Castell Home Consultants, Inc.

I have been a realtor for 13 years and was referred to Chip Castell by another realtor when I started out. He has been my go to inspector from the start and I have been blessed by that fact. I built and remodeled homes for 22 years before I got into real estate, so I know all about how houses are put together and the systems involved. Chip is up to date on everything that he sees and I always recommend him to my buyers. Invariably, if I have a buyer who has watched hgtv and thinks they need to find an «independant» inspector it is always a loss for them because you can’t find a better inspector than Chip.
I sell from 40 – 50 deals a year so I have used Chip a lot over the last 13 years. A typical inspector has had classes on what to look for with an electrical panel or a furnace but is stumped if he sees something that is new to him. When you are investing in something so valuable as a house you want an inspector that has seen it all. That is Chip Castell. I recommend him without reservation and as often as I can! Mac

this review stems from duty to warn — and hope to encourage accountability and cooperation from chip castell.
i hope to be able to update/​change this review with 5 stars — but need to publicly report at this time what has turned into a very frustrating experience dealing with chip castell. i believe that he missed/​omitted several issues detectable at the time of inspection that will be collectively expensive to repair/​replace. i lost the opportunity to request concessions from sellers or to just walk away.
i had to ask chip 6 times whether he had errors/​omission insurance (in writing) before he even responded that he did, but he is «not willing» to tell me the name of the carrier, which i’ve also asked him 6 times now.
insurance company advised that clients can request inspectors’ insurance carrier info even before inspection. chip has completely refused to cooperate by providing this info, even though i’ve asked him more than a dozen times now. insurance companies have advised that this is highly unusual.
he refuses to respond to question re: whether he also refuses to provide insurance info even if he doesn’t think he’s at fault in a car accident. or if he thinks inspection was correct/​thorough, why he doesn’t just allow insurance company to make that determination/​defense?
he offered refund of inspection fees (i paid him more than $ 1500 last year for 2 inspections) only if i would grant complete waiver of liability. otherwise no resolution or cooperation by providing requested insurance information.
i repeatedly advised him that i am hoping to work out amicable/​informal resolution. i also told him that my rea (who has been made aware of these issues) suggested that we could work out compensation. but this has made him «angry» (his words).
when i showed him issues that multiple contractors told me were poorly designed/​built (plainly visible on inspection), he said «ok» or «that’s unfortunate» and just didn’t seem to care.
would you entrust him with inspection of your most significant lifetime purchase?