Again they get 5 stars. I actually don't see the same issues that other people have had. They got our deck inspection report to us within the time frame they promised. The report was VERY comprehensive. The photos matched the descriptions of the issues, and point by point they clearly outlined what deficiencies they noticed and what repairs would be needed. Their inspection report made sense to us and has become a valuable "to do list" of repairs. I highly recommend Dr. Balcony. read more

We had received a quote from Dr. Balcony, so I had telephoned them with follow up questions and spoke with Bryan. I asked: 1. How soon could we schedule? 2. Would they be able to perform the inspection without gaining interior access? 3. What was the turnaround time on the SB326 report? 1. Regarding scheduling, he said we could schedule the following week, but when I asked to schedule the following week just minutes later he said he didn't have any openings unless we paid extra. 2. Regarding the balcony/deck inspections without interior access, he clearly stated this was doable by ladder since these were 2nd floor locations, but when I called and emailed to reconfirm our appointment time as well as not requiring interior access, he said they couldn't. 3. Regarding the turnaround time for the inspection report, Bryan explained that they could have it in one week or they could do it quicker with an expedited fee. Bryan mislead us again saying later that it would take a week and a half to two weeks to have the report unless we paid extra. In addition Bryan explained that we simply had to pay the down-payment before the appointment time, in order to schedule and have the inspection done. He apparently mislead us again because when calling to reconfirm the appointment time, I was told they had no record for our appointment. Note well, while they did indicate in writing that they price match other estimates, they lied about this too. The written estimate we provided indicated the estimate was for SB326 in writing under the title, "Scope of Work". This was confirmed with the contractor who supplied the more competitive estimate... she confirmed in writing that this estimate was for SB326 - IN WRITING. Pretty much everything we were told was 100% false. I asked to speak to the owner who had more than 24 hours to reply but have received no response. The only remedies to the situation offered was their asking for additional payments to hurry the process. read more

I initially had my first balcony inspection done by another licensed professional, but the report was incomplete and difficult to understand. It was also nearly impossible to get follow-up information or clarification afterward. The report was so lacking that I ended up paying for a second inspection because contractors could not make sense of the original findings. Dr. Balcony provided a professional, thorough, and comprehensive inspection report. When I needed help understanding certain details, Danielle was kind enough to walk me through everything clearly and patiently. I would definitely recommend Dr. Balcony and would absolutely use them again. read more

Angela and Hunter were very smart and responsive and caring. They are excellent at SB 326 Inspections and are wonderful because they follow up. read more

DrBalcony completed a balcony report for the condominiums. The price was reasonable. There was a promotion that further reduce the price, which was helpful for the budget. The inspector took his time to inspect all the balconies (12 total) . The back office team was great at following up and the reminders were super helpful. read more

After reading my initial 1 Star review, the company contacted me to see if they could make things better. Honestly, I was a bit annoyed because they were the ones to contact me a again and again asking me to leave a review in the first place. Then when I posted a review, they were disappointed that I was not happy with their service. I guess no one there bothered to read the customer service survey that I had submitted to them in February, because if they had, they would have known that I wasn't very happy. Just another example of the fact that one hand doesn't seem to know what the other is doing. The customer service rep for Dr Balcony said they were disappointed in my review and wanted to see what they could do to 'make things right'. They did apologize for the scheduling issues that I had and offered to provide a partial refund on the fee I had paid. They also provided a more thorough explanation of why my balcony is exempt from the California inspection law. In light of this, I am upgrading my review to 3 Starts. read more

Scheduled inspection was on time, which is a plus. The report was detailed, organized, and understandable. Additionally, they were knowledgeable about the SB721 requirements. Team has always been responsive with any questions we have had. They quickly respond. I would recommend their services. read more

Dr. Balcony was able to get our inspection scheduled quickly and worked to make sure things were completed quickly. They provided us with actionable insights that resulted in meaningful upgrade to our building. read more

I hired DrBalcony for a balcony inspection service and unfortunately my experience was disappointing. Communication throughout the process was not very clear, and I did not feel confident in the level of professionalism and attention to detail provided during the inspection. The process felt rushed, and some of my concerns/questions were either overlooked or not properly addressed. For a company that specializes in safety and compliance inspections, I expected much better transparency and customer service. I also found the overall experience stressful rather than helpful, especially considering the importance and cost of these inspections. Based on my experience, I would recommend that property owners carefully review everything and ask detailed questions before proceeding with services. read more

I had an emergency need for one of my loan files. I spent nearly an entire day calling balcony inspection companies. Turn times quoted were 30+ days. Dr. Balcony sent an inspector out within a couple of days. The report was provided a couple of days after that, so I was satisfied with their service. read more

Majid Yari, for Dr. Balcony in Santa Ana , was our inspector for our 20 units that have balconies in a townhome complex. Majid was courteous, helpful explaining the process in a very timely manner. He explained that the pictures would be sent to our HOA and the findings will be official. Thank you for having a real person who is so expert technically and professionally prepared. read more

I filled up the form on their website and right away I got a phone call back from them. I was very impressed until I learned it was just an AI agent which was not I at all. But after that I got a phone call the next day from an actual human. He was able to answer most of my questions. I booked the inspection right then. Unfortunately my balcony wasn't safe and failed the inspection and now I have to fix it. To my surprise they don't do the construction part and only the design and city permits. Which is something I now like because I can be 100% sure there are no conflicts of interest. They get paid the same regardless of my balcony's condition. The report was comprehensive and packed with details. I will use them again read more

I called Dr Balcony right before the deadline. they rushed and helped me with 6 inspections in a month. very easy to deal with and very competitive pricing. Highly recommend. read more

To comply with California SB 326, our HOA engaged DrBalcony to perform the required inspection in Arcadia last month. While the inspection report itself was satisfactory, the overall process could be improved and streamlined. Multiple representatives contacted me repeatedly, and I received numerous automated follow-up requests even though nothing had been done. We also prepaid by mailing a check, but DrBalcony did not acknowledge receiving and depositing it until my bank provided proof of the transaction. As a result, the inspection scheduling had to be postponed. read more

Summary: I am extremely dissatisfied with this company's business model. They operate remotely, hire local inspectors to take photos, and then have their own engineers prepare the final reports. In my experience, this structure encourages exaggerated findings, which then appear to be used to sell costly repair plans and follow-up services. Detail: I regret choosing this company without first reading their Yelp reviews. Unfortunately, the same issues other reviewers mentioned also happened to me. I hired this company to perform an SB721 inspection on one of my four-plex apartment buildings. The city conducts a mandatory annual multi-family inspection program, and my property had passed inspection just a few weeks prior to the SB721 inspection. Based on that, I expected there to be no major issues. When I received their report, I was shocked to see one Emergency Repair Required (ERR) item listed: "Bolt/Screw Connections of the Railing to the Wood Frame." After reviewing their photos, I found that the issue was simply a single missing bolt (1 out of 4) on the base plate of a handrail post attached to a concrete stair. The post was not loose, shaking, or unstable in any way. I see no reasonable justification for classifying this as an immediate life-safety hazard requiring emergency repair. Just a few hours later, I received an unsolicited email from the company with a proposed engineering design plan costing $4,872.85 for the plan alone, even though I had not requested it. When I called to ask for clarification, I was told that I could not speak directly with the engineer who prepared the report, and that the engineer was not the same person who performed the inspection. After that, I received repeated calls and emails pushing their follow-up services. I declined and explained that I was concerned this business arrangement creates a conflict of interest. I then worked directly with the city for over a month to resolve the issue. The city agreed that this was a minor repair, but because the company labeled it as an ERR, they were required to treat it seriously and asked me to complete additional maintenance and upgrades. They suggested them for long-term improvements. Based on this experience, I would not recommend this company. read more

Pathetic. The report is very unclear does not tell which black cap has what problem. Waste of time and money. Takes a lot of days & many calls to get hold of people to talk to once they get the money. read more

We had a balcony inspection , for our hoa And Majid was our inspector . He did a great job , arrived on time with all of the necessary equipment needed for the inspections . He was quick to do the inspection , and very knowledgeable on what was needed for this . He brought booties was which great since he needed access to all of our patios. thru our units . I would recommend Dr Balcony to all , Majid is a great asset to your company.. The entire inspection was taken care of from start to finish in just several hours Barbara K read more

We had the pleasure of working with dr balcony for our SB721 balcony and stairway inspections in Los Angeles, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. Saeed is one of the most professional and courteous inspectors we've ever worked with. He arrived exactly on time, came fully prepared, and worked efficiently without compromising attention to detail. His friendly attitude made the whole process stress-free, and he took the time to answer all our questions with patience and clarity. read more

The report states that the wood in the balcony has termite and also damaged. After opening the base of the balcony. The woods are perfectly in good condition. They just want business for their engineers to draw a plan for repairing that costs $3200. read more

DrBalcony handled our SB 326 inspection, if I'm not mistaken. I wasn't aware of this new balcony law until our HOA brought it to my attention, and they were the ones who recommended DrBalcony to us. From start to finish, the process was smooth, professional, and well-organized. They were very responsive and kept us informed along the way. Everything was completed in less than two weeks, which made the whole experience easy and stress-free. read more

I hired DrBalcony to ensure my property was compliant with safety regulations (SB 721), but it was a waste of money. They provided a very vague report with almost no actionable guidance. Even worse, the advice they did give was incorrect, leaving me with a non-compliance notice after the fact. If you need a company that actually understands the law and provides clear instructions, look elsewhere. It feels like they are happy to take your money for the inspection but have no interest in ensuring you actually pass or understand the safety of your building. I now have to hire a second firm to fix their mistakes. read more

The onslaught of emails, texts, and automated phone calls, even after requesting to be left alone, was overwhelming. Just after requesting an estimate (which was higher than competitors). Awful. read more

Did some work with this company and paid thousands for an inspection but had mediocre service. We are having to work with a different company to get an accurate report. Sad ! read more

I had Dr. Balcony inspect stairs/balconies at approximently ten locations. My only complaint is that the reports are a bit long winded and an over-kill, could be a lot simpler to read. However, my account manager, Rico walked me through the reports and resolved any questions I had. When I am required again to go through the hassle of scheduling these inspections, I will certainly call Rico at Dr. Balcony. read more

They had competitive pricing but after reading their reviews I decided to go another way. The deciding factor was they called constantly and it seemed a little bit desperate. read more

Great and fast service and communicated well throughout the process. Very good service overall

Professional and polite. Farshid Valcili came to inspect our balcony. Didn't disturb our area and was very quick.

Do Not Use This Company! I hired them for a balcony inspection. They condemned the balcony after drilling 6 holes in 1 part of the balcony. They used a borascope to take grainy pictures. They sent this report to the city and the HOA. I hired their engineer to develop a plan and after miscommunication and no follow-up. I highered a structural engineer who came out and inspected the balcony and found Dr. Balcony's report was in error. I have paid thousands of dollars to get this straightened out. Dr. Balcony's VP was zero help. This company talks a good talk, but in The end I was left alone to get this resolved. Respectfully, Cynthia Buchmeier read more

First and last time customer! As an investor in multi-unit properties in the SF Bay Area I was looking for a dependable company to deal with SB721 for a new purchase of an 11 unit building in Gilroy, CA. All was great and the sales agent was able to provide me with a quote but left out the important details about when the inspection report would be turned around. If you are a purchaser of Real Estate, you know you have tight deadlines to complete your inspections. I called and spoke to my sales rep "Rico" and spoke to the EA to have him call me but no call back! The persona I spoke to stated it would take up 45 days to complete my report! On top of that, the tech that came out the daye of the inspection spoke ZERO English and ignored my questions which was witnessed by my broker and he will not use this company either and not recommend to his clients. Long story short, they collect their 50% deposit then leave you completely in the dark. I will notify the Apartment Owners Association and let them know of my experience so other apartment owners know what to expect especially with those that have new purchases since this company will not work! You have been warned and it is very unfortunate since I am sure there will be other companies like this that will take advantage of other property owners that need to have their balconies inspected! read more

Dr. Balcony is amazing! They transformed my balcony into a beautiful, functional. The team was professional, creative, and easy to work with from start to finish. Highly recommend if you're looking to upgrade your balcony or patio with style and quality. read more

The company uses a 40 page contact that is difficult to read and they send on line. Section 9, L ©says if you cancel you pay $1000 even if done in a timely way. They are not contractors. They use fake reviews. They are crooks. BEWARE. OH yes, they they harass you for payment 5 times/day on text and phone calls. Be very very careful. read more

Inspection done on schedule, report was prompt, we're ready when the city wants to check us.

Watch out for this fraudulent company. I received a letter from them with my full name and address stating that the City of Oakland had notified me that my balcony wasn't in compliance with that law. I could be fined. Funny thing is that I don't have a balcony and the City of Oakland has never sent me any such notice. read more

Dr. Balcony did a great job inspecting the 20 condo units at our community in Pacific Beach! Rico was our account manager and he did an amazing job communicating with me throughout the process! The report came back very detailed and was user friendly to read. Their prices are competitive. I highly recommend them if you're needing your balconies inspected! read more

I reached out to a couple vendors for quotes for an inspection due to the SB721 compliance mandate, for my multi-unit property. Dr. Balcony was very responsive and easy to work with! They also answered all of my questions and assured me that because they do not do the contract work upon findings from the inspection, it would be an honest and detailed inspection. They showed up on time and were very professional and kind. I would definitely recommend them! read more

David Medina is a true professional at his craft and made our time together extremely efficient and helpful. Real straight shooter who knows how to conduct himself and his business in a very timely and effective manner. read more

I was already in the permit process when the Apt Assn had a presentation by Dr. Balcony, and their camera inspection service. Rico Grady, the company representative, was very helpful with expediting the inspection scheduling and report, answering my questions, and providing names of several companies that are experienced with repairing balconies. read more

they just emailed me again saying all they needed to do was tell me whether or not my balcony passed. I paid $1000 for this. they might as well have just given me a report with 1 line on it rather than the largely useless info the report did include. Issues I encountered: 1. pictures were too close up so we couldn't tell where anything was. 2. they were supposed to put in different colored plugs where an engineer could further investigate based on their findings. they did not do this. 3. they gave me contradictory information throughout this process when i asked for specifics on how to interpret their report. 4. the engineer i sent their report to had zero clue how to proceed based on their "findings." 5. i basically had to start over and pay someone else to get anything useful. if they had been helpful with follow-up i would not have written this review. they were not helpful. read more

Terrible! Good salesperson, bad service. They drilled holes, took grainy photos, then stated that one of our balconies was an emergency repair (it wasn't). They then try to sell you very expensive plans by their engineer to repair the damage (conflict of interest). This plan is based only on the photos! Then you have to find and pay for a contractor to follow the plans. We did not purchase their plans but hired our own contractor to open up all the stucco under the "emergency repair" balcony, and their engineer quickly determined that the water damage was minor and not an emergency at all! Not to mention, there were many other logistical problems along the way. Would strongly not recommend this company! read more

DrBalcony delivers top-notch inspection services with impressive attention to detail. Saeed did an outstanding job--punctual, polite, and efficient. He addressed all questions clearly and without wasting any time." read more