An experienced home inspector you can trust.
Buying a house is the biggest purchase most families make. Book a home inspection in Apex and Mike Chappell will give you an honest, detailed account of the house before you close, backed by 16 years of experience.
Real estate agents can book for their buyers here too.
Inspections and tests
Mike does every inspection himself. Book the home inspection on its own, or add any of these tests when you schedule.
Mike checks the roof, attic, structure, crawlspace or basement, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, windows, doors, and built-in appliances. He talks through what he finds as he goes, photographs each issue, and walks you through the main concerns before he leaves. The written report puts those photos next to his notes, so you can use it when you ask the seller for repairs.
Mike spent 10 years in termite and pest control and holds a North Carolina Structural Pest Control license, so he writes the wood-destroying insect report himself. He checks the accessible inside and outside of the house for subterranean termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, powderpost beetles, and old house borers, and reports on North Carolina's official WDIR form.
Radon is an odorless gas that seeps up from the soil, and the EPA ranks it as the second leading cause of lung cancer. Mike sets a continuous monitor that records readings for 48 hours and reports the average in picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The EPA recommends fixing levels of 4 pCi/L or higher, and a certified mitigation contractor can usually bring them down.
If the house runs on a private well, a lab test tells you what is in the water before you move in. The basic panel that FHA and VA loans ask for covers coliform bacteria, E. coli, lead, nitrate, and nitrite. Larger panels add minerals, metals, and chemical contaminants for buyers who want the full picture of the water.
A thermal camera shows temperature differences behind walls, ceilings, and floors. Water pulls heat out of building materials, so a hidden leak shows up as a cool spot even when the surface looks dry. Mike scans the house inside and out and notes anything that needs a closer look, such as a damp patch under a window or a cold spot below a bathroom.
When there are signs of moisture, a musty smell, or past water damage, air samples show whether mold spores inside the house run higher than the air outside. The samples go to a lab, and the results list which types of mold were found and how much, so you know whether you are looking at a small cleanup or a bigger moisture problem.
About Mike
Peak City Home Inspections is Mike's company, and he does every inspection himself. He grew up in Cary, graduated from Western Carolina University, and spent his first working years as a YMCA youth director running day camps.
He then spent 10 years in termite and pest control, where he earned his North Carolina Structural Pest Control license, and has inspected homes across the Triangle for the last 6 years. He lives in Apex with his wife, their four kids, and two dogs.
Book online
Choose your inspection and any add-on tests, enter the property address, and pick a date and time. Questions first? Call or text Mike at (919) 710-4784.
