Our Services
What We Do
Residential Pre-settlement
Residential Presettlement Inspections since 1984, including written a report detailing concerns along with maintenance and remodeling suggestions. With an extensive knowledge that most inspectors do not have, we provide a meticulous inspection, thoroughly inspecting many items that others do not. Our inspections are not held to the minimum standard of associations or licenses; they are much more thorough. We tell it like it is, without regard as to whether or not we get referrals from realtors. Our clients are home purchasers and they love us. I am the only field inspector. My construction background is: construction laborer, carpenter laborer, carpenter helper, carpenter, carpenter foreman, electrician's helper, plumbing helper, sheet metal mechanic, concrete foreman, housing project assistant superintendent, housing project engineer, housing project superintendent, sanitary sewer draftsman, housing project manager over superintendents, housing project developer, house designer, kitchen and bath designer, inspector for bank construction loans, real estate appraiser, remodeling project manager, remodeling contractor, home /building inspector.
Consultant for Residential Construction
Consultant for Residential Construction, including plan review, contract review for what is truly included and not included, cost review and monitoring of construction. We provide our clients construction knowledge at least equal to and often better than that of the contractor and architect.
You can avoid common pitfalls most homeowners make by hiring The House Inspector as a construction consultant for your remodeling or new home. We explain what your contract really says, construction-wise, and often, more importantly, what it does not state because of omissions. Be sure your contract allows for random inspections by a third party -The House Inspector, and by you - the Owner. An attorney should read over your contract for legalize, but most attorneys do not know the construction terms and methods and process for construction; The House Inspector does. If you like, we will recommend several attorneys that deal in home construction. Our construction consultations can begin before the contractor or even the architect is chosen. We are helpful in working with you to choose either or both, and will advise through the entire design process, and then through the actual construction phase where we monitor the construction work. For some of our clients we have performed random site inspections; for others scheduled visits and for others we have met with them on site for certain issues. In short, The House Inspector can keep you out of trouble and help prevent costly problems down the road, or we can help get you out of trouble when dealing with an adversarial contractor.
If you would like to discuss your residential construction with us, please
call 703-356-2441.
Expert Witness
Expert Witness, including report with photos, cost to correct, and testimony if required. In over twenty years involving dozen of cases ranging from several thousand dollars, to more than a million dollars, only one client was not on the winning side. Although the contractor's work was proved to be terrible, the judge believed the homeowner was untruthful and was in breach of contract.
Expert Waterproofing Consultant
Expert Waterproofing Consultant, including determining cause and feasible solutions. We have saved homeowners thousands of dollars. Our objective is to keep water out of house. We do not actually do the waterproofing, but we show you why you have the water, dampness or mold problems and how you or a contactor can cure them. There are many factors involved including roofing, gutters, siding, landscaping and the foundation itself. Many contractors want to do the wrong work or not enough; others add unnecessary work which increases the cost. We have performed over 3500 foundation waterproofing consultations. Over the years, only five clients said our remedy did not work. In each case I inspected the corrective work and explained to them that their work was not done as suggested. Since we ask our customers to tell us if what we say does not work, and if it does work. We believe we are batting about 100%.
Replacement Cost Consultant
Replacement Cost of existing homes for insurance, etc.
Our Gallery
Photos of Our Work
- Meet Tom Pendleton
Owner Of The House Inspector
Tom Pendleton has been in construction since 1964 when, between college semesters at the University of Virginia, he worked as a carpenter. He has designed and built homes since 1968.
In 1985, he founded The House Inspector, and another company named Pendleton Homes and Remodeling in 1986.
The House Inspector, which is primarily a consultant company, provides many services including:
- Pre-settlement Inspections
- Expert foundation-water-proofing consultation
- End-of-year warranty inspections for new homes,
- Expert witness consultation and testimony, and
- Bank-draw progress inspections for lending institutions, as well as for homeowners.
The House Inspector reviews contracts and monitors the construction of new homes and remodeling projects. This company provides the homeowner with a knowledge level equal to, or greater than that of the contractor the owner hires. Washingtonian Magazine called The House Inspector a Homeowner Advocate.
Pendleton Homes & Remodeling is a Design-Build company that has been a member of The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) for over 14 years.
Tom Pendleton, founder, and president of the company, has been a NARI “Certified Remodeler” since 1988. He has served on almost every committee and is a present and long-standing member of the Washington NARI chapter Ethics Committee.
Pendleton Homes & Remodeling was named “McLean’s Favorite Contractor” by a newspaper poll and has won other awards including: “NARI Contractor Of The Year Award” and the “Chrysalis Award”, which was judged by Southern Living Magazine.
Mr. Pendleton is proud that Pendleton Homes & Remodeling has
had more than 35 repeat customers, many of whom have hired
Pendleton Homes three, four, and even five times, which amounts to
return for new remodeling work at least 120 times
Every one of his employees knows there is “Nothing More Important
Than a Satisfied Customer”. Media Features
Tom Pendleton and his companies have contributed to, or have been favorably reviewed by the media including:
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