Saturday, December 3, 2022

$50.00 Christmas Discount on Home Inspections

 

Beginning today, December 3, 2022, through December 31, 2022 we offer a $50.00 discount on all qualifying inspections booked during that time period. Realtors can offer their clients a Christmas Gift on us. All that is required is to book an inspection online and enter $50.00 Holiday Discount in the notes of the booking and we will reduce the inspection fee by $50.00. 

Book yours, or your clients inspection at http://www.chrisdhilton.com/booking.html in any of the North Carolina Counties in red below and enter the note.  



Friday, December 2, 2022

Winner of our $100 Gas Card Drawing for November

  


Winner of our ninth gas card drawing for the month of November 2022

Realtor

Lisa Hill

with

Stratford Realty Group 

Of


One of the most distinctive features of Realtor, Lisa Hill, from our company perspective, is that our inspector, Josh Hedges, is married to her daughter, Olivia. However, our connection with Lisa extends back almost a decade, when Olivia and Josh were young teenagers in 2013 and Josh wasn’t likely a figment of her imagination. Yes, we have been involved with Lisa’s clients home inspections since her beginning in real estate. Irrelevant of the results of our inspections, which can be wicked at times, Lisa hangs with us. To the best of our knowledge, Lisa holds the record of closing on the property with the highest repair estimate, following our inspection, of over $70,000. She negotiated a reduction in the price of that amount and took that property to the closing table. WOW!

We look forward to decades of additional work with Lisa’s clients. I fully plan on living a long life and continue working with Lisa and her clients. 

I will be contacting Lisa to find out whether she prefers a Sheetz or Speedway card which she will receive shortly in an email. Hey Lisa - Become eligible for the next drawing by following the instructions below. Your card will not be re-entered. 

Word to the wise, we are having a terrible time remembering to get one of your business cards at our inspections. We haven't done a very good job of that. It is our fault so we have changed the process. For every inspection we have, with one of your clients, we are now creating a card to enter in the drawing. There are also other ways to be eligible. Let’s fill the drawing cage up with cards. All but the one drawn will remain for the full year. 

Question is how do YOU win the one for December? Find out here:

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Winner of our $100 Gas Card Drawing for October

 

Steven Limbers and his lovely wife Ashley

Winner of our eighth gas card drawing for the month of October 2022

Realtor

Steven Limbers

with

Keller Williams Realty One

Provided that I have my story straight Steven Limbers attained his real estate brokerage license in January of 2020 and we conducted our first home inspection, for one of his clients, in June of his first year. I believe that Nora Akers was with me on the first one and Josh Hedges on the second. I think that I may have put Josh alone on the third and Steven's clients have been booking with Josh ever since. Is that upsetting for me? Absolutely not, such is our game plan and it works. Nothing pleases me more than for agents and their clients to be pleased with our trainee/associates and to actually prefer them over me. Steven and his clients can't go wrong with Josh on their team. 

Josh and our company look forward to a long term relationship with Steven and his clients. 

I will be contacting Steven to find whether he prefers a Sheetz or Speedway card which he will receive shortly in an email. Hey Steven - Become eligible for the next drawing by following the instructions below. Your card will not be re-entered. 

Word to the wise, we are having a terrible time remembering to get one of your business cards at our inspections. We haven't done a very good job of that. It is our fault so we have changed the process. For every inspection we have, with one of your clients, we are now creating a card to enter in the drawing. There are also other ways to be eligible. Let’s fill the drawing cage up with cards. All but the one drawn will remain for the full year. 

Question is how do YOU win the one for November? Find out here:

Monday, October 3, 2022

Winner of our $100 Gas Card Drawing for September

 

Winner of our seventh gas card drawing for the month of September 2022

Realtor

Taylor Street Hamlett

with

Hedrick Street Real Estate, LLC


We have worked with Terry Hedrick's clients for around two decades through various company transitions. Taylor is a breath of fresh air to Terry and Taylor's father Neal Street's organization of Hedrick Street Real Estate, LLC. 

Our experience with Taylor is limited as she is young and relatively new to the industry, unlike old codgers like Terry and I. It was our great pleasure to connect with her through a home inspection during 2022. 

We have learned about Taylor from her companies website. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2017 with a degree in journalism but found he passion in the real estate industry as a third generation real estate broker. In her spare time Taylor loves traveling with her husband, Shane, and spoiling her Australian Shepherd puppy, Kenan. 

Our inspection team looks forward to a long term relationship with Taylor, far exceeding our relationship with her associate Terry Hedrick. 

I will be contacting Taylor to find whether she prefers a Sheetz or Speedway card which she will receive shortly in an email. Hey Taylor - Become eligible for the next drawing by following the instructions below. Your card will not be re-entered. 

Word to the wise, we are having a terrible time remembering to get one of your business cards at our inspections. We haven't done a very good job of that. It is our fault so we have changed the process. For every inspection we have, with one of your clients, we are now creating a card to enter in the drawing. There are also other ways to be eligible. Let’s fill the drawing cage up with cards. All but the one drawn will remain for the full year. 

Question is how do YOU win the one for September? Find out here:

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

New Home Inspection Booking System

 


BREAKING NEWS - Following almost three years of procrastination, trepidation, months of grueling work, trying my patience, our new home inspection booking system is live and functioning. 

What does this mean for you good and bad? 

Let’s deal with the bad first:

Our prices will increase a little. Feel free to blame that on our current presidential administrations drastically negative affect on our economy as I will. Our base rate has increased $25.00 and radon tests by the same. That now makes our base rate for a home, up to 1600 SF, $425.00, radon tests with inspections $150.00 and without an inspection $175.00. 

The good good news:

We now have a $25.00 discount if you select a package which includes a radon test with your inspection. 

I felt that our charge for attached homes, condos and townhouse was too high, therefore we now discount that, from the base price, by $50.00. Making that base price for attached homes, up to 1600 SF, be $375.00.

Our add on for homes over 1600 SF, and for homes over 25 years old, rather than calculate by ranges now calculate per exact square foot and year. In reality this makes some less and some more but is much more fair to the home. 

Our package inspection, including a radon test, for large, higher priced and old/historic homes now includes a team to make them go quicker as well as a $50.00 discount. 

You now have the option to choose to add a team to make your inspection go much quicker at a $200.00 added fee. 

We now include an option for a walk and talk on detached structures, without a report at no charge. 

You can now book an inspection on small out buildings including living space and garages with apartments as part of your booking. 

Shortly, Realtors who work with us on a regular basis, will have their own personal page with more simplified booking and access to all of your inspection reports from the past and overtime. 

You will now be able to book inspections in the High Country and all of the areas we cover, based on the zip codes we cover, without difficulty. It will no longer be tied to towns. 

If you have questions, difficulty or concerns with the new system feel free to comment below or text me at 336-816-7756 

Book your inspection now on our website at www.chrisdhilton.com or go direct to our booking page at http://www.chrisdhilton.com/booking.html

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Winner of our $100 Gas Card Drawing for August

 

Winner of our sixth gas card drawing for the month of August 2022

Realtor

Kris Childress

with



Many Realtors are the sunshine in our lives but few more than Kris Childress. When we arrive for one of her clients inspections, Kris has a smile on her face and greats us with a hug. I will be honest we have experienced some challenging homes with Kris but she hangs in there and works it out whether it be to creatively make that one happen or move on to the next one, she doesn't miss a beat. Kris's smile, as you see in the photos above, is infectious. You can't not be happy in her presence. 

We have been conducting home inspections for Kris's clients since November of 2018. I have fond memories, early on, as Kris pulled up in a driveway behind me walked up and said. "Do you know there are some agents who don't care for you." I said "quite a few, why?" "This listing agent was upset that I chose you and couldn't understand why." She said that you do know he is a deal killer, don't you? Why do  you use him?" I inquired what she said. "I said that I use him because he is the best and I want the best for my clients." Guess that settled that. I am still attempting to figure out all of those deals I killed. They are actually few and far between. In reality, we save many more of those "tough" homes than we kill. Truth is that Kris can assure you than I have likely helped save a few of hers and a few of the homes have committed suicide. Such is life and Realtors, like Kris, understand and are appreciative. Kris is the kind of Realtor we prefer to work with. There are many who claim they place their client interests above their own. Kris honestly does.

I will be contacting Kris to find whether she prefers a Sheetz or Speedway card which she will receive shortly in an email. Hey Kris - Become eligible for the next drawing by following the instructions below. Your card will not be re-entered. 

Word to the wise, we are having a terrible time remembering to get one of your business cards at our inspections. We haven't done a very good job of that. It is our fault so we have changed the process. For every inspection we have, with one of your clients, we are now creating a card to enter in the drawing. There are also other ways to be eligible. Let’s fill the drawing cage up with cards. All but the one drawn will remain for the full year. 

Question is how do YOU win the one for September? Find out here:

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Winner of our $100 Gas Card Drawing for July


Winner of our fifth gas card drawing for the month of July 2022

Realtor

Richard Paulicelli

with


Richard, Joel (born in July), 2 year old Sophia and Stephanie

Richard lives in Whitsett and works the Burlington area, therefore many of his home inspections are an hour, or more, drive for us both ways. Why do we drive those distances for Richard's clients? Because he is persistent and the work just keeps coming over and over again almost every week and sometimes multiple times in a week. 

We did our first home inspection with one of Richard's clients in April of 2019 shortly after he became a Realtor and was dissatisfied with home inspection experiences starting out. Our team has literally been involved with the growth of his real estate career and his family, daughter Sophia born, November of 2020, and his son Joel born, weeks ago, in July. We have all enjoyed his excitement is discover he was going to be a father twice as he was constantly booking home inspections, in 2019 and then again in 2021. As Facebook friends we have shared in the process of Richard's children's births and adventures, with he and Stephanie, starting out as new parents. 

Our most fascinating experiences with Richard were observing him finding out they were expecting a child and dealing with that through the pandemic as he started out totally paranoid, as many where, with protecting the mother of his child, and their child, through this process while working to keep his business thriving. Then we observed him do it all over again with much more experience. Richard is the type Realtor we most enjoy working with. He is as paranoid about doing the very best meeting his clients needs. Richard is always very in tune with the details attending and being involved with their home inspections and our process. 

It doesn't appear that we can chase him away as, for some strange reason we only experience, and pay to repair, most of our short comings, on Richard's clients home inspections. One involved a roofing issue and recently two window issues. Thankfully, Richard, remains consistent, no matter what, and continues booking enough home inspections to off set our expense when we screw up. Don't get excited, apparently we only stumble and fall on Richard's inspections and work with he, and his clients, to quickly resolve the issues to everyones satisfaction leaving everyone happy new homeowners. We refuse to have dissatisfied clients or their agents. 

I will be contacting Richard to find whether he prefers a Sheetz or Speedway card which he will receive shortly in an email. Hey Richard - Become eligible for the next drawing by following the instructions below. Your card will not be re-entered. 

Word to the wise, we are having a terrible time remembering to get one of your business cards at our inspections. We don’t do a very good job of that. It is our fault so we are going to change the process. For every inspection we have, with one of your clients, we are now creating a card to enter in the drawing. There are also other ways to be eligible. Let’s fill the drawing cage up with cards. All but the one drawn will remain for the full year. 

Question is how do YOU win the one for August? Find out here:


Thursday, July 7, 2022

Winner of our $100 Gas Card Drawing for June

 


Winner of our fourth gas card drawing for the month of June 2022

Realtor

Robert C. Lumres

with

Mitchell Prime Properties

My apologies for being a little late with this, June ended like a lion and July began the same. We have been inundated with work and what I refer to as fighting alligators. 

Per our data base we have been working with Robert's clients since 2015. My bride, Pam Hilton, is also an agent with Mitchell Prime Properties. She and Robert have become close friends. If you know me well you know that my phone conversations are short, some might say blunt, not Robert's, his and Pam's phone conversations tend to go on and on and on. I have no clue what it is they talk about. Robert also tends to call Pam to coordinate and book inspections through her, rather than book online as most agents do, which is fine with me. I will take them from wherever I can get them. Did I mention they like to talk on the phone? 

Robert is always smiling, cheerful and it doesn't matter what issues may come up, on an inspection, they are un-daunting to him. Robert has a knack for working through the most daunting issues with ease and a positive attitude. Many of Roberts client's are fellow Filipinos and he is very connected and involved in the local Filipino community. Clients also tend to be involved, in one way or another, with the medical field where he obviously has great connections. I tend to inquire what people do for a living. With Robert's clients, typically one or the other, of couples, are in the medical field and one or the other, or both, will be Filipino in family origin. I was never aware of the extent of the local Filipino community before beginning to work with Robert's clients. It has been my great pleasure to meet and work with so many of these wonderful people. 

Boy loves to cook, coordinate with others who cook, and throw lavish parties. You haven't lived till you get to enjoy Robert's awesome food. I have always been impressed with Robert's commitment and involvement with his family and children. He tends to bring five year old daughter Isabella to the office and inspections. She is like a tiny china doll with a fashion flare, I am here attitude, a little bashful, and a joy to be around, at 5 going on 25.

I will be contacting Robert to find whether he prefers a Sheetz or Speedway card which he will receive shortly in an email. Hey Robert - Become eligible for the next drawing by following the instructions below. Your card will not be re-entered. 

Word to the wise, we are having a terrible time remembering to get one of your business cards at our inspections. We don’t do a very good job of that. It is our fault so we are going to change the process. For every inspection we have, with one of your clients, we are now creating a card to enter in the drawing. There are also other ways to be eligible. Let’s fill the drawing cage up with cards. All but the one drawn will remain for the full year. 

Question is how do YOU win the one for July? Find out here:


Saturday, June 11, 2022

Realtor Services

HOW ABOUT WE PROVIDE A HELPING HAND
Realtor Services

Optimum question! 

Can working with, and encouraging involvement of, a particular home inspector help you sell homes? 

That is exactly what this addresses 

From being the best for your client, providing added value services, in excess of what they pay, including various warranty coverages, a buyback guarantee, keeping you before your clients multiple times a month, for free, FOREVER, conducting pre-listing inspections for your sellers, actually assisting you in selling their homes. We are changing the atmosphere of home inspections, one inspection at a time. We challenge you to find other inspectors equal, let alone better at what we do. Imagine advising your client that we will literally purchase their home back, if we miss something required, and they are not happy keeping their home. A little added bonus, if we buy it, we list it with you to re-sell. Does it get better than that?

We Love Realtors! However, there are major limitations on transactions involving your client. Let’s begin this by establishing some parameters. Our legal, contractural and fiduciary responsibility is 100% to our mutual clients. Our sole responsibility to the Realtors, is to do the very best for our mutual clients, even if that ends in them terminating the transaction, due to issues with the condition of the home. When experiencing issues which make our mutual clients uncomfortable, our job is to do everything in our power to keep those issues in proper perspective. The perspective is that everything is repairable. It is all in the details of how that is handled, who ends up bearing the expense and how that may positively, or negatively, affect the value of the home. Nothing pleases us more than being part of turning lemons into lemonade and helping difficult deals workout. In actuality, we do that more often than you could imagine. When the chips are down, we jump in and help work it out, if possible. 

All of that said, you will be shocked at what we have to offer assisting you booking inspections, maintaining nonstop constant contact with your clients, they will rave about receiving, multiple times a month, FOREVER! 

Where It Begins


Real Estate Dashboard (RED) -
 An intuitive easy way for agents to contact us, schedule new, review past inspections and update their profile. Accomplished with a direct link, to our system, we provide for your smart phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. Don't have it? Ask for it by texting Chris at 336-816-7756. Yes, Realtor, Pam Hilton, is married to the old buzzard. 

Questions During Showings - On a showing and run into something everyone has questions, or is confused about? No big deal, text a question with photos to Chris at 336-816-7756 and he will respond as quickly as possible, typically instantly from wherever he may be. That has included some very strange places and times over the years. How many times have we received a request we were unable to answer? Try - NEVER. 

Before the Offer Consultation - Have a client who loves a home, would like to make an offer but are uncomfortable? Not a problem. Our Senior Inspector, Chris Hilton, makes himself available for phone consultations with agents and their buyers prior to their making an offer. Text Chris at 336-816-7756, If that doesn’t provide adequate comfort or Chris isn’t comfortable over the phone, subject too availability, Chris or one of our other inspectors aren’t above a courtesy quick walkthrough of the property if he deems such is appropriate. Many potential buyers have made offers on homes they were uncomfortable with after our involvement. What do we charge for this? Try nothing! 

Clients Selection of a Home Inspector - Our services to Realtors begins with our making pricing and booking available 24/7 at
www.chrisdhilton.com with information to assist your client in choosing their home inspector. WHAT - we don’t want you to simply book with us? No, we are of the opinion that creates a liability that you do not need hanging over your head. You should provide your clients with a minimum of three recommendations you should allow them to choose from. There is no problem with you saying who your preference is, and why, but make it very clear the choice is theirs and they should check out these and any others they desire. THE CHOICE SHOULD CLEARLY BE THEIRS! For us, direct them to our website at www.chrisdhilton.com. If we can’t convince them that we are their best choice we don’t deserve to be their home inspector. If it is their choice for you to book their inspection, check out the Real Estate Dashboard addressed above. 


Chance to Win a $100.00 Gas Card Every Month
- On the last day of each month we have a drawing for a $100.00 gas card for agents who’s clients we work with and whom we have met with about our services. Click here for how to participate. 

What if the Inspector Misses Something
- Many homebuyers are hung up on the question of what happens if the home inspector misses something consequential and they get stuck with it. You would imagine that the fact we have been doing this since 1998 completing over 7000 inspections, without that occurring, would be enough. With some that simply doesn't cut it. No problem, if one of our inspectors misses anything they were required to address and the client is so unhappy with the home that they don't want it, WE WILL BUY IT BACK! Yes, I don't stutter and you can find the details by clicking here. One little caveat for you. We list the home with you for resale and pay standard commission rate. 

What if Something Goes Wrong After the Inspection
We cover that with our 90 Day Warranty. You can learn the details by clicking here.


Booking the Home Inspection
- We provide online access for booking home, and commercial building inspections,  24/7 at www.chrisdhilton.com. You can book for the client or we are of the opinion it is better to simply encourage them to book for themselves. It is a simple process. 


Keeping EVERYONE Involved in the Communication Loop - Unlike other inspectors we communicate with the client, buyers and sellers agents via email and text. We do our best to keep everyone informed what is going on and when. As approved by our client in their contract we include the sellers agent and the seller (if provided their emails address) with the report delivery on completion. We offer an opt out if informed that is undesirable. That said, since 1998, we have experienced very few opt outs of that arrangement and don’t receive complaints. It is our opinion that repair negotiations go MUCH smoother when everyone is working from the exact same information on the table. 

Scheduling Access to the Home - We may be a little strange about this but we prefer that the buyers agent make the appointment with ShowingTime, or however is appropriate, not us, and supply us with access information. Our inspectors will also make an appointment as a back up. Yes,  Chris Hilton has been an associate member of the Winston-Salem Association of Relators for since 1998. All of our active inspectors are members. We all have ShowingTime, SentriKey access through the Winston-Salem Association and Supra Key access through the Greensboro Association. Chris Hilton is also an associate member of the High Country Realtors Association and Inspector Mark Silcott (also an active Realtor) is a full Association member. We simply prefer that the buyers agent be involved with access arrangements. If that is a problem let us know. 

We love buyers and their agents attendance

Inspection Attendance
- Our preference is that both our client and their agent attend and participate in the total inspection process. We feel everyone benefits from that, better understands the issues and is better equipped to negotiate the repairs requested if they are actively involved. Does anyone have to attend? No, it is totally your choice and we fully understand that it isn’t always possible with busy schedules and out of town clients or Realtors. You should be very uncomfortable with any home inspector who discourages attendance or even says come at the end. That said, we do many of our inspections alone. Apparently many others don’t deem that as important as we do. No problem, we will do our thing without you. 


The Best Report System Available on Earth - 40 plus years of experience, millions of reports completed, created by, Carson Dunlop, a Canadian consulting engineering company dedicated to home inspections since 1978. Horizon helps us do the right thing, the right way, faster than ever before. We are literally, entering photos, as we take them, and creating your report as we make entries onsite. Yes, we could deliver your report onsite but choose not to do so. All of our reports are reviewed, tweaked, and modified, by the inspector and our Senior Inspector, Master Inspector, Chris D. Hilton before it reaches your hands to assure that you receive the very best report possible. Our Senior Inspector, Chris Hilton, has worked as a paid consultant for Carson Dunlop working closely with its co-founder, Alan Carson, on creating an online training system for NC State University and beta testing their first iPhone reporting application. Chris Hilton was the state certified field trainer for state approval of the NC State University online training system created by Carson Dunlop. Chris also assisted in creation of their Horizon Insight application. 


Repair Request Form
- We provide you with a link to an online program which allows you to access and use or report comments, photos, and add your own comments to create your repair request. Check it out by Clicking Here

Following The Inspection

After the Inspection Consultation - You would be shocked at the effectiveness of Chris Hilton’s extensive construction background, over 5 million square feet of commercial construction, and 25 years of inspection experience, making buyers and sellers more comfortable, assisting addressing serious issues which may arise during the inspection as part of the decision to proceed and the due diligence process. Often clients, and even their agents, need a little experienced handholding as part of the process. We never do the inspection, provide the report and disappear. When you pay our fee we do our best to assist, as may be need, throughout the process and even after closing. 


What if Client is Completely Dissatisfied with Their Inspection
- If after your client reviews their home inspection report they aren't satisfied with our performance, simply say so and we will return 100% of their fee. In addition, we will pay up to equal that fee to any licensed North Carolina home inspector, of their choosing, to conduct a second home inspection. We have offered that for decades without anyone asking for their fee to be returned and for us to pay another inspector. Click Here for details. 

Issues During the Due Diligence Period - Something come up during the due diligence process relative to issue with the inspection or other issues relative to the construction and or function of the home. No problem. Text Chris at 336-816-7756. He is happy to assist. 


Home Warranty 18 Months for the cost of 12
- Yes, we are affiliated with a home warranty company who, if we inspect the home,  offers an 18 month warranty for the cost of 12. Can you beat that? You will find more information by Clicking Here

After Closing

Maintain Mutually Branded Contact (with their agent) FOREVER! 
 We do not disappear after closing. We maintain (mutually branded, with the buyers agent) contact forever, in association with their Recall Check and Home Binder services, with our mutual clients during the ownership of their home and after. Typically when our clients buy their next home they insist on us being their inspector and their mutually branded agent as their Realtor. We have clients, since 1998, we have inspected multiple homes for them, their family members and friends. Ask us about how me maintain communication and include the buyers agent in those communications. We keep you in front of our client forever FOR FREE! If you are not already aware and involved with this please contact our Director of Agent Services Nora Akers. Here is a link to her Digital Business Card  

Before Listing

Pre-listing Inspections - Inspected Houses We were just beginning kicking this in gear when the pandemic and the sellers market made it more difficult. Stay tuned as this effort begins again. Currently, homes are put on the market, offers are accepted, and then inspections are performed for the buyer. Upon inspection deficiencies are discovered and then buyers and sellers negotiate repairs. With this process, real estate transactions are typically negotiated twice, once on the price of the house and once for repairs. This process always cost sellers and buyers money because they are blindsided with unexpected costs and unforeseen deficiencies. This is changing in many markets. We are associated with an inspection company in Canada where 90% of their business is pre-listing inspections. We are working on making that much more prevalent here.

Additional Services For Your Client’s

Along with what is mentioned above we offer MUCH MORE for you client

Radon Testing


10% Discount on Moving Services


More Coming Soon

Drone for Difficult to Observe Roofs  

CrawlBot Access for Difficult Crawlspaces 

Mold Testing

Lead Testing 

Sewer Scope

Well Inspections

Septic System Inspections

Yearly Maintenance Inspections

Our Inspectors

Links to their digital business cards

Owner/Senior Inspector 
Triad and High Country










Director of Agent Services
Assistant to Chris D Hilton 










Emily Cabrera
Home Inspector
Radon Technician
Mold Technician
Office Staff









Home Inspector Triad

Webmaster
 

















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