Our Story

And 5 Things You
Need To Know Before
We Work Together

"NOT knowing much about houses actually helped"

I was a blank slate in 2003.

I’d just moved back to Kansas City after working in finance and had never heard of home inspections.

And since most of the information was new, I had to break it down into simple terms.

This helped me do the same thing for my clients.

But the early years were rough.

I was trained well, but not really doing anything special.

So when real estate tanked in 2008, I had to get a second job.

Then I got fired – TWICE.

I took that as a sign to go full speed ahead with home inspections.

But this time I was doing it my way.

First, I left my franchise and started Bulldog Professional Inspection Services.

Now I could ignore the things that held me back and actually do more.

Then I used actual feedback from my clients and agents to update the way I operated.

I learned there are 5 things people really want:

Great service
Simple explanations
A thorough inspection
Same-day report
Follow-up support

It would be awhile before Bulldog was better than before, but I was on the right track.

I had to keep practicing and testing, and require every idea to earn its place inside my business.

It’s the same way today.

Fast forward and this has helped us not only become one of the highest-rated⁽¹⁾ home inspection companies in Kansas City, but also one of its best small businesses.

And once you know, it’s easy to understand why…

We Focus On One Thing: Home Inspections.

We’re not the jack of all trades and we’re not ‘pretty good’ at several things.

We concentrate our considerable experience and resources on mastering the ONLY thing that really matters:

Finding, prioritizing, and helping you
understand the issues in and around your home.

And I’ve performed over 14,000 inspections since 2003 (and counting).

So while the other guys dabble, we’ve committed our years of laser-focused attention into the areas of your home they overlook to uncover the details they miss.

STEVE’S THOROUGHNESS WAS AMAZING…THE MOST PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION PROCESS I HAVE EVER BEEN THROUGH!

– R. JOHANNES, OVERLAND PARK, KS.

THIS INSPECTOR NEEDS A BIG “S” ON HIS SHIRT…AND A CAPE…GREAT THOROUGH INSPECTION MR. RODRIGUEZ

– K. HOWARD, OVERLAND PARK, KS.

Here's What You Get:

And it starts the moment you call.

1. We will work around your schedule, be on time, discuss the major areas, answer your questions, and address your concerns.

If you can’t be there, we’ll call you and have this discussion over the phone.

2. A polished home inspection using our award-winning MaxInspect™ Home Inspection System to create a custom experience that will make your next move (and future maintenance) crystal clear.

3. A clear and detailed digital report delivered the same day so you never miss a deadline.

It will be easy-to-use and easy-to-understand with enhanced digital photos, and our 10Key™ Comment Method that gives you exceptional details written in plain language that even my mom would understand (love you, mom!).

4. A follow-up phone call the next day to answer any questions you might have after reading your report.

5. Free membership to the Home Wizard home manager e-newsletter.

Each month you’ll receive personalized tips, to-dos, suggestions, and articles to help you manage your home care goals based on your input of the home’s features and your local climate.

Normally $89/yr.

IT MAKES ME VERY COMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IN THE FUTURE WITH ANY QUESTIONS I HAVE

– S. SILVERS, KANSAS CITY, MO

"Hey, Would YOU Turn Down $3,500? ⁽²⁾

Of course not. But you might if you chose another inspection company.

You see, in the hundreds of follow-up discussions we’ve had over the years, we’ve found that you can expect an average of $3,500 (sometimes upwards of $40,000) in repairs, concessions, and price reduction after your home inspection.⁽²⁾

That’s an average return of 786% on your investment.⁽³⁾

What could you do with that?

Bathroom remodel?
Family vacation?
Paint the house?
New refrigerator?
New washer and dryer?
New car?

Here Are A Few Recent Customers Who Saw This Kind Of Return (and more):

Mark S. from Shawnee got a 15-year-old roof completely removed and replaced with a brand new $9,000 40-year roof because hail damage caused water leaks above his living room and dining room ceilings (damage that was missed by a previous home inspector because he didn’t even walk on the roof).

Steven G. from Lee’s Summit got $6,500 worth of foundation and basement repairs completed before he even moved in, which stopped the water that was leaking through the foundation and creating deadly mold behind the drywall – mold he didn’t even know was there.

Scott T. is a real estate investor from Colorado who got over $3,100 in plumbing drains professionally replaced in his rental property when it was discovered that it cracked his drain lines and he had a major tree root problem lurking in his front yard.

Oh, there’s Brandon H. from Liberty who had $4,300 worth of electrical work done before he even closed on the home that included new electrical service and new main panel because the old service was unsafe and the original panel was not only recalled by the manufacturer, but also full of deadly homemade wiring just waiting for the right time to arc, spark, and catch fire.

You get the picture.

"NICE JOB STEVE–YOU SAVED ME THOUSANDS IN COSTLY BASEMENT REPAIRS. YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND THOROUGHNESS REALLY MADE AN IMPACT"

– M. WANG, OVERLAND PARK, KS.

Here's Exactly What To Expect:

1) Our goal is to help you thoroughly understand the condition of your new home.

Not tell you to buy it.

Or not to buy it.

Those are your decisions.

We just want to make sure you understand the inspection findings clearly and completely before you leave.

2) We’ll answer all your questions and address any concerns.

Try to show up, get involved, and ask questions.

This is an opportunity to learn from the only person qualified to help you understand your home inside and out.

3) You’ll get your report the same day.

The clock’s ticking.

And we know you’ve got important decisions to make – fast – so you’ll never have to wait for your home inspection report.

4) You’ll get a quick follow-up call the next day.

Your report contains alot of information.

And sometimes you’ll have a question or two after you read it.

So instead of waiting for you to call us, we’ll call you.

Just to make sure you got the report and still have no questions.

5) Finally, we’ll help you with any problems or questions for as long as you own the home.

YOU MADE THINGS EASY TO UNDERSTAND FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HOME REPAIRS.

– S. MURRAY, KANSAS CITY, MO.

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE WE WORK TOGETHER

The home inspection is not always the most intuitive or straightforward part of the home buying process.

So it’s pretty common for a little mystery and confusion to creep in as you’re shopping around.

This can lead to questions like…

Why are the prices different?
Can I be there?
What happens if something gets missed?

These are important so let’s clear the smoke…

#1 - I CANNOT SEE THROUGH WALLS

You might expect me to have x-ray vision.

I get it. I’d want that, too. Especially if I were you.

Because it’s the things we can’t see that scare us.

In fact, if I could choose a superpower, X-ray vision would be my second choice.

Talk about cornering the market. No other home inspector would stand a chance (even with an IR camera).

Unfortunately, it’s just not possible.

Fortunately, our 14,000+ inspections go us to where we can spot inconsistencies and hidden issues like an eagle spots a field mouse.

Plus, all of our home inspections are guaranteed.

#2 – I’M NOT THE CHEAPEST HOME INSPECTOR IN TOWN

Why?

1) Because home inspections are NOT created equal.

Since 2003, we’ve inspected over 14,000 homes and invested tens of thousands of hours improving our service while also creating methods that help us avoid the same mistakes other inspectors make.

We don’t have to do this. We do it because it makes our lives easier to give you better service.

This is why we’re better this year than we were last year.

Or the year before. Or the year before that.

But we’re not just experienced or obsessed with improvement.

2) We’re different from other home inspection companies.

And not just different for the sake of being different.

For example, most home inspection companies check around 400 items.

Our MaxInspect™ System, not only lets us check 100% of the items we can hear, see, touch, and smell (about 1800 of them), we’ve adopted a gravity process that tracks structural movement and water damage so we can understand the full scope those things have on the home.

And because we look beyond the surface, we’re also looking for items that are missing, along with checking certain items in a particular order to flush out the annoying glitches we only find AFTER we move in.

This gives you maximum leverage during negotiations and a crystal clear picture of what you’re buying.

3) We explain the results in a way my mom would understand (love you, mom!).

I’m talking about a 69-year old hippie who saw the Rolling Stones play at the Altamont Speedway in 1969.

That’s why we developed the 10Key™ Comment Method that digs deeper into each defect by answering the 10 key questions EVERY report MUST ask in order to:

Fully reveal its cause and extent of damage
Answer your most burning questions

You get all the information you need – when you need it – written in plain language anyone can understand.

Few home inspectors have the experience, skill, or think critically enough to understand this.

And no one goes to these lengths because it’s outside the norm and too much trouble.

But this is all we do and your clock is ticking.

So regardless who sees your report – family, friends, real estate agent, loan officer, insurance agent, lawyer, repair person or just yourself in 5 or 10 years, you’ll know what happened and where it’s located.

4) Our service

We’re not only available during the day, we know alot of your home buying homework happens after hours.

That’s why we’ll sometimes resond to your emails and messages long after everyone else has gone to bed.

#3 – I’M NOT PSYCHIC (UNFORTUNATELY)

I can’t predict the future.

And as much as I want to, it’s not possible (this superpower would be my first choice).

I’ll never be able to tell you if something will break, leak, or crack within the next hour let alone the next week, month, or year.

I wish I could, but I can’t. No one can.

I can only see what’s happening now and look for past problems to help avoid future issues.

You might not like this – or want to accept it – but you have to (just like I do).

Thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom.

Because we take your home inspection very seriously.

So if something pops up or falls through the cracks after you move in, we’ll work with you to find a solution.

#4 – I’M NOT PERFECT

This should come as no surprise to you because nobody is.

Shoot, professional baseball players only get it right 25% of the time and they make millions.

Sometimes I run late and sometimes things get overlooked, information gets misunderstood, and people get upset.

It doesn’t happen often anymore, but it’s still a possibility.

And I’m proud to report I’ve paid my dues many times over:

In fact,

Q: “What do you get when you cross a new home inspector with a garage door opener and a 12-pack of soda?”

A: Red faced, a big sticky mess, and broken garage door opener.⁽⁴⁾

And even if those are the types of mistakes you’ve gotta survive to become great at something.

I do not take them lightly (I wouldn’t still be in business if I did).

That’s the reason I have insurance, warranties, and guarantees.

So if something goes wrong later and I’m at fault, I’ll take responsibility so we can work toward a fair solution.

The only perfect home inspector is one who’s never inspected a house and you don’t want to be on the receiving end of their first mistake.

THIS IS MY SECOND TIME USING STEVE. I WILL CONTINUE TO USE HIM. HE IS PROFESSIONAL, HELPFUL, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND A “MUST HAVE” WHEN MAKING A HOME PURCHASE.

– B. THOMPSON, BLUE SPRINGS, MO.

#5 – FINALLY, IF YOU FIND A PROBLEM AFTER YOUR INSPECTION PLEASE DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY

We cringe when things go wrong.

Because home inspections are more of an art than science.

And no matter how gifted the inspector, how thorough the inspection, how many inspections they’ve done, how careful they are, or how hard they try (whew…I hate to even think this out loud), but something will EVENTUALLY go wrong.

There are just too many distractions, too many items, and too many things concealed above ceilings, under floors, and behind storage items for every inspection to go perfectly every time.

Despite the constant obstacles, an experienced operator develops an intuition that helps him uncover most of these issues, anyway.

But as I said before…it’s impossible for a home inspector to find everything or know when something might break, crack or leak.

So if something goes wrong after your home inspection, don’t forget that – no matter who you use – your home inspector is only human and did the best they could with what they had during the time they were there.

Just contact him and ask for a fair and reasonable solution to get the issue resolved.

STILL HERE? GOOD. HERE’S MY CHALLENGE TO YOU:

Trust your gut and call us at 816-564-3081 or Click Here to schedule your home inspection.

You have nothing to lose and a safe, comfortable home to gain.

That’s because you get a no-nonsense money-back guarantee – If you show up and get involved, but don’t feel it’s worth your time or money you don’t pay us – period.

All the risk is on me. It’s that simple.

Go ahead and make the call…I know you’ll be thrilled.

President/Certified Master Inspector^®Bulldog Professional Inspection Services

⁽¹⁾According to 2015-2023 Google Reviews.
⁽²⁾This is not a promise or guarantee. Results always vary.
⁽³⁾Based on our current home inspection pricing.
⁽⁴⁾I fixed the opener, cleaned the mess, and replaced the soda, but I never saw that Realtor® again.

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New for 2023

113 Frequently Asked Home Inspection Questions

1. Will you walk on the roof? p. 52

2. Should I test for radon gas if my house is brand new? p. 110

+ many more