Hi, I'm Richard Powell, owner of Home Inspection Services, and I've been doing home inspections in the Southeast Michigan area for over 20 years. I'm originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada but have lived in Ann Arbor for most of my life. I started off as a professional carpenter, went into real estate sales briefly, and decided to launch Home Inspection Services so I could focus on serving home buyers.
I've also been a Licensed Residential Builder and Remodeler for the last 30 years so you can count on me to provide you with thorough and knowledgeable inspections. What makes me unique, is that I do both home inspections and well and septic inspections. I love being self-employed because it gives me the freedom to be my own boss and the flexibility to pursue other passions.
I've also been a Licensed Residential Builder and Remodeler for the last 30 years so you can count on me to provide you with thorough and knowledgeable inspections. What makes me unique, is that I do both home inspections and well and septic inspections. I love being self-employed because it gives me the freedom to be my own boss and the flexibility to pursue other passions.
Services
The majority of our business is conducting professional home inspections. While we usually work with home buyers, we can also help sellers and real estate agents. We work at both residential or commercial properties and offer several types of inspections. Most importantly, we tell you up front what they cost and when you can expect our report (usually within 24 hours but some tests require time to get accurate results).
Roofing: We check out the condition of your roof to determine its age, the roof draining systems, shingles, and see if there are loose gutters or downspouts. You'll also be informed about the condition of skylights and chimneys as well as the potential for pooling water. Plumbing: We'll thoroughly examine the water supply and drainage systems, water heating equipment, and fuel storage systems.
If you're buying or selling your home, the EPA suggests you have it tested for radon and most top real estate agents would agree. But what is radon and is it harmful? Radon is a transparent radioactive gas that has no smell, taste, or color. When the uranium in soil and rocks decays over time, radon gas is released and forms radioactive particles.
Sometimes your mortgage lender will require a Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Report on the house you want to buy. If you're getting a VA mortgage, it's mandatory. A pest inspection involves a full inspection of your home for any evidence of termite, wood-boring beetles, and wood-attacking ant activity; signs of dry rot damage; or moisture conditions that could lead to an atmosphere for wood-destroying organisms or termites to flourish.
We all know that drinking enough water every day improves our health, energy, and focus. Americans spend nearly $12 billion a year on bottled water. But what about the water you bathe in or use to wash your laundry and cook your signature pasta dish? Having your water tested routinely is important whether your water comes from a public source or a private well.
Reviews (9)
Riley McCardle
Jan 14, 2021
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I called Richard today in search of ONLY a septic inspection..
My boyfriend & I are in the process of buying our third home, and we were prepared to have our inspection done & the septic inspected as well.
We have a family friend doing our home inspection, but he doesn’t do septic inspections if they’re underground (we found that out two days before our inspection period ended.)
So, I was scrambling around, searching for someone to do our septic inspection & luckily Richard was one of the most kind/helpful inspectors I contacted.
He made us aware that Wayne county has an On-site Sewage
My boyfriend & I are in the process of buying our third home, and we were prepared to have our inspection done & the septic inspected as well.
We have a family friend doing our home inspection, but he doesn’t do septic inspections if they’re underground (we found that out two days before our inspection period ended.)
So, I was scrambling around, searching for someone to do our septic inspection & luckily Richard was one of the most kind/helpful inspectors I contacted.
He made us aware that Wayne county has an On-site Sewage
Jeremy Stapleton
Aug 27, 2020
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Mattias Theder-Schmidt
Jul 12, 2020
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Richard was great.
He was able to come out for a home inspection on the same day that I called him.
Being a first-time home buyer, I shadowed him while he inspected the house. He spent somewhere between 2-3 hours inspecting our 3200sqft home. He answered all my questions and was very friendly and easy to talk to.
During the inspection, he caught a few things that he took note of.
1. The garage door force adjustment was set way too strong.
2. The sump had no backup pump for in case power went out.
3. There were a couple of trees a bit too close to the house - roots could be digging into the
He was able to come out for a home inspection on the same day that I called him.
Being a first-time home buyer, I shadowed him while he inspected the house. He spent somewhere between 2-3 hours inspecting our 3200sqft home. He answered all my questions and was very friendly and easy to talk to.
During the inspection, he caught a few things that he took note of.
1. The garage door force adjustment was set way too strong.
2. The sump had no backup pump for in case power went out.
3. There were a couple of trees a bit too close to the house - roots could be digging into the
Richard Kish
Jul 08, 2019
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Wail Aljirafi
Jan 09, 2019
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Richard was great. He was responsive and prompt. He was very thorough and took his time explaining a lot stuff which were helpful to me as a new homeowner. The report was great with a lot of photos and comments. The summary section could use some proof editing but this is just minor comment. Overall, would recommend Richard for new home inspection.
Beth Gibson
Oct 17, 2018
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Teresa Garland
Feb 04, 2018
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Richard did a very thorough inspection for us, taking his time to check things out carefully. Along the way, he answered our many questions, warned us of a couple of serious hazards and reassured us that the house was otherwise a good find. His report was detailed and contained plenty of pictures. I would definitely recommend him.
Anthony Lewis
Jan 18, 2018
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If your looking for someone who cares about your home just as much as you do look no further. I can't say enough good things about the experience I had with my home inspector Richard Powell. Being a first time home buyer and inexperience in what problems to look for, Mr. Powell was courteous, proficient and patient with me through my whole experience. Through Mr Powell's due diligence he was able to detect major issues that was unseen by the untrained eye and was able to prevent me from buying a home that would have cost me thousands and thousands to repair. He stuck by me and when I finally found
James Scarletta
Sep 12, 2017
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Richard did a great job inspecting, and was able to point out items that were still usable, but that would need replacing in the future. The report was well done and easy to understand, and I received it the day after the inspection. He offered some suggestions along the way for cost-effective improvements to maintain the home. Would use again!
