Angies list Company Review of First Step Home Inspections, Inc.
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FIRST STEP HOME INSPECTIONS INC
6229 TRYON RD CARY, NC 27518
Phone: (919) 858 - 9930
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Report # 14:
Report Date: 6/19/2008
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $145
Description Of Work:
They did a pre-drywall inspection and will do the final construction inspection.
Member Comments:
It went very well. I was pleased with the inspection. He showed up early and
went over the findings with us
step by step. He was professional and courteous.
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Report # 13:
Report Date: 5/12/2008
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $440
Description Of Work:
They performed a full home inspection for a duplex property purchase I was going
to make.
Member Comments:
Matt was extremely responsive. He delivered what he said he would. He did it on
time and in great, invaluable detail.
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Report # 12: Report Date: 11/20/2007
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $385
Description of Work:
A comprehensive home inspection prior to expiration of the builder's warranty.
Member Comments:
Does it make sense to spend nearly $400 to inspect a new home before the builder's warranty expires? You bet it does!
First Step Home Inspections saved me a fortune and helped assure my family's safety. Builders and government inspectors
cannot take time for the exhaustive evaluation that a licensed home inspector can provide, and Matt McClymonds represents
the very best in that industry. He's not a nit picker, but nothing escapes his attention. If I had let the builder's warranty expire
and then in the future had to pay for the discrepancies that First Step Home Inspections found, it would have cost perhaps
$1,000, But that's not really the whole story, because some of the deficiencies (gaps in roof terminations where animals could
crawl in and gnaw on electrical wires, or water can penetrate; electrical flaws that could cause a fire or cause one to escalate
more rapidly) had the potential to be very costly or even catastrophic. I can't imagine a better investment of $385.
- How much did the final cost compare to the original estimate? right on
- How does the value of the work compare to the price? I got more than my money's worth
- How far in advance did you schedule the work? 1-2 weeks
- Did you find the company through Angie's List? Yes
- If yes, which source? website
- Why did you choose this contractor? Reputation
- Have you used this company before? This is the first time I've used this company
- What did you like most about this contractor: Totally professional, highly skilled, strong ethics.
- What did you like least about this contractor: n/a
- What surprises came up during the course of the work: I was surprised at the number of problems my builder overlooked.
- What words of advice would you give other members considering this contractor: Hire him. You can't do better.
- What words of advice would you give this contractor: You're making a valuable contribution to society. Don't let up.
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Report # 11: Report Date: 9/25/2007
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $355
Description of Work:
Matt provided a complete home inspection including exterior, interior, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, etc.
Member Comments:
Matt was on time, pleasant, informative, and he sent an electronic version of the complete report with photos to me in less than
24 hours! I am perparing to sell my home and wanted the inspection first, so I could make repairs before putting the house on the
market. Matt found issues that were present prior to my buying the house and were just missed by my original inspector. He actually
climbed onto the roof for a close inspection instead of using binoculars to inspect as I have seen done. I'm really pleased I had this
done BEFORE putting a For Sale sign in my front yard. I will feel confident after making these repairs that I am selling the best
possible house. At the time of this report, I have not needed to contact again, but he does say that he is available as a resource for
any questions I may have as I begin on the repairs.
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Report # 10: Report Date: 9/14/2007
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $535
Description of Work:
We had him come out and inspect our five thousand square foot home. He took pictures of things that needed to be addressed
by the builder.
Member Comments:
He was a great help. He inspected the home then sat down with us. He gave us the pictures and told us what to make the builder
fix so that it would be up to the required codes. He charged us per square foot of our home so your price may vary. We found him
to be very knowledgeable in his work.
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Report # 9: Report Date: 9/14/2007
Responsiveness A Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $ ?
Description of Work:
He inspected our entire home to get it ready to sell.
Member Comments:
We were very satisfied with the work that he did. He was very thorough as he wrote a bound book, took pictures and made a to
do list. He explained everything in detail to us. I really can't remember how much he charged me for that but it was quite reasonable.
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Report # 8: Report Date: 9/14/2007
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $335
Description of Work:
The home inspector evaluated a house I was considering buying. He found numerous problems with the plumbing, electrical,
water damage, bad windows and general disrepair. He took about 3 to 4 hours to thoroughly go over the house.
Member Comments:
This man saved me a lot of money. Based on his evaluation, I was able to back out of the purchase since the repairs would
have been so high. He was able to give me a list of the problems that I took to a handyman for price estimates.
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Report # 7: Report Date: 5/24/2007
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $130
Description of Work:
He did a pre drywall inspection for a home we are having built.
Member Comments:
He was great. He was polite did a great job and I would recommend him to others. We will use him again for the final inspection.
We were very pleased.
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Report # 6: Report Date: 4/17/2007
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $310
Description of Work:
Home Inspection
Member Comments:
It went very well from the first phone contact to the receipt of the bound report. Connie and Matt McClymonds were responsive,
courteous, and professional in every way. Connie responded to my phone messages within a very short period of time. They were
able to provide me with an appointment date and time that was convenient for me. Matt arrived on time and ready to go. He was
efficient, methodical, and took copious thorough notes. He patiently answered all my questions as well as provided great advice.
He provided me the inspection report electronically that evening and a printed bound copy in the mail within two days. His findings
were consistent with our observation.
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Report # 5: Report Date: 2/14/2007
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $355
Description of Work:
They did inspection of the operational integrity of home mechanical systems, structural problems, code violations, and safety
problems, which included the crawlspace, interior, outside, and roof.
Member Comments:
They use knowledge, performance, plus ability to explain all aspects of the inspection so you can understand the process.
The bottom line was I saved at least $15,000.00 (yes, fifteen thousand) of future expenses. I only thought the home needed interior
painting and some new kitchen appliances. was totally blown away by what was found. Roof leaks, mold and mildew damage were
found. An addition was illegally built and violates numerous code requirements, heating and air conditioning that did not function
completely, and concrete floors that have settled 2-3 inches. I could go on! Many, many, thanks to First Step Home Inspections!
They are prompt, courteous, and thorough!
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Report # 4: Report Date: 9/30/2006
Responsiveness A,Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $375
Description of Work:
We had our one-year home warranty inspection and Matt was very thorough in his work. He started with the outside followed by
each level of the inside, detailing his findings along the way.
Member Comments:
The service was top-notch. I was on a tight schedule, having procrastinated in getting an inspection. I called and immediately spoke
with Matt's wife who answered my questions and was very friendly! It certainly help me feel more confident in the quality I would
receive. I wasn't at all disappointed! Matt showed up ten minutes early and proceeded to spend nearly four hours inspecting my
home with me two steps behind. He taught me as we went along and was more than willing to answer all of my questions. His
report showed up the same evening, as promised. Having had multiple homes inspecte by inspectors looking to get done quickly,
I can say Matt was the first to really take the time to make sure my home was safe and made recommendations to keep it in top
shape for years to come. This was definitely a worthwhile investment!
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Report # 3: Report Date: 9/30/2006
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $405
Description of Work:
Matt performed an inspection on my new construction home. He inspected the interior and exterior. He made a visual inspection
of the roof.
Member Comments:
Matt spent a lot of time with us and did a thorough inspection. He gave us a detailed report that spelled out the issues the builder
needed to address. Overall he did a great job.
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Report # 2: Report Date: 7/31/2006
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $395
Description of Work:
We were moving to a bigger home and needed a home inspector. This company came highly recommended. The inspector was
detailed, and happy to share his knowledge and educate us on our new home. He came across personable, honest and
professional. We felt he had our overall interest at heart. The report was easy to read and the pictures were great. The items he
found that needed to be fixed were negotiated out with the seller and the price was reduced by $9,000 dollars.
Member Comments:
I was very impressed with his ability, and will definitely call on his services again in the future. It was definitely worth the cost of the
inspection.
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Report # 1: Report Date: 7/15/2006
Responsiveness A, Work Done? YES, Hire Again? YES, Cost: $ 390
Description of Work:
After we had submitted a bid on a house, this company came to our house to perform a home inspections.
Member Comments:
The gentleman who came out was very knowledgeable and performed a very detailed inspection. My wife and I received all of the
findings in a nice booklet that included pictures taken from a digital camera and explanations wrote in plain English. We were able to
use the information in the purchasing of the home. The homeowners fixed all major items on the list, which was approx. $7000 worth
of work. Since we have bought our house, about a year ago, we have not found any other problems.
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