AW Spotlight
US Building Inspectors
By Sabeen Faquir
US Building Inspectors (USBI) has been in business since 2000. It was founded by Mike Carson, who owned, operated, and grew the company in Wellington, FL. In 2005, Patti Neri purchased the company and continued to grow it to the wonderful company it is today. Mike’s mission statement was: once the customer (buyer in most cases) has found the home, in the neighborhood and community in which they wish to reside, our goal is to present the facts of the functionality and findings of the home in order to enable them to make an informed decision on moving forward with the purchase of the home. Their realtor or real estate attorney can advise them from that point on.
I got the chance to ask Patti about changes that came to the business and she told me she took a homegrown company operated in Wellington, FL and expanded it to 4 counties (Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie). “As the needs of the company expanded, so did the staff, enabling us to meet the needs of our clientele (buyers, sellers, realtors, and real estate attorneys), who depend on our professionalism and attention to detail,” she told me.
The inspections have also grown to include ancillary services, such as mold and allergen inspections, and testing capabilities for both, as well as protocol writing for homeowners, public adjusters, insurance companies, and prospective homeowners. Other services are water testing for bacteria and other elements, Chinese Drywall inspections, and a separate team of a licensed general contractor, structural engineer, well water treatment service, termite company, septic company, gas inspection and installation company, and pool company to meet the needs of all types of property inspections.
I asked Patti, “What do customers need help with the most?” She answered that customers need help understanding that a home inspection is a functional inspection, not a new home construction inspection, implying that the property is a resale most of the time, and systems in the home are not expected to be as they were when they were new. Many need help understanding the windstorm mitigation and how it may benefit them, as well as disclosing all different types of services that USBI does, and those services they don’t. Some want lead, asbestos, and/or radon testing, and USBI refers them to another company. “Our most popular services are the comprehensive home inspection, windstorm mitigation, and wood-destroying organism inspection, which is the latter of these 3 services and performed by a licensed and insured pest control company,” said Patti.
The benefits of getting a building inspection are never-ending. Having a building inspection on a residential, equestrian, or commercial property and not skipping this very important process, as some do, is critical. “The buyer is aware of the faults and deficiencies, and also the need for maintenance of all parts of the home,” Patti told me. Whether the real estate pre-purchase contract is an “As Is”, or not, does not change the outcome of the inspection report. Having an inspection performed by a licensed professional enables the buyer to be informed about all facets of the property prior to moving forward with the purchase. It also enables the buyer to discuss with their advocate, i.e. realtor and/or real estate attorney, if further negotiations are an option, or if rescinding their offer due to unexpected issues is another option. The buyer could also move forward with the purchase, or get an extension to their due diligence period to request other trade professionals’ opinions about an item in the home, having something repaired, replaced, or treated for something.
“Peace of mind knowing they have had someone check all parts of the building, and to have full disclosure of what to expect once the closing has taken place is paramount to most people,” said Patti. A punch list of items is created with a building inspection report. Whether the buyer chooses to use this punch list to negotiate with the seller, or to go through the list of items in the inspection report to prioritize the most important, is up to the buyer.
Another great thing about USBI is that it gives back to the community. It is a resource to many homeowners and business owners. Due to their involvement in many areas of the community, they are able to provide homeowners and prospective homeowners with reputable companies they may need to hire. The Western Business Alliance has become an integral part of the Western Communities for business owners to network, and for USBI, it has taken the place of Chambers of Commerce, and networking referral groups. “I have spent many years as a member of several chambers and networking referral groups; however, every business owner has to do what is best for their business. Because of my involvement in the community for over 20 years now, I am able to point people in the direction of those who are ethical, professional, licensed, and insured, and help them avoid doing business with companies that may not have a good reputation,” Patti told me.
US Building Inspectors offers coupons all year long. They also offer discounts for any prospective buyer, seller, realtor, or real estate attorney. Yelp has been a wonderful resource because many of USBI’s customers see the rave reviews about the team. It’s also a thrill for Patti when customers come in from word of mouth.
USBI is perfect for the Village of Wellington because it was conceived in Wellington in 2000. USBI is familiar with most of the properties there, already. And they have inspected so many residential, equestrian, and commercial properties in Wellington, that they are familiar with the construction of most homes, including the issues and positive traits. Patti told me, “Many times, we have already inspected properties that come in and I can look up any deficiencies or issues that happened in the past. This way, we have an advantage knowing all facets of a property before even arriving at it.” Then USBI determines if previous issues were resolved or not when they show up at the property to inspect it again.
Patti left me by telling me that she is expecting her fourth grandchild in August, and looks forward to balancing her life between family and business. She loves AroundWellington.com and Krista Martinelli’s work for the incredible resource the magazine is to the community. “The articles and featured columns are both immensely important to me because it enables me to keep up with my fellow business owners, as well as local celebrities,” said Patti. She loves being part of such an amazing family of “Wellingtonites” and is very appreciative of the reciprocated love of all who live and work here!
US Building Inspectors
(561) 784-8811
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