5 reviews Share review Embed review 7/5/2020 We have been having wall water problems in our attached garage and rear of house even after having masonry work completed last year. Before spending more money hiring any kind of repairs we wanted to determine the actual cause of problem, roof or masonry. We wanted thermal imaging of a number of areas where we suspected water infiltration. Ross, who was our inspector, was very professional and helpful not only during his thorough inspection, but in his report as well. His report supported all his findings with photos and diagrams showing the problems and how to correct them. We would use their services again with confidence. read more

Ross Neag with Chicago Building Inspections did an incredibly thorough job with our new construction inspection. His report was highly detailed and delivered very promptly, and he responded with detailed information and his schedule very quickly after we contacted for a price quote. We have already referred him to another friend needing an inspection and expect to do so again! read more

Ross has been an inspector and consultant for us here at our 8 unit Condo building in Lakeview for the last several years. I can't say enough about his competence, courtesy, professionalism and follow-through. His customer service is exceptional and he did not nickel and dime us post inspection; offering continued advice and help without additional charges. Over the last several years we've had major water intrusion issues in the building and Ross's inspection was spot on and very helpful. When we followed his advice we were very successful and pleased. And when we decided to do it our way we had regrets and have learned our lesson. If you're going to get expert advice why not follow it! I'm glad to see he has his own company now. He is a true professional and will always be our goto guy. read more

Came out with less than 24HR notice and did very comprehensive inspection. Highly recommend!

These guys (and gals) are great. Very thoughtful in their approach, prioritize for the client things that need to be immediately addressed. Can't say enough good things here. read more

We worked with Christi and she was beyond thorough! She was extremely detailed, timely, personable, and came back out as soon as the snow melted to inspect the roof. She was able to identify crucial items for us that allowed us to identify some HVAC issues. In the end, this made us realize that we shouldn't get too distracted by the surface area features and overlook critical HVAC items. This helped us make the best decisions in negotiating with the seller. I would highly recommend Christi and CBI - they will be my inspector for future properties! read more

While we initially went back and forth between Chicago Building Inspections and another company because of cost, we decided that better service comes at a cost. And we were correct. Chicago Building Inspections was the best we could ever hope for. Morgan thoroughly checked every nook of our home. He sent a VERY detailed report with photos, comments, and possibilities for correction issues. Because he was so thorough, we felt a bit overwhelmed. We asked if he could let us know what was important. He sent a check-list (of sorts) of what he felt were major concerns. This made it all very clear. Their website has a list of contractors so you are not in the dark about whom to hire. All around a full service company. I would highly recommend them to everyone! We will definitely be hiring them again after we remodel our basement, just to make sure everything is up to code and correctly done! read more

My wife and I are both Architects in Chicago, so when it came to looking for a place to buy for ourselves, it goes without saying that we were very focused on the construction quality and workings of the building itself. We both think Ross did a great job and are very pleased with the high quality, illustrated inspection report he delivered as a product - complete with examples of proper solutions for items that need work. He immediately adjusted his commentary to our level of understanding. He not only focused on major obvious items, but also all those little behind-the-scenes items that might get missed because they seem inconsequential or hidden. (but are not inconsequential) I'm very impressed with how quickly he could hone in on the small items. I like to think that as a building professional that I could have noticed all of these things on my own, but I was mistaken - Ross found a bunch of items that we would have missed. We will seek to remedy these in the years to come using his report as a guide. His suggested remedies are not for "good enough" solutions - he's suggesting how to "do it right", and the suggestions are right in line with what I would consider best practices. I would recommend Ross and Chicago Building Inspections to anyone who needs inspection work or home improvement advice, and plan to consult him in the future should we need help advice or help diagnosing issues. read more

Can't recommend CBI enough! I scheduled with Andrew, he was prompt in returning my call and assisting me with scheduling, we were able to schedule someone within 2 days of our inquiry. My husband and I worked with Bob on inspecting our new home! He was on time and very efficient. Bob was thorough and gave us all the information we needed and more. We received 68 page report that same day! Report was easy to read and concise with pictures, videos and descriptions that were easy to understand. CBI made the inspection part of home buying easy. We would highly recommend! read more

Ross Neag is THE guy you want doing your home inspection. As first time home buyers, I can tell you how much Ross helped us. An inspection is the most important part of a home purchase and Ross killed it. We will be referencing his inspection report for years to come. The report clearly lays out any major findings and then details helpful tips, suggestions, and details about maintaining your particular home. Ross found significant water damage on our detached garage. When we went back to the seller after the inspection report from Ross, we were able to reduce the purchase price for the estimated cost of the repairs. I would recommend Ross to my closest friends and family. read more

Ken was terrific, very thorough, and patient. Answered all our questions. We would highly recommend Ken for all your home inspection needs.

Used this firm for building inspections for a single condo as well as a 4 flat. Great reporting software, very quick and professional group.

Incredibly professional and efficient. The report they produce is incredibly thorough. Kind, courteous and responsive. Would definitely recommend and use again. read more

It was a pleasure having Chicago Building Inspections do the inspection on the condo we are purchasing. Bob was thorough, and pleasant. The report was also thorough, as well as very clear and illustrated. The clarity and the pictures are especially useful when negotiating. I highly recommend them, and will certainly use them again. read more

The online appointment system was easy to use, and Ross was quick to respond. Our inspector, Morgan, was very thorough and detailed, and answered any and all questions. He was ready to explain as much as we could handle! Friendly, yet laser-focused. Showed us important findings right then and there. Highly recommend! read more

Our inspector (Scott) was very thorough and knowledgeable. He took his time and didn't rush through the inspection. We had questions during and after the inspection - he answered all of them. We received the inspection report within two days - it was detailed and easy to read. Their credit/repair request tool is very user friendly and helpful. Highly recommend Scott and CBI. read more

Ross came out to help me with a limited-scope inspection at one of my properties. I had used CBI before on a pre-sale home inspection so I knew he'd give me an honest, informed opinion about this new building as well. As expected he did a thorough inspection which provided just the info I needed to give me peace of mind about the condition of the property. I highly recommend CBI to anyone in need of a building inspection. They're the best in Chicago! read more

Issac and Andrew were amazing to work with. Very professional and thorough. I would highly recommend Chicago Building Inspections. They came out within 24 hours of submitting the online request. They delivered our Inspection report within 48 hours. Their report was extremely detailed and contained quality pictures of everything that was in the report. read more

Class act and totally professional. I love writing reviews like this because it makes me say "geez they don't make em like they used to". Same with building inspectors. Homes would be better built if developers knew these guys were looking I asked for an appt. The accomodated me for timing reasons. A pleasure to speak with.a thorough exam. A detailed analysis with pictures and recommendations listed in order of importance. A broad network of professionals to lever off of for plumbing, radon, etc. Your agent you can skimp on, your lawyer is a dime a dozen. The inspection is the most important thing in your purchase so dont skimp. This is your solution read more

We have had an amazing experience with Andrew. He performed the inspection for the purchase of our new construction single family home in Roscoe Village. He was extremely knowledgeable, very professional, timely, extremely thorough, and customer-focused. What's more, Andrew spent the time to go over the assessment with us in detail, provide recommendations, and answer follow-on questions. We especially appreciated the fact that Andrew took the time to come out recently to assess a leak in our basement more than two years after our initial purchase and offer his expert assessment. We have and will continue to recommend Andrew to anyone looking to purchase a new home. THANKS!! read more

We have used both Ross and Bill and they are both excellent. The inspections were very thorough and both times they discovered issues that the home owners were trying not to disclose. I can say that in both cases we were saved from making bad purchases that would have had a long term impact on our financial well being and future! 100% recommend CBI, you get what you pay for. read more

I recently hired Chicago Building Inspections as a repeat customer. Ken and Andrew were excellent. They were very thorough in their inspection and subsequent report. I highly recommend Chicago Building Inspections to anyone looking for a home inspection. read more

Ross and Ken were super thorough and very helpful with questions and explaining the findings they found and how to mitigate the issues in our home inspection. Thank you for your professionalism and expertise. They were wearing masks the entire time and very conscious of distracting to make everyone feel comfortable. read more

Ross and co. are top notch professionals. I have had inspections done with three staff members and they are all comprehensive, thorough, and willing to give solid off the record advice as to the status of your potential home. read more

I was beyond impressed with Ross and Chicago Building Inspections. As an attorney I handle approximately 5 real estate closings per year and I have never seen such detailed work in an inspector. Ross's inspections and reports are thorough and well written. In addition, Ross documents all issues noted during his inspections with photographs which not only assists with the purchase and negotiation of the property sale but also provides the homeowner with a list of items to keep tabs on once taking possession of the home. Chicago Building Inspections performed 2 inspections for me within a month's time frame. After the first inspection, my husband and I thankfully walked away from a purchase on a property that we would have undoubtedly regretted. There were so many defects that were not obvious to the naked eye that Chicago Building Inspections identified for us. Based upon the report, my husband and I rescinded the contract for purchase and went on to purchase a different home. We moved in at the end of December and are happily getting settled! I would highly recommend Chicago Building Inspections to both my clients and friends/family. read more

Ross was FANTASTIC. We are looking at buying a new condo and subsequently listing ours. First and foremost I'd highly recommend paying for the pre-listing inspection. I thought it was a great idea to identify those issues prior to listing so you're not caught by any surprises. On both the pre-listing inspection and the inspection on the condo we are interested in purchasing, he was not only extreme thorough but also provided a great deal of insight and advice on things you should prioritize / consider. Of course he has to identify everything that may not be in code (and rightfully so) but he goes above and beyond that and helps you to think through things from a cost / benefit standpoint. Finally he was INCREDIBLY responsive and very open to you reaching out to him with follow up questions or confirmations. Would recommend to everyone I know! read more

Very efficient and professional service! Pleasure to work with them! read more

Andrew was extremely prompt, did an extremely thorough job and explained every concern to me in an understandable way. He also pointed out the good things on my home which was reassuring. The report he sent was well organized with photos and suggested fixes along with a description of how serious they were. Especially on a home purchase, if you get a knowledgeable conscientious inspector like Andrew, and he finds even a single thing that someone else would have missed, the price is more than worth it! Do not cheap out on an inexperienced inspector. read more

Ross is the best. Seriously. Our inspection experience could not have been better. We were recommended to Ross by family members who had worked with Ross a few times before and swear by him so we had a high bar to start. Before we got started, Ross was attentive to check in and see if there was anything specific we wanted him to look into and he also inquired about our specific needs (kids, pets, etc) so that he could keep that in mind during the inspection. I highly recommend being there for the inspection, which Ross encourages as well. I was more of a fly on the wall so that he could do his thing without me getting in the way. Still, he took his time explaining any issues or observations to me (without me really asking) so that we'd have proper context when reading the final report (received the next morning, by the way). Ross was also quick to point out where things looked good or well-maintained and cared for by the current owners, as well, which was super comforting. You don't want someone just pointing out everything that's wrong about the home you're about to buy without also getting some validation that there's some good stuff too! With Ross, you know you'll get all the nitty gritty stuff that you need in the inspection, but also an honest assessment that (hopefully) tells you what you should be proud of in your new home purchase. The report is outstanding. It is exceptionally thorough so having Ross's input from being on-site helps make sure we understand what each observation or note requires from a next steps perspective. With the color I got from Ross during the inspection itself, I was able to walk my wife through the report with the right context so it wasn't too intimidating for her given she wasn't there. It's obvious Ross cares about his clients and providing the highest quality service and takes pride in his work. He was relaxed and deliberate, but also super friendly and a pleasure to work with - it turned what could have been a nervous or anxious process into an enjoyable and fun experience. I'll also mention that because of weather, a few of the outdoor elements couldn't be inspected day-of and Ross volunteered - without even being asked - to swing by and check it out when the weather cleared, which he did promptly and then updated the report. We also chatted a little over email and text with a few follow-up questions on some of the needed repairs he suggested and he has a great list of contractors to do the work. We'll no doubt be using the inspection report as a guide to home repairs for years to come. I can't imagine buying another home without Ross inspecting it and if you've gotten to this review, let me just say you'd be nuts having anyone else do it! Ross is the man. Top-shelf, friendly, reliable, thorough, caring and goes above and beyond. Worth every penny and probably more. - Brian PS. He has a great Radon guy :) read more

Ross is as good as they get in the home inspection business. We have used him for both purchases and for issues that have arisen in our home. His knowledge of homes and building science is matched by his excellent communication skills and detailed reports. He takes the time to educate the homeowner on their home, providing insight not just on what is wrong but how to improve the performance of the home. Ross performed an energy audit on our home after we had lived there for a few years. He was able to identify 2 areas in which we were significantly losing energy, both of which were inexpensive fixes. He is caring and genuine. He is passionate about his craft. read more

Ross is amazing! Super helpful and very thorough. The quality of the report and his attention to detail was of the highest level. I would recommend Ross to anyone and would definitely use Chicago Building Inspections again. Thank you so much Ross! read more

Bill from Chicago Building Inspection. Scared off potential buyers of my unit. We informed him that the split block sealing was good for another 2 years and gave him an estimate of how much a new seal would be. He is biased against this type of building with split block and did not even know what a 15 yr seal was. This man should be fired. Do not use this company if you are a seller and have split block. read more

We just had our inspection with Robert Brown this past Saturday. We scheduled the appointment with less than 15 hours notice. Not only was Robert on time, he was 10 minutes early already inspecting the building and starting to take pictures. He was incredibly friendly, and made my wife, our agent, and myself feel very comfortable. He told us exactly what he was going to do, and told us to make ourselves feel comfortable, ask him as many questions as we wanted, and that he would walk us through the entire condo at the end. He did just that, allowed me to follow him around and ask questions as I was curious to learn everything I could. He even explained some things that I could do myself if I wanted to save some money, and even offered to come do one of them himself! I actually just called him today to follow up on some pieces in his report and he answered right away, walked me through everything, and told me to call him any time with any other questions. The report he sent over to us (in about 24 hours by the way!) was very thorough, contained plenty of pictures and explanations, and helped make our case to the seller very clearly. We were able to negotiate an additional $1000 credit from the seller due to the report, which will help us take care of a few things. CBI was a little higher quote than a couple others I received, but I would use them again and Robert specifically any time. Thank you Robert and CBI! read more

Very pleased with Morgan's inspection and recommendations for our condo purchase. Thorough inspection, detailed explanations and clearly written report supported by photographs. Thank you! read more

I was referred to CBI by a buddy who had used the company twice already. As a first-time homeowner, I was unsure of what to expect. Right off the bat, Ross was very responsive and accommodating. That set the tone for how he'd be throughout the entire process. I couldn't have been more pleased with the home inspection. Ross was thorough and brought me in to explain things simply when needed. He was personable and conversational, too, which made the inspection a comfortable experience. The detail of the inspection report was exceptional, including embedded links that could help with solutions, like those for discolored, rotten egg water from my water heater. So whatever the seller wouldn't address, I could (or at least know what to have a professional tackle). Talk about peace of mind. Ross also was a quick responder to any and all follow-up questions. And when I happened to mention in an email that I was having a new washer and dryer delivered, he advised the safest type of venting to have on hand, versus what installers typically use. That was over a month after my inspection. Simply, Ross' dedication to his customer didn't waver after the job was done and the check was cashed. I highly recommend Ross and CBI. read more

I'm a real estate agent and Ross has worked for several of my clients. I've been at the job for more than 10 years and he does as thorough a job as any inspector I've ever met. I would hire him for my own purchases, read more

We've had 3 inspections done with Ross Neag this year and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an inspector. We have used many inspectors in the past and Ross is by far the best. Ross is straightforward, honest and very knowledgeable. He also is great at explaining the process during the inspection. He provides great advice and expertise and he also recommended other contractors to us to do repair work on our house. Ross is a great communicator and he has a very well organized process to schedule appointments and get your inspection report back very quickly. We really appreciate his great work and look forward to working with him in the future. read more

Knowledgeable. Thorough. Detailed. Responsive. Professional. Highly recommended! Ross performed an energy audit on our current home - showing us exactly what we can do to save energy, money, and improve the comfort of our home. Ross has also proven to be an invaluable resource for us during the construction of our new home. His advice on where to / where not to invest in building an energy efficient home has been essential to our decision-making process. It has even saved us money along the way! It is refreshing to work with someone like Ross, who is so passionate about his profession. read more

Andrew has been super helpful and very thorough with his inspection. He brought things to our attention we didn't even think were issues. We were expecting issues with the brick and some other major areas, but Andrew included much more than that in his report. Would highly recommend Chicago Building Inspections. read more

When buying a home or condo, there is no professional more important than your inspector. Don't settle for one your realtor suggested or try to save a few bucks. Andrew and Ross are competent professionals with loads of experience and will do diligent detailed inspections to give you all the information possible to make the best decision on your purchase. read more