Gary Oleski Home Inspections

My first home inspection was from Gary and I could not be happier. I was very nervous about finding a knowledgeable and thorough inspector after all of the horror stories I have heard.
Gary was extremely knowledgeable and thorough. He did not sugar coat things or try to dramatize his findings and he explained everything very well. I am also happy with his quick scheduling and he was even early to our appointment. He also provided a detailed report right there at the end of the inspection — I couldn’t be happier with his service.

I am a licensed structural engineer (PE) and I have recently purchased a log house in Litchfield County, Connecticut. Since log houses have a lot of unique features and problem areas, I did some researching online, and Gary Oleski appears to be one of the only Certified Master Inspectors in CT who advertises actual experience inspecting log homes. His Web site has enough information about them to prove that he knows what he is talking about. After speaking by telephone with Mr. Oleski, I learned that he has experience with log home construction, as well.
I made it a point to *not* use the home inspector who was repeatedly suggested to me by my Realtor – it is always a good idea to have the inspection performed by a completely neutral party who has not been involved at all in the real estate deal. Many (most?) inspectors in CT (the Realtor’s preferred inspector included) divide their Web sites into two different areas. One area is typically geared toward potential home buyers, whereas a completely separate section of the site is dedicated to Realtors. It is on these pages that inspectors offer reassurance along the lines of, «Don’t worry, Realtors, we’ll protect your reputation and make sure the deal goes through.»
In a home inspection, you *want to* scrutinize all elements big and small, and ferret out deficiencies that can cause the deal to fall through – you don’t want to find out after you close that the house needs a new roof or septic system! (More on that later, see my review of New Milford Septic.) Among Mr. Oleski’s findings were several fire and electrical hazards that required immediate repair by the sellers, including an improperly double-​tapped circuit breaker (the worst he’d ever seen, he said; no doubt the work of an unlicensed hack) and an filthy chimney missing a damper. (Dare I mention this was the home of the volunteer fire chief!!! Ordinarily, I’d feel some guilt talking smack about a family who basically works for free, saving their fair share of foundations – and making up about half the department – but for the fact that these folks still find time to make the occasional cameo on my security cameras… ehh.)
ANYWAY. Mr. Oleski quickly put together a comprehensive inspection report at the kitchen table and I had my copy before he even left. His report was very neatly handwritten and did not have any photos attached, but it was detailed and thorough enough without any. As an engineer, I consider myself to be painstakingly meticulous in my own inspection reports, and Mr. Oleski’s diligence satisfies my standards and exceeds much of what I’ve come to expect from colleagues in my field. Best of all, he walked the entire property with me and pointed out all of the problem areas and suggested the best methods of fixing them.
Mr. Oleski’s report ultimately saved me thousands of dollars in repairs – that is a fact. I enthusiastically recommend Mr. Oleski to anyone looking to buy a residential or commercial property in CT. His complete and honest assessment of a home’s condition is an invaluable asset to conscientious buyers seeking to avoid financial hardship and heartbreak after closing on the house of their dreams.