Here we answer questions about getting a home inspection, give tips on home maintenance, and share our knowledge about common home issues. We are here to help you. If you can’t find an answer to your questions here, you can always contact us via our contact page.
There is a difference between knowing how houses are supposed to work and understanding how they actually do. That difference only shows up after years of walking through real homes—occupied homes, aging homes, renovated homes, neglected homes, inherited homes, flipped homes, and homes that have been repaired just enough to
Foundation movement is one of those inspection findings that can make buyers nervous quickly. A crack in a basement wall, a sloping floor, a door that will not latch, or separation at trim can make people assume the worst. Sometimes that concern is justified. Other times, the finding needs context
Recommend monitoring” is one of the most misunderstood phrases in an inspection report. Buyers sometimes read it as uncertainty. Sellers may interpret it as an attempt to soften a problem. In reality, monitoring language is one of the most deliberate, experience-based tools an inspector uses. At Upchurch Inspection, we don’t
Multi-unit properties look simple on paper. Repeating floor plans, shared systems, predictable rent rolls. Many investors approach apartment inspections expecting efficiency—walk a few units, scan the roof, review the mechanicals, and move on. That approach misses where the real risk lives. At Upchurch Inspection, multi-unit inspections are less about counting
Medical and dental offices are some of the most deceptively complex commercial spaces to inspect. On the surface, they often look clean, modern, and well-maintained. Finishes are typically upgraded, equipment appears orderly, and tenants are highly invested in presentation. What makes these properties risky isn’t what you see—it’s what the
Industrial and warehouse properties tend to inspire confidence. High ceilings, wide-open floor space, heavy construction, and minimal finishes create the impression of durability. Buyers often assume these buildings are simple—fewer systems, fewer problems. In reality, industrial inspections demand some of the most careful judgment an inspector can apply. The risks
Step-Downs Aren’t a Defect — Until They Are A step-down foundation isn’t unusual. Anytime a house is built on a slope, you’re going to see changes in elevation. The foundation follows the grade, stepping down in sections instead of cutting and filling the entire lot flat. On paper, that’s efficient
Decks don’t usually fail because the wood gets old. They fail because the deck was never properly tied to the house in the first place. And almost every time I see a serious deck problem, it leads back to one piece: the ledger board. What the Ledger Board Does (And
Storm Cycles Shape Wear Patterns When I review reports from our Centerview, Missouri inspector across Western Missouri, storm-related damage shows up in very consistent ways. This region sits squarely in a corridor that sees frequent hail, straight-line winds, and fast-moving thunderstorms. Homes don’t just age here—they get tested. Understanding what
Radon Is a Regional Issue, Not a Random One When I review reports from our Centerview, Missouri inspector working throughout Western Missouri, radon shows up far more often than many buyers expect. In Jackson County, elevated radon levels are not an anomaly—they’re a regional pattern tied directly to geology, soil
Why Kansas City Is a Different Kind of Commercial Market When I review reports from our Centerview, Missouri inspector working across the Kansas City metro, one thing is immediately clear: commercial buildings here don’t age quietly. Between variable soil conditions, limestone geology, aggressive weather cycles, and decades of layered renovations,
East Tennessee Water Doesn’t Sit Still When I review reports from our inspector in Knoxville, one issue consistently stands out above the rest: uncontrolled water movement around the home. In this part of East Tennessee, gravity and rainfall do most of the talking. Water doesn’t pool quietly here—it moves, accelerates,
