Home Inspection Michigan FAQs
Answers for Buyers, Sellers, and Agents
Handy Home Inspection of Michigan, LLC is an ASHI-certified home inspection company based in West Bloomfield Township, providing professional home inspection services to buyers, sellers, and real estate agents across Oakland County, Macomb County, and nearby western Wayne County. Every inspection follows ASHI standards, includes thermal imaging at no extra cost, and comes with on-site report delivery before the inspector leaves the property. Call or text (248) 756-5081 to book your inspection.
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Booking and Scheduling
Booking Your Home Inspection
Handy Home Inspection of Michigan takes bookings through call or text at (248) 756-5081, or by email at [email protected].
When you call or text, the team finds an open inspection time and sets up the services you need, such as radon testing or a sewer scope, in one request. Call or text with any questions about the house, your inspection window, or add-on services. Real estate agents can book on a client’s behalf the same way. Before the inspection begins, you receive a clear quote with no hidden fees, so you know the full price up front.
The quickest way to see whether a Michigan home inspection is available on a specific day and time is to call or text Handy Home Inspection of Michigan at (248) 756-5081.
Inspection availability changes daily, so call or text (248) 756-5081 to ask about open times across West Bloomfield, Novi, Troy, Farmington Hills, Clinton Township, St. Clair Shores, and the rest of the service area. If the time you want is not available, the team will talk through options with you. Handy Home offers flexible scheduling built to work within tight inspection windows, which matters when your purchase agreement sets a short inspection period. Have the property address, square footage, and your contingency deadline ready so the team can help you find the best fit.
Book your Michigan home inspection as soon as your offer is accepted, because the inspection and any follow-up must fit inside the inspection period in your purchase agreement.
The inspection period is set by your purchase agreement, and your agent or attorney can confirm your exact deadline. Booking early gives you room for three things: adding services such as radon testing, which needs at least two days of closed-house conditions to run; scheduling any specialist evaluations the inspection report recommends; and reviewing findings with your agent before you respond to the seller. Sellers ordering a pre-listing inspection should book before photos and listing go live, so there is time to plan repairs or pricing. Call or text (248) 756-5081 to ask about current openings.
Handy Home Inspection of Michigan offers flexible scheduling, including evening appointments and Saturday inspections. Sunday appointments are not available.
Call or text (248) 756-5081 to hear current openings, including after-work and Saturday times. If you cannot find a time that fits your schedule and your inspection deadline, the team will work with you on options. Relocating buyers who cannot be at the property can ask about a video walkthrough for remote clients.
To reschedule or cancel a Handy Home Inspection of Michigan appointment, call or text (248) 756-5081 or email [email protected] as early as possible.
Handy Home does not charge cancellation fees. Early notice gives you the best chance of finding a new time inside your inspection period, and it frees your slot for another buyer working against a deadline. Let the team know about any change in access, such as a new lockbox code, a seller who needs to be present, or utilities that have been shut off, since gas, water, and electricity must be on for the inspector to test the heating, plumbing, and electrical systems.
All you need to book a Michigan home inspection with Handy Home is the property address, and the team takes it from there.
Call or text (248) 756-5081 with the address, pick a time that works for you, and add any extras you want, such as radon testing or a sewer scope. That is all it takes, and the team handles the rest. Your inspection deadline and your agent’s contact details are helpful to share, but you do not need them to get started. You will receive a clear quote before the inspection begins.
Service Areas
Handy Home Inspection of Michigan is based in West Bloomfield Township and serves Southeast Michigan, including communities in Oakland County, Macomb County, and western Wayne County.
The current service areas include:
- West Bloomfield Township (home base)
- Beverly Hills
- Bloomfield Hills
- Farmington Hills
- Novi
- Northville
- Troy
- Canton Township
- Clinton Township
- St. Clair Shores
These communities range from postwar bungalow neighborhoods near Lake St. Clair to newer subdivisions in Novi and Canton, and the inspection team knows the issues common to each. If your city is not listed, check the service areas page or call or text (248) 756-5081 to confirm coverage.
Pricing
Home Inspection Cost
Home inspections with Handy Home Inspection of Michigan start at $393, with the final price based on the home’s size, age, property type, and any add-on services.
You receive a clear quote before the inspection begins, with no hidden fees, and the price includes thermal imaging and on-site report delivery. Handy Home also offers discounts for veterans, first responders, teachers, and repeat clients. Every inspection is backed by the Peace of Mind Guarantee: attend your inspection, and if you are not satisfied with the service, tell the inspector before receiving your report and Handy Home will make it right or you don’t pay, plus it covers the cost of a second inspection by another certified inspector of your choosing. Get your quote by calling or texting (248) 756-5081.
Handy Home Inspection of Michigan prices inspections partly by square footage, so larger homes cost more than the $393 starting price. Because every home is different, the team prepares a quote for each property.
Square footage is one of four pricing factors, alongside the home’s age, property type, and add-on services, so two homes of the same size can have different quotes. A 1960s ranch with a crawl space and an original sewer line may call for more time and different add-ons than a new build of the same size. Call or text (248) 756-5081 with the home’s details for a clear quote before the inspection.
Four factors shape Handy Home Inspection of Michigan pricing: the home’s square footage, its age, the property type, and the add-on services you choose.
Larger homes have more rooms, systems, and roof area to evaluate. Older homes, such as the postwar bungalows common in St. Clair Shores, often have more components and past renovations to check. Property type changes the scope, since a condo, a single-family house, and a multi-unit building each involve different systems. Add-on services such as radon testing and a sewer scope are priced separately. Thermal imaging never adds to the cost, because it is included in every inspection. Veteran, first responder, teacher, and repeat client discounts can lower your total.
What the Price Include
Yes, thermal imaging is included in every Handy Home Inspection of Michigan home inspection at no extra cost.
The inspector scans walls, ceilings, floors, the roof line, and the electrical panel with an infrared camera to look for temperature patterns that point to hidden moisture, missing insulation, air leaks that waste energy, or overheating electrical components. Thermal images appear in your report next to standard photos, so you can see the potential issues the camera found. Many inspection companies charge extra for infrared scanning; at Handy Home, it is part of the standard home inspection for every client, with no add-on fee.
Radon testing and sewer scope inspections are add-on inspection services priced separately from Handy Home Inspection of Michigan’s base home inspection. Radon testing is $147, and a sewer scope is $262.
You can add both services when you book, so they happen during the same visit as your home inspection. Radon testing measures radon gas levels inside the home, which matters in Oakland and Macomb counties where elevated radon levels are common. A sewer scope sends a camera through the main sewer line to check for cracks, roots, and blockages. Call or text (248) 756-5081 for a complete quote that includes every service you choose.
What to Expect
Inside the Inspection
A Handy Home Inspection of Michigan home inspection is a visual, top-to-bottom evaluation of the home’s major systems and components, performed to ASHI standards with thermal imaging included.
The inspection covers:
- Roof and attic: Roof walked when safe; shingles, flashing, gutters, chimney, insulation, and ventilation.
- Foundation and structure: Cracks, moisture, settling, and the visible structure and framing in the basement or crawl space.
- Plumbing: Visible leaks, fixtures, drains, water pressure, and the water heater.
- Electrical: The panel, outlets, switches, and visible wiring.
- HVAC: Heating, cooling, visible ductwork, and ventilation performance.
- Interior and exterior: Walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, siding, grading, and drainage.
- Appliances: Function and safety of accessible built-ins.
- Thermal imaging: Finds hidden issues the naked eye can miss.
The goal is to help you make informed decisions and protect your investment before closing. See the full home inspection service and the guide to what a home inspection includes for more detail.
Most Handy Home Inspection of Michigan home inspections take about two to three hours, with larger or older homes taking longer.
The exact time depends on the home’s size, age, and condition. A smaller ranch or condo usually falls toward the shorter end of that range, while a large Bloomfield Hills colonial or an older home with additions, a crawl space, and several mechanical systems takes more time. Add-on services such as a sewer scope add time on site. Plan to stay a little longer at the end, because with on-site report delivery your inspector reviews the report and walks you through the key findings before leaving the property. Handy Home inspectors never rush the process.
You are welcome to attend your Michigan home inspection, but you do not have to. Handy Home Inspection of Michigan encourages clients to come and walk through the home and ask questions along the way.
Attending lets you see conditions in person, hear findings explained in plain, everyday language, and learn how the home’s systems work before you own them. The end of the visit is especially valuable: your report is delivered on-site, and the inspector walks you through the key findings so you can ask follow-up questions while you are standing in the home. If you do attend, the Peace of Mind Guarantee also applies, so raise any concern with the inspector before you receive your report. Sellers usually step out during a buyer’s inspection so buyers can speak freely. Buyers who cannot attend can ask about a video walkthrough, which Handy Home offers.
A Michigan home inspection is visual and non-invasive, so it does not cover areas hidden behind walls, code compliance, cosmetic issues, or specialty tests you did not order.
Inspectors do not open walls, move furniture or stored items, dismantle equipment, or predict when a system will fail. Snow cover, locked rooms, and stored belongings can limit visibility, and the report notes these limitations. Testing for radon, mold, and water quality, as well as a camera inspection of the sewer line, require add-on services. Wells, septic systems, swimming pools, and outbuildings may need separate evaluations. Handy Home does not inspect swimming pools, and well and septic inspections are available through its partner, DH Environmental. Thermal imaging, included in every inspection, helps reduce blind spots by revealing temperature patterns behind surfaces.
Preparing and Following Up
Sellers can prepare for a Michigan home inspection by clearing access to the electrical panel, furnace, water heater, attic hatch, crawl space, sump pump, and basement walls.
A short checklist helps the inspection run smoothly:
- Keep gas, water, and electricity on, with pilot lights lit.
- Replace burned-out bulbs and dirty furnace filters.
- Unlock the garage, gates, sheds, and electrical panel.
- Move stored boxes away from the basement walls and the attic access.
- Leave remotes for the garage door and any ceiling fans.
- Gather receipts and warranties for the roof, furnace, water heater, and past repairs.
Secure pets and plan to be away during the inspections.Sellers who want to find issues before buyers do can book a pre-listing inspection.
When a Michigan home inspection finds problems, buyers review the report with their agent and decide whether to request repairs, credits, or further evaluation by a specialist.
Almost every home has findings, including new construction. Handy Home reports use color-coded categories, so you can quickly separate safety concerns and significant defects from routine maintenance items. Your inspector walks you through the key findings on-site before leaving, which gives you a clear picture while your options are still open. Handy Home also makes it easy to create a professional PDF of your findings to share with your agent or the seller. Watch how it works. For major items such as a failing roof, active foundation movement, or an electrical hazard, the report may recommend evaluation by a qualified contractor. How to respond to the seller is a negotiation decision, so discuss your options with your agent or attorney.
Handy Home Inspection of Michigan reports identify conditions and recommend next steps, and recommended contractors are conveniently linked at the bottom of the report. Handy Home also gives your agent complimentary access to Repair Pricer, which turns the inspection report into a repair estimate, so you can work through next steps together.
For reliable repair pricing, get written quotes from qualified contractors before your inspection deadline, especially for major systems such as the roof, foundation, sewer line, or furnace. Your agent can help you decide which quotes you need and how to use them in your conversation with the seller.
Report Delivery
On-Site Report Delivery
With Handy Home Inspection of Michigan’s on-site report delivery, your digital report arrives while the inspector is still at the property, and key findings are walked through before leaving.
The digital inspection report is delivered on-site, while the inspector is still at the property, and the key findings are walked through before leaving. That means you can review the detailed report with your inspector, ask questions in real time, and understand the home’s condition before anyone drives away. You can share the report with your agent right from the property, which helps when your inspection period is short. On-site report delivery is the main way Handy Home differs from inspectors who send reports later.
Inside the Report
A Handy Home inspection report is a digital document with photos, thermal images, clear descriptions, recommendations, and color-coded categories that separate urgent items from routine maintenance.
The complete report is organized by system, so you can move from the roof to the foundation, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC in order. Each finding includes a photo, a plain-language description of the condition, and a recommendation, such as monitoring, maintenance, or evaluation by a specialist. A summary section highlights the items that matter most for your decision. Reports open on a phone, tablet, or computer. To see the format before you book, download the sample inspection report.
A Handy Home inspection report is a digital document with photos, thermal images, clear descriptions, recommendations, and color-coded categories that separate urgent items from routine maintenance.
The complete report is organized by system, so you can move from the roof to the foundation, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC in order. Each finding includes a photo, a plain-language description of the condition, and a recommendation, such as monitoring, maintenance, or evaluation by a specialist. A summary section highlights the items that matter most for your decision. Reports open on a phone, tablet, or computer. To see the format before you book, download the sample inspection report.
Credentials and Trust
Licensing and Standards
No, Michigan does not license or register home inspectors at the state level, so professional certification is the main way to check an inspector’s training and standards.
Michigan has no state home inspector board, required exam, or required training hours, and bills to create a state license have been introduced in past legislative sessions without becoming law. That means anyone can call themselves a home inspector in Michigan. Buyers should look for certification from a national association such as the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), proof of insurance, a sample report, and recent reviews. Handy Home Inspection of Michigan’s team is certified by ASHI, and the company is fully insured.
Handy Home Inspection of Michigan follows the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics on every inspection.
The ASHI Standards of Practice define which systems and components an inspector must evaluate and what the report must describe, which gives you a consistent, predictable scope. The Code of Ethics sets rules for honesty, objectivity, and avoiding conflicts of interest. ASHI certification is for inspectors who meet the association’s education, experience, and ethical requirements. On top of that baseline, Handy Home walks roofs when it is safe to do so, includes thermal imaging in every inspection, and provides on-site report delivery. Learn more about ASHI.
The Inspection Team
Handy Home Inspection of Michigan’s team, led by owner and master inspector James Stinson, is certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).
The team has over 20 years of experience and has earned over 450 five-star reviews. Handy Home is a nationally certified and fully insured company, and its knowledgeable inspectors are trained to explain findings in plain language rather than technical jargon. Customers often mention Jim by name in reviews for his patience, clear communication, and thorough inspections. Meet the inspectors on the Our Team page and read what clients say on the reviews page.
Handy Home Inspection of Michigan follows the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics on every inspection.
The ASHI Standards of Practice define which systems and components an inspector must evaluate and what the report must describe, which gives you a consistent, predictable scope. The Code of Ethics sets rules for honesty, objectivity, and avoiding conflicts of interest. ASHI certification is for inspectors who meet the association’s education, experience, and ethical requirements. On top of that baseline, Handy Home walks roofs when it is safe to do so, includes thermal imaging in every inspection, and provides on-site report delivery. Learn more about ASHI.
Yes, Handy Home Inspection of Michigan is a fully insured home inspection company.
Michigan does not require home inspectors to carry insurance, so it is worth confirming coverage with any company you consider. Insurance protects you and the property owner while the inspector is on site, walking the roof, entering the attic, and operating the home’s systems.