roof

Good Roofing Installed Badly

I was called out to take a look at a new torch down roof. My client was concerned that the roofing was not installed correctly. There is significant puddling in the corner, and the water is not going down the drain instead it runs into the corner and leaks into Read more…

By JJ Greive, 4 yearsMarch 20, 2021 ago

preventive maintenance roof Structural

Common Problems With Chimneys

We always inspect chimneys closely. Be sure to always have your wood burning chimneys swept and inspected regularly. Creosote build-up is one of the leading causes of chimney fires. Always burn seasoned dry wood and avoid smoldering fires to reduce the problem with creosote. Flashing problems A brick chimney should have Read more…

By JJ Greive, 4 yearsFebruary 3, 2021 ago

roof

That Dont Look Right

Sometimes you are asked to look at “repair” work on the homes we inspect. This home has a metal roof a masonry chimney. The mortar cap is gapping allowing rain to enter the hollow bricks. This was a major concern and I called for professional repairs. Today I got an email Read more…

By JJ Greive, 6 yearsSeptember 7, 2018 ago

roof That don't look right

Metal Roofs are Great! Right??

Usually, I am a big fan of metal roofs the materials can last a very long time. But as in any roofing project, it takes a trained and qualified craftsman following manufacturer’s installation instructions. This roof has planes are not laying flat, and a raised seam roof must have flat planes Read more…

By JJ Greive, 6 yearsJuly 26, 2018 ago

Exterior Field Training roof students

Who Are Those People Checking Out Buildings in Downtown Burien?

Have you noticed groups wandering around Burien looking at buildings? There is nothing to fear, they are students of The School of Professional Home Inspections (sophi.biz) and their mentors, JJ and Suzanne Greive pointing out issues on one of their local walkabouts. How many re-roofs? Dunno, too many! “We Read more…

By JJ Greive, 7 yearsFebruary 2, 2018 ago

Moisture Intrusion roof

Buyers Love Fresh Paint – We Don’t Love it Too

Most homebuyers love it when there is fresh paint inside, as a home inspector, we look at it in a different light. What is under the paint? When we inspect homes, we have lots of tools to help us accurately report what we see, smell or suspect. One of the Read more…

By JJ Greive, 8 yearsMay 15, 2017 ago

More Great Reviews

Steph B.

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value,
JJ and Suzanne are awesome teachers! I highly recommend to anyone looking to learn the ins and outs of Home Inspection! I really enjoyed this class! Thank you for being so patient and thorough!

Brandon B.

Suzanne and JJ are great! It was a pleasure to take this class. They have great insight into local practice that is very useful in this market. I have been on well over 300 inspections as a real estate agent and learned a ton from them. Highly recommended if anyone is interested in persuing home inspection training. It was like a firehose of information coming at you but they took the time to answer all questions and help explain things in ways that were understandable. Even though it was a long class it was bittersweet to finish it. I rather enjoyed showing up everyday to learn something and didn't feel it was overwhelming or a chore. They made it enjoyable and easy to follow along with. Thank you guys so much and I am sure I will be talking again with you!

John T.

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value
I attended the Home Inspection Fundaments course after finding the School of Professional Home Inspection on the department of licensing website. JJ and Suzanne were both great teachers and have a lot of great stories that really give you insight into the types of issues you will encounter as a home inspector.
I had a construction background going into this, but there was still so much for me to learn. This school gave me a great foundation (pun intended) for what I needed to know to pass the National Home Inspector Exam. My only advice to anyone who is planning to take this course is to take as many notes as you can and keep them organized. Study after hours. Take the practice quizzes that JJ provides to all of his students. Get lost on Google and YouTube for hours at a time learning about all the different systems in a home and construction materials/methods that are no longer acceptable by current standards. Open your mind and get excited about learning all of these new things and it will help you excel.

Best of luck to anyone just beginning this journey.

Thanks again guys!

Ryan F

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality
I dislike schooling with a passion. Never has been one of my strong suits. This course offered by JJ and his wife Suzanne feels more like sitting around the dinner table with your family than it does a classroom. You get the joy and laughs while great information is passed around. Questions, no matter how silly you may feel they are, get answered in a way easily understandable. The content of the course is pretty thorough and in depth. You get to learn about the standards the state has, industry standards adopted by multiple outfits, varying business models and practices in use today by others and they have access to dozens, if not hundreds of real estate agents, inspectors, contractors, etc that can answer questions or help point you in the right direction. I wouldn't hesitate to sign up for this class if you were serious about getting the best shot at getting your License.

Thank you

Zachary M.

Positive: Communication, Professionalism, Quality, Value
JJ & Suzanne offer an extremely high level of knowledge both in what is required and what can be expected of a Home Inspector. They are great teachers and it is clear that they are doing something that they love...Helping people. They also gave me a clear idea of the other opportunities that Home Inspectors have to serve their communities like becoming a Structural Pest Inspector as well. I really appreciated learning about all the things that they learned the hard way... All of those real-world experiences that they shared were priceless. I also appreciated learning some of the ins and outs of working in the different areas around the Puget Sound. It was a complete package of knowledge that I would not have gotten from a national chain school. Thank you JJ & Suzanne and hopefully one day I will be on your extensive list of mentors for new Home Inspectors!

Dillon M.

I was worried the 120-Hour Classroom Hours crammed in 12 days was going to be grueling but it was everything but. I was genuinely surprised at the all around quality of every aspect of JJ and Suzanne's class. They exerted extreme hospitality throughout the entire duration of the class and always made sure we were comfortable and in the best position to learn. As a licensed professional and tradesman, I felt satisfied with their knowledge base pertaining to my specialization and in return, gave me confidence that everything else I was learning was proper and sufficient.

I do not believe any other Home Inspecting Course will be able to match what JJ and Suzanne have to offer and I am so sure of it, I'd be willing to bet a whole first year's worth of pay from the money I will make Home Inspecting against anyone that'd say otherwise!

Andrew K.

This was the best experience of my life! Very professional but relaxed environment. The information I learned in the time I was there was amazing. Money well spent!

Tim K.

JJ and Suzanne are by far the best home inspection instructors around, they prepared me for the test and ho to do a professional home inspection as well as setting up my business. I was successful my first year out thanks to them. Highly recommended!
Tim, AAA Home Inspections

John J.

The SOPHI instructors (JJ and Suzanne) were not only helpful in training and preparing our class for the State exam, but with my own launching into the home inspection business. I was impressed with the professionalism and patience shown to their students and clients. In between their busy personal and professional lives they have shown me that they truly care about their students and are willing to go beyond typical learning situations in order to help their students succeed.

Home Inspector Candidate Podcast