Home Inspections

You've found a house you love. It has solar panels on the roof and the listing mentions lower electricity bills. That sounds great — but before you make an offer, you need answers to a handful of critical questions. Who owns those panels? Are they actually working? What happens if something breaks? And do they add value to the home, or just add complexity to the transaction? Solar is genuinely one of the best features a home can have — but the word "solar" on a listing cover

Everything you need to confidently navigate ownership types, disclosures, liens, transfers, and inspections — without becoming a solar expert. There are 5 million solar-equipped homes in the United States today — and that number is growing. If you're a real estate agent in the St. Louis metro area, St. Charles County, or anywhere across Missouri and Illinois, there's a good chance you've already encountered one. The question isn't whether solar homes will cross your desk. It

A practical guide for St. Charles County real estate agents on turning an inspection report into a powerful negotiation tool — including how to pair it with the Missouri Realtors Inspection Notice Form. The Inspection Report Is More Than a Checklist If you have been in real estate long enough, you know that the period between a completed home inspection and a signed amendment is one of the most stressful parts of any transaction. You have a report in your hands, a buyer askin

Selling a home is one of the most significant financial transactions you will ever make. Naturally, you want the process to be as smooth, fast, and profitable as possible (equity anyone?). However, many sellers make the mistake of waiting for the buyer to initiate a home inspection, a move that often leads to last-minute stress, price haggling, and even "deal-killing" discoveries. At Tech Inspect Home Services LLC , we believe the smartest sellers are proactive. By investing

Written by: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC I. Introduction Crawlspaces are usually uncomfortable, scary places that most homeowners never venture into. That’s why as a home inspector it’s my job to go into these places. While most homeowners treat this area with an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality and don’t monitor it (I don’t blame them), we have a good example of why checking in on it periodically can prevent larger issues later. This case study rep

Written by: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC l. Introduction Often during an inspection, as I shine my flashlight around in the attic, I’ll encounter a yellowish/gold discoloration on the wood components in the attic. To the untrained eye, this may appear to be mold, but it is not. It is attic ambering. In this article, we’ll unpack what it is and some of the likely causes. In the St. Louis area due to our hot summers, high humidity, and extreme temperature c

Written by: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC I. The Charm & Challenge of STL Real Estate With St. Louis being an ‘older city’, that saw rapid expansion post WW 2, there are many historic and beautiful buildings that really highlight some amazing architecture. From the stately Victorian homes in Lafayette Square to the South City Bungalows, there are common factors buyers should be aware of when buying an older house in STL. First let’s frame up our discussio

Case Study: Two Mold Scenarios in Unconditioned Spaces (Attics and Crawlspaces) in St. Louis Homes Written by: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC In a month’s time in 2025, Tech Inspect Home Services encountered mold growth in unconditioned spaces that lacked adequate ventilation, not once but twice. Both spaces had a little extra mechanical help that was incorrectly installed or had degraded over time, that were contributing moisture to support the found mold

Top 5 Common Home Inspection Issues in 2025 Written by: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC I reviewed the Inspections completed in 2025 by Tech Inspect Home Services LLC, assembling some statistics and a summary of the most common issues or defects encountered. On average, for each inspected property, Tech Inspect found 14.3 maintenance items, 41.5 defects, and 4.5 major concerns (which includes health & safety issues and other major issues in the home). That

Essential New Home Maintenance Checklist for Homeowners Written by: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC Congratulations on your new home! Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, moving into a new property is an exciting milestone. However, like anything valuable, homes require regular maintenance to protect your investment and ensure a safe, comfortable living environment. Tech Inspect Home Services has compiled this new homeowner maintenance

1. Introduction Written by: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC If you’ve had a home inspection, and the inspector recommended a structural engineer, you should immediately follow up on that recommendation. Why? Because the inspector saw something, that’s not right with the home, and following up on that recommendation could prevent your dream home from being a nightmare home! TL;DR — When Your Inspector Recommends a Structural Engineer, Don't Skip It What's th

Written by: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC When buying a home, peace of mind is priceless. While a thorough home inspection is essential for understanding your property's condition, what happens if something goes wrong after you close? That's where the InterNACHI Inspection Warranty comes in a powerful warranty protection program that bridges the gap between your inspection and settling into your new home. TL;DR -The InterNACHI Inspection Warranty: What I

Today we’re discussing why new construction homes still need inspections (Yes, Even Brand-New Ones). Written By: Sean Struckmeyer, Professional Home Inspector | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC  As people, we tend to have a bias that anything brand new means it’s automatically perfect and without flaws, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Ever buy a new car and had issues and recalls with it? Homes are no different and in-fact, there so many more parts and components a

Written By: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services Radon is a silent threat lurking in homes across America and understanding how to test it is crucial for protecting your family's health. At Tech Inspect Home Services LLC, we offer short-term radon as an affordable way to determine if your home has radon levels that require mitigation. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about radon and short-term testing methods. TL;DR - Short-

Drain Waste Vents: The Unsung Hero of Plumbing Written By: Sean Struckmeyer, Professional Home Inspector | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC You use your plumbing every day, but do you know how it works without smells or clogs? Did you know it’s all thanks to that white or gray pipe sticking out of your roof? Waste Management is all thanks to the DWV or Drain Waste Vent. It’s a network of pipes running throughout the home that is responsible for getting water and waste out of

Let’s Talk About Decks, from a home inspectors’ point of view, what we look for and what you should be aware of. Written by Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC Nothing says summertime like being out on your deck during the summer! I think we all enjoy time outside on our deck and want it to last for years and years to come. But that requires maintenance and understanding what makes a deck safe. If you are buying a home with a deck, it will be inspected accordi

How to Prioritize, Plan For, and Address Defects Found in Your Home Inspection Report If you’ve read any of our other posts, this next sentence will be familiar to you. When you first see the list of defects in your inspection report, the first thing to do is take a deep breath and understand that context is everything and everything CAN be fixed. Not all defects are created equally and understanding the context and importance of each defect is important. Understanding the c

Why Every Homeowner Should Know About French Drains and What Problems they can Solve By: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services Introduction to French Drains: After we get those big spring rains, is your yard every soggy for days on end? Problems with water seeping into you basement, after a week’s worth of rain? A solution worth investigating, may be a French drain. In its simplest form a French drain is a gravel filled trench that contains a perforated pipe that is

By: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services Did you know that there is a new type of Home Inspector? Have you had a home inspection in the past, where the inspector did the inspection handed you’re a checklist or word document and left never to be heard from again? Maybe you got a brief hand-off with a lot of information that left your head spinning? And that was it, no advice on next steps other than to contact a contractor? Did that leave you a little wanting? That’s

Written By: Sean Struckmeyer | Tech Inspect Home Services LLC 1. Introduction Thermal inspection services reveal hidden issues in your home using advanced infrared technology. At Tech Inspect Home Inspections, we use thermal imaging on each inspection to deliver a comprehensive view of your property’s condition. In this article, we’ll provide an understanding how thermal inspections work and the benefits they unlock empowers you to protect your investment, improve energy effi