Delgado & Associates, LLC

Jim is AMAZING!!! I cannot say enough on how much he has helped my family and I in or latest endeavor to purchase a home. Jim is responsive and timely. As his client, you will know unequivocally that he has your best interests in mind. His knowledge base is truly unparalleled and has an answer to every question that comes to mind. Beyond his keen eye Jim’s athleticism is also on display as his is climbing to the attic and crawl spaces. As the home inspection is taking place, he has you by his side to explain what he is looking at. He describes best (and worst) case scenarios that will help the homebuyer gauge the condition of the home. I now know that I am a better homebuyer because of him. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to sell or buy a house. He also has a great rolodex of professionals — just ask and you shall receive. He also provided me with a detailed and thorough report withing hours — this was instrumental in the decision making process for my family and I. Jim we are truly grateful for your efforts and commitment!!!

I’m so glad I chose Jim to be my home inspector! He inspected two large homes for me in Washington, DC, and I would definitely use him again.
Jim’s inspections are «tough,» and he works on behalf of the buyer’s best interest, not the realtor’s pending deal. Even though he’s pricier than many other inspectors, the extra cost may have saved me from a $ 60k issue other inspectors may not have noticed. Jim is experienced with the DC City Code, and his identification of some noncompliance issues caused me to withdraw from my first contract. I was able to enter into a contract on my second home with full confidence that if there were issues, Jim would have found them.
Jim’s report was quick (within 24 hours) and thorough (he gives low– and high-​end estimates for fixing/​replacing every issue he identifies). This price figure gave me great leverage for my repair negotiations with the sellers, and allowed me to budget appropriately. He also will go through the house and tell you what you should fix immediately, versus what you should just «keep an eye out for.»
Jim also genuinely cares for his clients. He helped me deal with the DCRA when trying to remedy the Code noncompliance issues, and checked in with me up until closing. Especially if you’re nervous about the homebuying process, you’ll be in great hands if you choose Jim.

I would give Jim Delgado 10 stars if I could.
After going through the home buying process a few times, and having worked with and observed other inspectors, Jim is the only person I would hire to inspect a home I want to purchase. His experience is unparalleled, and he is truly dedicated to giving the buyer all the information you need.
First, scheduling was super easy. He has an online appointment system, and he is very responsive to text messages and emails. Don’t bother leaving a voicemail; he is busy out inspecting homes and writing reports, etc. Email or text him if you need him.
I went into this home inspection with serious concerns about the property. I knew the home needed work, but wasn’t looking for 203k rehab loan. The property was listed a bit over market for the neighborhood, but our contract was for a fair market price. The previous buyer walked away after his home inspection, and his inspector identified a host of problems I hadn’t noticed the two times I visited the property.
Jim inspected all of those things, and identified some of them as problems, others of them were not serious concerns, and he assuaged one of my serious concerns that I had before I saw the first inspection report.
Jim was literally climbed like a rock climber into the attic, which we were told was not accessible, and which the previous inspector did not inspect. He got down in the dirt outside the home to get under the front porch to document problems that no one, not even the last inspector, had revealed.
Ultimately, the house turned out to be a much bigger project than I was willing to take on. I knew it would be a lot of work, but didn’t anticipate the level of rehab the property needs. Even after looking at it with two different agents (the first of whom fired me because he thought my below-​asking offer was too low for the property, which he insisted was in good shape with newer systems. hahahaha!), there is no way I would have known just how much work was required without Jim’s expertise.
He emailed me my report the next morning, after spending hours writing it up, and he was willing to revise it when I noticed some details that mattered to me were missing. He was more than willing to answer any questions I had about the report and about the property and the work it needed.
Jim Delgado is a GEM! I would not hire any other inspector, and I recommend him to anyone who needs a great home inspector.

We have used Jim for multiple inspections. Once for a re-​inspection because our first inspector (from a big name local company recommended by Redfin) said everything was ok, but left us with a few questions. Jim found multiple issues which would have totaled ~$ 15K to fix (missing structural star on side of row house, lack of Tyvek under addition, lack of crawl space access, etc.). Jim saved us from walking into a house that looked nice but would have been a nightmare.
Now that we own a home, we have also used Jim to diagnose water issues in our basement, and check on work another contractor did. He is consistently generous with his time, dedicated to his craft, and one of the best to have in your corner. He gives an objective assessment.
He is busy, and can be hard to get in touch with. DON’T GIVE UP!!! Jim provides expertise that could save you thousands of dollars.

I found Jim by searching DC Urban Moms and then googling him. He came over-​my issue is complex. He performed an inspection-​but more importantly-​he helped me understand my paperwork. (It was a post closing inspection). He is not only knowledgeable-​but very very down to earth, easy to talk to, and just a gem. I wished I had known about him prior to my purchase. Don’t use the inspector your real estate agents recommends. Use Jim Delgado-​and you’ll never have buyer’s remorse. He’s only in it for the consumer. He doesn’t represent the developers who are flipping houses.

Jim is outstandingly meticulous and cares as if it was his own. I worked with Jim throughout the summer and requested his services on multiple properties that I was considering. In one case, he steered me clear of a pending nightmare – and, as a result, I didn’t make an offer on that property. He talked me through each inspection and even described what would have to be done to «make it right» and correct the deficiency. Jim has a great passion for his work, is easy to work with, and I whole-​heartedly recommend him!

I recently used Jim for my post-​offer home inspection. He was knowledgeable, honest, ethical and sharp. From the start of the inspection he was 100% looking out for my interests and investment. I would recommend Jim to anyone in the market for an inspection.

My husband and I recently put an offer in on a house and needed someone to do a pre-​inspection. We found Jim through online reviews and reached out to him last minute. Jim couldn’t make the appointment time, but took it upon himself to head over to the house anyways and inspect as much as possible from the exterior. He talked me through his whole assessment and gave me instruction on how to examine a few remaining questions from the inside (e.g., water pressure). In the 30 or so minutes I spent on the phone with him, I learned more than I ever wanted to about how to tell the difference between copper, lead, and galvanized pipes. As well as what I’d need to do to heavy up the electric. He gave me tips by flagging things that were big issues as well as minor things we’d want to know, but not necessarily have to address immediately. He also ballparked some repair costs, which was super useful as we were trying to calibrate our offer against the current condition of the house. All in all, I was super impressed.
Jim was a little quirky by email, but don’t let that scare you off! We’re still in our home buying search and will definitely be going back to Jim.

I’m a Realtor who uses Jim. I have probably used about 10 different inspectors in my day and now Jim is 1 of 2 that I recommend. He is extremely thorough and will expose every minor flaw the house has and caters to the purchaser rather than the agent. Feel free to contact me to verify this review. Craig Fauver, Real Estate Broker, 202−643−4687.

Best money I have spent.
Jim is phenomenal and saved us tens of thousands of dollars. Jim noted right away that the house was missing a hatch access to the crawl space– something the owner’s inspector overlooked when she purchased the house. At jim’s advice, we insisted that the seller cut a hatch. When Jim returned to inspect the crawl space, he identified damage that would have cost us thousands and otherwise would have been overlooked. After we moved forward with the contract at a lower price to account for the damage, Jim referred us to former DC government friends who provided excellent and free advice about a zoning question with the property. And then he gave us advice on contractors’ proposals to repair the property for no extra charge.
Jim also offers a short pre-​inspection for only $ 175. This includes 1 hour inspection with no report. If you’re looking for the comfort to waive the inspection contingency on an offer for a hot house, this is a fantastic alternative to paying someone $ 500+ to do a full inspection and write a report on a property you may not win. Having gone through 12 offers and multiple pre-​inspections, I wish I had known about Jim and this service sooner.

Jim Delgado is as good a home inspector as there is. He is extraordinarily knowledgeable, extremely ethical, and very very thorough. He just saved us from putting a bid on a big clunker of a house that had some deep hidden issues that would have resulted in a sinkhole — literally… Jim is a former DC inspector, with a master’s degree in urban planning, and enough knowledge to qualify as a structural engineer. If you are buying a home in the DC metro you could not do better than working with Jim.

Jim inspected a house in Hyattsville for us, getting on hands and knees in the basement and climbing on the roof. He was not shy about muddling through a wet, cob-​web-​filled crawl space. He was great at explaining how a former contractor had cut through joists to install the air conditioning and explaining what he would ask the seller to fix before going forward. He was very reasonably priced, too. You can’t go wrong hiring Jim as your home inspector.

First off, Jim Delgado is FREAKING AWESOME!!! If you’ve used some other home inspector and not him, I feel so sorry for you. As a first time homebuyer, I was completely impressed. He got down on his knees in the shower and tub, checking drains, checking to see if the toilets budged, and giving personal advice on what to do/​not to do. He explained how to avoid scams from contractors, and what to look for if something breaks. Even my agent was like «wow he is very thorough», your daggone right he is. She wanted me to use someone she’s been using for years… HA! No thanks!
Because he loves his job and is so detailed and meticulous, he started off by showing me a crack in the foundation wall outside.
He said it could be nothing, just need re-​barring or if the foundation is messed up, water could get in… and what do we find in the
basement? The concrete under the carpet floor was wet. I may not be getting this house, but I am FINE with that. I’d rather have someone who can let me know a trap before I walk into it, than to live in it. Call Jim first!

Mr. Delgado helped me immensely. I noticed some dry brick dust in the basement and couldn’t begin to figure out what was causing it. A friend of mine recommended Jim Delgado, and I am so grateful to her. He analyzed the problem, talked me through the cause, and gave me detailed instructions on how to repair it. He did a walk-​through of the rest of the house, finding several problems that the original inspector missed. He is thorough, knowledgeable, and extremely friendly. I will feel safer in my home and more easy in my mind after I address the issues he pointed out to me. I highly recommend him.

I had a great experience with Jim. I tried to hire him many times during our initial phone call, but he wouldn’t take my money. His reasoning was fair («if it’s a gut job, why get it inspected»), but not many would have done the same. Still I convinced him to come out and give me his thoughts. He spent two hours with me, and provided a wealth of information and contacts. It was truly invaluable. He also has some great stories. Again, I tried to pay him at the end for his time, but again he wouldn’t take my money. He has other lines of business beyond home inspection, and I am totally sold: if I need a cost estimator, 203k consultant, etc, I am definitely going to him!

Jim provided a pre-​inspection for us today, and he was outstanding. He was judicious in identifying common 100-​year old house issues that we should expect and not sweat, and issues that can wait or we fix ourselves. He took care to describe potential signs of insufficiency that weren’t present to show how he was evaluating the house, spotted subtle signs of an inadequately constructed addition that isn’t bearing the weight of 2 floors well, referred public resources to research potential issues, and discussed why certain problems might make resale and repairs challenging. He was fair, instructive, and detailed, and helped us dodge a bidding war for a popular listing that needs expensive repairs. We’ll absolutely call on his services again. Thanks, Jim!

I recently had Jim as a home inspector for my condo in Alexandria. I am a first time homebuyer, and Jim not only inspected the condo, but also gave me a lot of pointers as far as what I would need to know for maintenance in the future.
Jim was incredibly thorough in inspecting the condo, answered all of my questions and even double and triple checked anything that I asked. I didn’t feel like the inspection was a business transaction, rather it felt like a friend who was looking out for me. I really appreciated all the tips he gave me and how much he seemed to care about my welfare and making sure that I was buying a quality property. I only wish that Jim also worked as a contractor so he could do all the repairs!
I completely trust Jim and would use him again in a heartbeat!

Two lessons learned:
Lesson one: When buying a 100-​year-​old home in DC, the home inspection is not the time for amateur hour. Fortunately our agent arranged for Jim Delgado to be our inspector when we bought our house on U Street in 2004. At the time, I didn’t know who Jim was. It turns out that he is a celebrity in the local home inspection scene. When we arrived for the inspection he had already scoped out the exterior and noted several issues. During the walk-​through he was extremely thorough and patient with us. He responded in detail to all of our questions and made sure that we understood his answers. We appreciated that he prioritized the issues and suggested ways to handle each one. The house had a jerry-​rigged electricity connection. Jim, who used to be a housing inspector for the city government, advised us on whom to contact at Pepco and how to fix the problem to Pepco’s satisfaction — and not to mention correct a potential safety hazard. Throughout the process Jim was accessible and ensured that we were fully informed of the issues with the house before we negotiated with the seller.
Lesson two: When you think you have a mold problem, consult with a knowledgeable home inspector to uncover the cause before you undertake a mold remediation. You may discover that a mold remediation is not necessary. In November 2014, more than ten years after we had been living in our home, we noticed mold in a small area of the basement drywall, which we suspected resulted from a recent water main break. We contacted several mold contractors who proposed expensive remediation plans. These mold remediation contractors also cautioned us that they were not qualified to ascertain the cause of the problem. After having the mold tested and found to be not harmful, we contacted Jim. He approached the problem like a crime-​scene investigation, and proposed two theories for the cause of the moisture. To test each theory, he asked us to rip out the damp drywall — which we would have had to do sooner or later anyway to resolve the mold issue. Based on his observations and information we gathered regarding the abutting property and recent events, Jim figured out the root cause of the problem, which had nothing to do with the water main break or anything that could have been discovered during the 2004 inspection. And we will be able to fix the problem ourselves, with some help from a contractor, for far less than the cost of a mold remediation.
In sum, we are extremely lucky that our real estate agent arranged for Jim to be our home inspector in 2004.

Jim’s services as a home inspector (in our case, we were the buyer of a small D.C. condo, top floor /​penthouse level) are invaluable. He has extensive experience as a former D.C. government building inspector, is incredibly knowledgeable about hidden issues, common defects, building codes, etc. He has a nice, «teaching» demeanor and way of explaining his work to you, the buyer and agent.
In short, we would recommend him highly. So do many users of the PoPville site (Prince of Petworth), where we found the original recommendation for Jim. Jim was prompt, replied immediately to e-​mails and calls, and created a full home-​inspection report immediately within 24 hours of the actual visit. He has always been on time. He charged a low fee and — after the visit — even reduced it by another $ 20, because he wanted to be fair to us, as the condo was smaller and easier to do than average — Jim Delgado is a very competent, fair, and upstanding home inspector with a critical eye where it counts.
(Finally, the *one* negative review below by «Tom C.» should be deleted at best, and mistrusted at least, as the true story behind it is likely entirely different from what the reviewer claims it to be. You can ask Jim about it if you want to, and he will provide a compelling narrative of this reviewer’s true experience. Jim’s version is not only more believable but also buttressed by his actual performance with our condo inspection and the way he treated us and performed competently in every single respect.)

We have used Jim Delgado twice — to purchase a 2 unit investment property and now to help us with a personal residence purchase. I also have recommended him to family and friends because he does such great work; as a result, he inspected 2 houses for my sister. Jim is incredibly responsive to last-​minute requests and is the most knowledgable person I have met in the business (and I have worked with many contractors on extensive renovations). He finds things — like dead rats hidden below a subfloor — that you would never expect (astounding my realtors go now loves him). He also takes the time to explain things so that you come away feeling like you know about the house too. Unlike other inspectors, he will give cost estimates for repair. All round, a fantastic guy whom I will hire every time I’m considering a real estate purchase.