Home inspection. Was very rude to agent. Wouldn't even shake his hand. Cannot recommend.

I cannot recommend Jim enough. His inspection vas incredibly thorough and informative, which was important to me as a first time home buyer. He spent several hours not only providing feedback on the state of the various systems in the home, but explaining why certain things should be a certain way. When anything was not as it should be, he helped me understand the path forward. The home was not in perfect condition and several major components needed work, but Jim's feedback gave me the information and reassurance I needed to move forward. read more

Jim from Home Authority came highly recommended and he 100% lived up to my expectations. In short, I would use him for all of my future home purchases. PROS: Jim is very thorough and takes the time to explain everything he notices during the inspection if you are able to attend (I highly recommend you do but if you can't the information is still captured in the report). His reports are just as detailed and very well organized for easy reading and comprehension. Jim even returned back to our home unprompted because he wanted to double check a detail and personally called, again unprompted, to let us know additional information. As an added bonus, he actually trains other inspectors in the area which means he is extremely qualified to teach you about your future home. CONS: These aren't actually cons because I truly think Jim did an amazing job, but just things to know if you are going to work with Jim. Because of the extra effort he puts into the inspection and report, we didn't get an immediate report but it was received within 36 hours of the inspection. Jim is also a little more expensive than other options. However, you get what you pay for and I think Jim was well worth the higher cost and waiting a few extra hours for the report. A home is a big investment and spending a little extra to make sure you get a quality inspection is a no brainer to me. read more

We hired Home Authority to do a follow-up inspection after discovering that the original company we hired missed a lot. Jim did an exceptional job. He spent 4+ hours going through the house with us and clearly knew a lot about building science. He provided a very detailed and thorough report with good recommendations. Even weeks after the inspection, Jim was happy to answer questions by phone or text. Highly recommended! read more

The *FINEST* HOME INSPECTOR in DC, Virginia or Maryland. I have worked with many home inspectors over the years and Jim is simply the best. Jim inspected two homes for me this year (2014) and I was amazed at what he discovered and the level of detail found in his written reports (30+ pages, including photographs, YMMV). Jim's style is very calm, but astute and methodical. He reminds me of a detective you might see in a movie. He carefully assesses each house and goes through it step by step. He will put issues in context, and offers insights on what it might cost to fix a particular item. He will gladly share his discoveries with his clients as he explores each home... I was also amazed at his knowledge of new home construction. Anyone thinking of building a new home or buying new construction, needs to call Jim Vaughn at HomeAuthority first. His knowledge of the construction techniques, business and "culture" is extremely valuable... Jim is one of the most senior ASHI-certified inspectors in this area and is a nationally-known home-inspection instructor. Before you make the biggest purchase of your life, make sure that you know what you are -really- buying ---get an inspector that has "seen it all".... You can't go wrong with Jim... read more

We just met with Jim Vaughn, and he was awesome. We wanted a consultation about a leak in a basement -- Consumer Checkbook recommended consulting a home inspector first, rather than go straight to a basement waterproofer, which was great advice. Jim gave some suggestions of things to try first, which we will follow up on and which will save us a lot of money. Then, though, since we were in the basement, he noted many other issues -- for example, ducting and conditioning a crawl space -- and he made some really good suggestions about how to fix those too -- and he also told us why some methods are better than others. All in all, this was amazingly useful to have an expert help us figure things out, and I would highly recommend Jim. read more

I cannot recommend Jim highly enough! We have used him on three occasions and he was prompt, communicative, and did a very thorough job. His prices were reasonable for the area and we received our report just within a few days, which was very comprehensive. We will definitely use him again in the future! Thanks, Jim! read more

Jim was an excellent home inspector! He went through the entire home and found several issues, including structural issues, and explained them all to us clearly. He was the most knowledgeable and professional home inspector we have ever worked with. Thank you, Jim! read more

Jim was recommended by our realtor. This was not our first home purchase so we have dealt with other inspectors in the past. Jim was by far the most thorough inspector we have ever encountered. He did not rush though the inspection, answered all our questions, paid attention to our concerns and gave the home a most thorough inspection. We are extremely confident that if there were any issues with the home, Jim would have found them. The report he provided after the inspection was timely, professional, easy to follow and very thorough. Even the most minor problems were documented. We highly recommend using Jim and HOMEAuthority. Excellent service! read more

FAILED to show for Home Inspection. Unable to reach by phone, text or email for hours. Finally JIM called back and said he had written our appointment on the wrong day (In a job where scheduling is PARAMOUNT). JIM's failure put our $2M high end condo contract into doubt. JIM called another inspector who was able to show in a short time, and JIM said he'd give us a $150 "discount." ED SNOPE from ATLAS HOME INSPECTIONS 703-304-3925 came and did a wonderful job and emailed us our report THAT NIGHT. And told us that his regular fee is $150 less than JIM's at HOMEAuthority. So there was no actual "discount" from JIM. Failure #2. Do yourself a favor and call Ed Snope at ATLAS Home Inspections read more

If you are browsing Yelp looking for a trust-worthy home inspector, please save yourself time and trouble and call Jim immediately. The man is SUPER knowledgeable, experienced, and professional. He was responsive to e-mails before our appointment. He showed up on time. Performed a very, very thorough examination of our new home. Provided friendly conversation as he went about his business. And e-mailed our report within 24 hours. The most valuable thing he provided was a feeling of confidence that we are making a good choice in buying this house. After meeting with Jim, I feel confident that I know the ways I can continue to care for and protect this new asset in the years ahead. read more

Jim was recommended by our realtor. He was extremely thorough and explained all the things I didn't know about the townhouse we are buying in DC. As a first-time home owner this was very helpful. I highly recommend his services. read more

Jim did a wonderful job with our home inspection. This is our first home purchase and Jim was very thorough and did an excellent job explaining to us the various components of the house that are important for home ownership. In addition, he found a major problem, which we are very thankful he found it prior to closing. He also gave us a detailed explanation of the problem and how it probably became broken. He had the report to us very quickly, so his turn-around time is excellent. He is very helpful and puts a lot of care into his job. We would highly recommend him and will use him in the future. read more

If you need your home inspected, Jim is your guy! I called a few inspectors on Angie's list to get estimates, but as a new home buyer I didn't really know what to ask. I went with Jim because he really seemed to know what he was talking about, and I couldn't be happier. He was able to accommodate me on short notice, and was prompt and courteous. Even though my studio is tiny, he took his time and was very thorough. He showed me what things needed my attention, and answered all of my questions. I received my report within 24 hours with pictures and documentation of everything, including a list of the issues we discussed and helpful hints for me to fix them! read more

Jim's inspection of our home was outstanding. We booked our inspection on fairly short notice but he was incredibly thorough and got a comprehensive report (including many pictures) to us quickly. All of his findings came with context and often included recommendations for other contractors and brands best suited to resolve our issues. He is also frank about what issues we could fix ourselves. Jim gives far more than just a list of things for the seller to fix - I got a complete education about the house, its maintenance and what to expect as it ages. I really can't recommend him highly enough. read more

Jim will walk you through all the required maintenance of every system in the house. He is patient, thorough, good-natured and extremely knowledgeable. He recently inspected an old Victorian for me and he walked me through everything from how to prep radiators for the fall, to how to replace broken draw chords on old windows and he even gave me ideas about alternatives to traditional paint jobs on cedar shakes. I left with a solid understanding of what the house needed and when. The report he sent was amazingly detailed and will serve as a reference guide going forward. He is a true professional and I highly recommend him. read more

I actually found Jim via Yelp. Everyone's description of his work is spot on. He was very thorough and explained to us in detail each item. We are purchasing a foreclosure so their is ample amount of work to be done and Jim did not hesitate to explain "fix-its" for each item. He gave us his full inspection report in a very timely manner. I would suggest Jim to anyone who wants a home inspection. read more

Having experienced several mediocre inspectors in the past, it was a delightful to have Jim perform an inspection on our home recently. He was professional, friendly, and helpful. His report detailed expected issues and was accompanied by good photos. His price was very reasonable and he took as much time as was needed to examine all areas of the home. read more

We were so pleased with Jim's knowledge and expertise. His inspection was by far the best home inspection we have ever had. He was easy to work with and took time to make sure we understood each area of importance in the inspection. We would defiantly recommend Jim and will be using him next time. read more

Jin conducted a home inspection on a duplex I was purchasing. Jim and his associate were very professional, and their customer service was amazing. Scheduling with Jim was very easy through the website, and he was able to come out right when I needed him. He did a highly comprehensive, thorough, and educational inspection. He provided a thoroughly detailed and easily understood report, which was easily accessible and downloadable right from the customer portal. In the report he provided great pictures and clear commentary for each issue. He also categorized the issues by major, minor, and general issues. This was extremely helpful for coordinating fixes with the seller and for planning upgrades that I would be undertaking. He also provided recommended contractors to assists with specific high dollar issues like roof, electric, and HVAC. Overall, I would definitely utilize him in the future and recommend him to others. read more

Jim has exceeded expectations on multiple occasions. His inspections are very thorough and his reports are excellent.

Jim was fantastic. He spent a full 5 hours at our prospective property. He is incredibly thorough and good at his job. He also went out of his way to see the crawl space and roof even though these proved very difficult and time consuming to get to. We would absolutely recommend him! read more

If you are searching for a home inspector, look no further! Jim is absolutely the person you need. He is extremely thorough, takes the time to explain to you what he's doing, and also explains other things you should know and understand as a home owner. As a first time home buyer, his knowledge sharing was the best part; I feel more prepared for home ownership now then ever before. His final report was amazingly detailed and was sent to me in less than 24 hours! read more

Jim spent several hours with me during our home inspection. He showed me precisely how to repair several issues, gave me estimates on costs to repair where possible, and literally reviewed all nooks and crannies. He is a pleasure to work with, was available on short notice, and just a great service provider. If you're making a home purchase, you don't want to second guess your inspection. I couldn't recommend someone more. read more

Jim was referred to us by our realtor. He was extremely thorough and is very knowledgeable. He takes a genuine interest in making sure everything checks out and spent time explaining all his findings during the inspection and after. I would absolutely hire him again and recommend him to others. read more

I am a first time homebuyer and Jim was great. He scheduled me for an appointment right away and the report came super fast. Highly recommend Jim and Home Authority. Oh, and his prices were extremely reasonable - especially for this area. read more

Jim is the best. He was incredibly thorough and meticulous during his inspection. We're first time home-owners and it was reassuring having him go through every detail of our new home. read more

I highly recommend Jim and HOMEAuthority for home inspections. He fit me into his busy schedule on short notice, and he arrived precisely on time to our appointment today. He was thorough with the inspection and patient with me, taking hours to explore every inch that a human could possibly reach in that house. A significant problem unrelated to Jim's work came to light just as he was packing to leave, and he stuck around for a solid 40 minutes until he saw that I got the answers I needed. That was after he had spent more than a considerable amount of time on the inspection. He talked me through each discovery, giving clear explanations and welcoming questions. At the end of the inspection, he showed me the photos he had taken and gave me a recap of the potential concerns he had about the property. If you truly want to know the secrets hidden inside a house, your money will be well spent on Jim. read more

Highly recommend Jim for your home inspection. We've used Jim several times and have not been disappointed. We've contacted him on short notice, he's always been responsive. He does an extremely thorough job and will not only tell you exactly what needs repair or replacement, but will actually advise you on how to repair and who to contact as a referral. He answered all of our questions, and also advised on how to make the home more energy efficient. Will use Jim again in the future. read more

Jim was a phenomenal inspector. It was a recently flipped home and he was incredibly thorough to make sure everything was safe, up to code and recommended a lot of fixes that we requested from the contractors before we closed. He's incredibly knowledgeable, professional and personable and made us feel more confident about the home, especially as first-time homeowners. He was very responsive beforehand and afterward, and he submitted a report really quickly. read more

Jim was extremely thorough, professional, courteous and helpful. I strongly recommend his work.

This is my 4th home purchase and Jim is the best inspector I recall ever working with. As other reviewers point out, he's thorough and takes his time. He spent 4.5 hours on inspection day (for a 3500 sq ft home) and then is coming back on another day at no extra charge since there was snow on roof on the first day. Yes, he's thorough. He also has good ideas for how to address things and isn't afraid to give some high-level ballpark numbers when he has an idea. Maybe he's a tiny bit too alarmist on some things. For example, he told me that not using breakers the same brand as the electrical panel box voids the homeowners policy in the event of a fire. I called my insurance agent and they said no, this isn't the case. Also, some items he ranked as MAJOR we might consider less major, but it's to the buyer's advantage for him to be overly cautious, so thats ok. On the downside (and this is very minor) he complains that the market has brought down inspection prices. I get his point, but my first interaction with him was a little negative because he focused on this. At the end, though, we're going to pay him more than he quoted us (750 was what he quoted). I just feel it's the right thing to do because the services of an inspector are just SO valuable. A couple hundred more dollars to an inspector could result in a couple more thousand dollars from the sellers to cover the issues. read more

I put a contract on a short sale home, which had been recently upgraded in Washington, DC. When buying an older home you always want to make sure you find out the truth behind the walls and under the exterior and safety is the number one concern. I wanted to get an inspector who was experienced in the Washington, DC area and was very thorough so I logged on to Yelp; Did a search on home inspectors; Sorted by Highest Rated; and after reading Jim's reviews under the company HOMEAuthority where he is constantly being mentioned by name told me exactly what I needed to do and I was right. I felt good about paying him for the job he did inspecting the home. We walked and talked through the entire house sharing stories and truly answering any questions I had. Jim's inspection report filled with photos and details is a manual on how to get your home up to par. Jim is good at what he does and is a genuinely good guy. read more