIVED PROMPTLY, MADE A THOROUGH INSPECTION, GAVE US A REPORT, AND DETAILED LIST OF THE STATE OF ALL SYSTEMS IN THE HOUSE. AFTER THE CLOSING, WE LEARNED THAT THE ELECTRIC SERVICE TO THE HOUSE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT, AND WAS A FIRE HAZARD. THEY CLEARLY STATED THAT IT WAS 200 AMP SERVICE, BUT THREE ELECTRICIANS LOOKED AT IT, AND FOUND THAT IT WAS 60 AMP SERVICE GOING INTO A 200 AMP BREAKER. THE 60 AMP WIRES WERE PLAINLY VISIBLE. BEFORE WE COULD HAVE ANY ELECTRICAL WORK DONE ON THE HOUSE, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE UNDERSIZED SERVICE AT A COST OF $5000. CRITERIUM REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR ERROR CLAIMING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE CONSULTED AN ELECTRICIAN IN THE SCANT 10 DAYS WE HAD TO INSPECT BEFORE CLOSING. THAT'S WHY WE HIRED THEM SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO CALL 20 TRADES TO INSPECT THE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE HAD A NEW ROOF, NEW KITCHEN APPLIANCES, NEW CARPET, AND NEW WINDOWS WHICH WERE ALL CLASSIFIED AS GOOD TO FAIR. WHEN BASED ON HIS OWN DEFINITIONS, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED AS EXCELLENT. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE PAINT WAS PEELING, AND FLAKING IN MANY AREAS. 99% OF THE INTERIOR, AND EXTERIOR SURFACES HAD BEEN REPAINTED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. THE REPORT INDICATED THAT THE SMOKE ALARMS WERE NOT WORKING, AND THEN INDICATED THAT THEY WERE WORKING AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. IN MY OPINION THESE INACCURACIES BRING INTO QUESTION THE ENTIRE REPORT. I BELIEVE THAT THE INSPECTION REPORT SHOULD BE BASED ON THE FACTS PRESENT, AND THAT COMMENTARY ABOUT HOME MAINTENANCE ISSUES SHOULD BE SEPARATED OUT AS AN INDEPENDENT SECTION OF THE REPORT. THE 18 PAGE REPORT BOILED DOWN TO 1 MAJOR ITEM (COVERED UNDER WARRANTY), AND MINOR ISSUES THAT WOULD FALL UNDER NORMAL HOME MAINTENANCE. OVERALL THIS WAS A SUB-STANDARD REPORT.

INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED IN EARLY MAY ON A VACANT HOME. INSPECTOR SPENT APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS IN THE HOME, AND APPEARED TO DO A THOROUGH JOB. WE MOVED INTO THE HOME ON JULY 31ST. ON AUGUST 1ST, WE EXPERIENCED WHAT THE PLUMBER REFERRED TO AS THE "WORST PLUMBING LEAK HE HAD EVER SEEN". AFTER OUR FIRST SHOWER, THE CEILING BELOW THE BATHROOM WAS SOAKED. THE DRAIN PIPE TRAP WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. I CHOSE THE COMPANY WITH THE HIGHEST QUOTE FOR AN INSPECTION, AND I ASSUMED IT WOULD RESULT IN A HIGHER QUALITY INSPECTION. I THINK THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND THAT MUCH TIME IN A HOUSE DURING AN INSPECTION, YOU SHOULD RUN PLUMBING FIXTURES FOR A SIMILAR LENGTH OF TIME THAT A HOME OWNER WOULD USE THEM DURING THEIR NORMAL EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES. APPARENTLY CRITERIUM DOES NOT AGREE. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE INSPECTION, AND WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY.

THE OFFICE PERSON (I THINK HER NAME WAS MIRIUM) WAS VERY HELPFUL AND EXPLAINED THE PROCESS TO ME. SHE WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL. GARY W. KOONCE, PE; DID MY HOME INSPECTION PRIOR TO PURCHASE (MY FIRST EXPERIENCE). GARY WAS PUNCTUAL, VERY PROFESSIONAL, AND PATIENT WITH ALL OF MY QUESTIONS. GARY GAVE ME AN IMMEDIATE REPORT AND LATER MAILED AND E-MAILED THE FULL REPORT. THERE WAS A SMALL MIX UP WITH THE ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS (TERMITE AND RADON) PERFORMED FOR ADDITIONAL COST, BUT WAS CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY! VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE, AND I WOULD USE THEM AGAIN!

THIS WAS OUR FOURTH EXPERIENCE USING A HOME INSPECTOR, AND WAS THE LEAST IMPRESSIVE. THE INSPECTOR WAS ON TIME AND ULTIMATELY COMPLETED THE INSPECTION. HE CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WERE NO MAJOR STRUCTURAL ISSUES WITH THE HOME AND CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED A BROKEN SUMP PUMP, WHICH WE HAD REPAIRED PRIOR TO CLOSE. THE INSPECTOR MISSED OR MIS-INFORMED US ON MANY SMALLER ITEMS THAT HAVE ADDED UP AND UPON REFLECTION, LEFT US FRUSTRATED THAT WE PAID SO MUCH FOR AN INSPECTION THAT DIDN'T SEEM FULLY SATISFACTORY. SPECIFICALLY, EVERY TOILET IN THE HOUSE HAD MINOR PROBLEMS REQUIRING REPAIRS. THE ADVICE THE INSPECTOR GAVE US SURROUNDING OUR ELECTRICAL WIRING IN THE LANDSCAPING WAS INCORRECT (HE SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS AND IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, WHICH WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH REPORTS FROM THE ELECTRICIAN). ULTIMATELY IT WAS A LIGHT INSPECTION FOR THE PRICE.

VERY EASY TO GET HOLD OF, QUICK TO RESPOND, AND VERY THOROUGH EVALUATION.

ART WICKERHAM PERFORMED THE INSPECTION. HE WAS EARLY, THOROUGH AND FRIENDLY. RECEIVED HAND-WRITTEN NOTES IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSPECTION AND E-MAILED A COMPREHENSIVE 16-PAGE REPORT TO ME AND MY REALTOR ABOUT 5 HOURS AFTERWARD.

I FOUND THE HOME MYSELF, WITHOUT A REALTOR. I WANTED THE PROPERTY CHECKED TO BE CERTAIN THAT THERE WERE NO MAJOR ISSUES. I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH ART WICKERHAM. I HAVE WATCHED A TON OF HGTV HOME IMPROVEMENT/HOME INSPECTION SHOWS AND NEVER SAW ANY OF THEM PLUMB THE WALLS TO CHECK FOR BULGING. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM & HIS SERVICES, AND WOULD USE HIM AGAIN.

THE INSPECTION WAS DONE BY ART WICKERHAM, AND I FOUND HIM TO BE WONDERFULLY THOROUGH AND INFORMATIVE. HE WENT INTO EVERY POSSIBLE NOOK AND CRANNY OF THE HOUSE, TESTED ALL THE SYSTEMS, AND BEST OF ALL, INFORMED ME NOT ONLY OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THE HOUSE HAD, BUT ALSO WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE PROPERTY. THE 16-PAGE TYPED REPORT WAS VERY THOROUGH. I WOULD USE ART AGAIN.

ALL OF THEIR INSPECTORS ARE ENGINEERS.

NOT ALL OF THEIR PEOPLE ARE EXPERTS IN SINGLE FAMILY HOME INSPECTIONS. IF YOU DO USE THEM, WHICH I WOULD ADVISE YOU AGAINST, MAKE SURE YOU GET SOMEONE WHO SPECIALIZES IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

VERY HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE INSPECTOR. ENCOURAGED QUESTIONS AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME EXPLAINING THINGS TO US. THEY ARRANGED A SATURDAY MORNING INSPECTION ON VERY SHORT NOTICE.

PLEASE BE SURE TO CLARIFY WITH THE COMPANY THE TYPE OF INSPECTION YOU ARE PURCHASING. THE PRICE OF OUR INSPECTION WAS LIMITED TO OBSERVATIONS MADE FROM VISUAL EVIDENCE ONLY. THE COMPANY OFFERS MORE IN-DEPTH INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF HOMES BUT YOU WILL PAY MUCH MORE FOR THAT.

WILL DEFINITELY USE COMPANY FOR NEXT INSPECTION OF POTENTIAL HOME.

VERY THOROUGH. DON LISZKAY PROVIDED BOTH A CHECKLIST AT THE END OF THE INSPECTION AND A NARRATIVE REPORT SENT IN THE MAIL A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER.

THIS COMPANY CHARGES MORE THAN AVERAGE FOR A HOME INSPECTION BASED ON THE RATIONALE THAT THEY ARE ALL LICENSED ENGINEERS. FOR THE EXTRA MONEY, WE WERE NOT IMPRESSED.

VERY HELPFUL. WE HAVE USED THEM TWO TIMES.

FRED CASCIANI WROTE REPORT RECOMMENDING FURTHER INSPECTIONS, WHICH FOUND SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. THIS SAVED THE MEMBERS A TON OF MONEY, AS THE SELLERS WOULD NOT FIX THOSE PROBLEMS.

CALLED SEVERAL TIMES, NO RETURN CALL AS OF YET

NICK SUNG WAS PROFESSIONAL, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND PERSONABLE. THE INSPECTION WAS THOROUGH, AND THE REPORT WAS COMPLETE (AND DELIVERED WITHIN 12 HOURS!).

A VERY DETAILED AND THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE HOUSE COMPLETE WITH A 16 PAGE FOLLOW UP REPORT WITHIN 48 HOURS. THE REPORT ALSO LISTS A FIVE YEAR RECOMMENDED HOME MAINTENANCE PLAN -- A NICE TOUCH. THE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BY DON LISZKAY, WHO WAS INFORMATIVE, FORTHRIGHT, COURTEOUS, PROFESSIONAL, AND VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE. WE FELT LIKE WE GOT OUR MONEYS WORTH!