For a limited time starting June 30, SNO sustaining members may receive $50 off a home inspection by Matt Henderson of High Sierra Inspection. Some restrictions apply. Give Matt a call and tell him you’re an SNO subscriber to receive your discount. www.highsierrainspection.com
MOUNTAIN AREA — If you’re like most people, you spend countless hours and untold dollars taking care of your home. After all, it’s your castle. You want your castle to be beautiful on the outside and on the inside, so you do your best to maintain the property through thick and thin.
It’s a big investment of time and cash, day in and day out, and you make sacrifices every month to keep your home in tip-top shape. But do you really know what’s going on beneath the well-kept floor and behind those nicely-painted walls? Unfortunately, a host of unpleasant possibilities exist — some of them potentially dangerous — when it comes to the overall health and safety of your castle. Whether your thoughts drift to dry rot, termites or the slope of your drainage, if there’s something about your castle that’s keeping you up at night, you may need a home inspection.
“Home inspections typically occur when a home is being sold,” explains Matt Henderson of High Sierra Inspection. “The home buyer wants to know very clearly what they are getting for their money,” continues Matt, “but did you know an inspection can also be requested by the home seller before even putting their home on the market? I mean, who wants to get surprised by a buyer’s inspection results? And you don’t have to wait for a home sale.”
A typical home inspection starts at the roof and ends at the foundation, and includes a look at every major system in the home: plumbing, electrical, heating, and septic, among others.
Issues can also include safety concerns about the very foundation of the home, or problems that start out small and have the potential to become very big: a dripping faucet that leads to mold or a faulty electrical system that causes a fire are among the hazards a qualified home inspector can bring to light, in advance of catastrophe. Pests and insects can be a problem for homeowners, and it can be useful to have a home inspector serve as an expert witness if you run into any sorts of complications that require litigation.
Clear and careful documentation are key to getting a good home inspection, says Matt, who already has over 5,500 inspections under his belt. Construction and building are, historically, the family business — Matt’s father and brother are both licensed General Contractors. A native of the Donner Summit area, meticulous Matt has worked in construction since he was a teen. Wife Donna grew up in the foothills of Southern California and, after raising two kids in north Orange County, they’ve now settled in North Fork.
“Although High Sierra Inspection is new, we started this local company after building our inspection business in Southern California for the past 15 years,” notes the industry veteran, who says he and Donna are both enjoying the beauty of the area and are happy to be part of the community. Under the name Summit Home Inspection, Matt’s business received more than its share of positive reviews online.
The Hendersons are busy getting to know their neighbors, in between home inspections, and are currently members of the North Fork Chamber of Commerce, and Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors (YGAR). It helps the family business that Donna is a professional bookkeeper. The couple have a daughter in college at Chico State and a grown son in the Midwest.
One more reason to talk with a thorough, professional home inspector? A trained eye like Matt’s can reveal symptoms of future failures, and he can make recommendations for maintenance that could save you money in the long-run. High Sierra Inspection handles residential, multi-unit and commercial inspections with the same timely expertise.
How safe is your home? If you’re looking for some peace of mind, ask Matt.
“You can get an inspection done any time you have concerns about a condition with your home or property,” says the High Sierra Inspection owner. “Just give us a call at 559/493-8660 and discuss your issues.”
