licensed nh home inspector – Internachi Certified – serving salem, nh
I spent over 20 years building NH homes. Now I inspect them.
Inspecting homes through the lens of a career builder, for buyers, sellers, and investors in Salem and the surrounding Southern New Hampshire communities.
Call / Text: (802) 289-0025
Radon & Water Testing – Thermal Imaging – Reports in Under 24 Hours
Why My Background Makes Me More Useful as a Home Inspector
I owned and ran a general contracting business for more than two decades, and that business is still active today. That’s not a background detail — it’s the thing that makes the inspection different.
That means I managed bids, hired and oversaw all the other trades, dealt with building officials, and watched what happens when work is done right and when it isn’t. And because the business is still running, my knowledge of current materials, methods, and building science isn’t frozen in the past.
Here’s the part that matters most. The tools an inspector carries — the moisture meter, thermal camera, gas detector — are useful, but they are not where the value is. The value is judgment. It’s knowing what you’re looking at, why it’s there, whether it represents a real problem or simply the way a house from that period was built, and what it will actually take to address it.
That judgment matters on any property. It matters even more when a house has been expanded, remodeled, or adapted repeatedly over the years. Finished basements, additions, converted garages, opened-up floor plans, replacement mechanical systems, and generations of electrical and plumbing work can make a house considerably more complicated than it first appears. Good finishes can make that work look convincing. They do not necessarily tell you what is behind them.
Two inspectors can stand in the same mechanical room looking at the same condition. What separates them is what they understand about it.
I also do not perform contracting work on homes I inspect for at least 12 months after the inspection. No repair pitch, no conflict of interest, and no incentive to shade a finding in either direction.
The One Person in the Deal Who Works Only for You
It’s worth being honest about how a real estate transaction is structured. Your agent is paid when the sale closes. Your lender is paid when the loan funds. Contractors providing repair estimates have an interest in the size of the job. None of that makes those people dishonest — most are perfectly straight with you — but it does mean nearly everyone in the transaction has a financial stake in the deal moving forward.
The home inspector is the exception.
I’m paid a flat fee whether you buy the house or walk away from it. I have no stake in the outcome and nothing to sell you afterward. My job is to examine the property carefully, tell you the truth about what I find, and put it in writing so you can make your own decision.
That independence is particularly important when a property presents beautifully. Good architecture, quality millwork, an impressive view, and a professionally staged interior all deserve appreciation. They also have no bearing on whether the electrical panel is properly configured, the lower level stays dry, the roof was detailed correctly, or the heating systems have been maintained.
A sophisticated property still needs an unsentimental inspection.
Weighed against the purchase price, the inspection fee is negligible. Weighed against the cost of an overlooked structural, water, electrical, roofing, or mechanical issue, it is one of the more useful pieces of due diligence available to a buyer.
Homes in Salem: Fast-Moving, Frequently Altered, and Not Always Simple
Salem is close enough to Massachusetts to attract commuters, but the homes are still very much southern New Hampshire homes. The market includes older ranches and capes, larger suburban houses, condominiums, multi-family properties, and newer construction around the town’s continuing commercial and residential growth.
A lot of these houses have also been worked on—sometimes repeatedly. Basements have been finished, decks added, heating systems replaced, kitchens opened up, garages converted, and additions tied into the original structure. Some of that work is excellent. Some of it reflects the dangerous confidence that comes from having both a pickup truck and a Saturday afternoon.
Sometimes, the renovation history matters more than the original design of the house. I want to understand how the work was done, whether water is being managed properly, how structural loads are carried, whether electrical and plumbing alterations make sense, and whether newer finishes are concealing older problems.
Finished basements deserve particular attention. A clean ceiling, new flooring, and freshly painted walls can make the space feel reassuring, but they also conceal much of the foundation, framing, wiring, plumbing, and prior moisture history. I look for the evidence that remains visible: staining, elevated moisture, corrosion, damaged trim, floor movement, drainage conditions, patched foundation areas, and the suspiciously new section of drywall that nobody seems eager to discuss.
Homes built or substantially renovated during the 1980s and 1990s can raise their own questions. Certain plumbing materials, synthetic stucco systems, aging decks, original HVAC equipment, and decades of accumulated alterations can all warrant a closer look. None of those things automatically makes a house a problem. They simply need to be recognized and understood.
Salem’s market can move quickly. That makes it easy to spend fifteen minutes admiring the kitchen and considerably less time wondering what is behind it. My job is to look beyond the presentation and give you a practical understanding of the house itself.
What I Look For During a Salem Home Inspection
A home inspection covers the visible and accessible portions of the property, including the roof, exterior, grading, drainage, foundation, basement or crawlspace, visible structure, electrical system, plumbing, water heating, heating and cooling equipment, attic, insulation, ventilation, interior rooms, windows, doors, stairs, decks, porches, garages, and attached structures.
That is the formal scope. The more important part is knowing how those individual findings fit together.
A basement stain, for example, does not mean much without looking at the grading, gutters, foundation, drainage, humidity, and materials installed against the walls. A sloped floor needs to be considered alongside the framing beneath it, the foundation, nearby alterations, and the age of the house. An electrical issue may be an isolated repair—or one visible clue that a larger renovation was completed without much planning and other components might also require further scrutiny.
In Salem, I pay particular attention to finished basements, additions, decks, renovated interiors, aging roofing and mechanical systems, plumbing materials, electrical alterations, and the way water moves around the property. Where synthetic stucco or other water-sensitive cladding is present, I look closely at windows, doors, penetrations, roof intersections, lower terminations, and other places where installation details matter.
I am not there simply to produce the longest possible list of defects. I am trying to identify what is significant, what is ordinary maintenance, what deserves additional evaluation, and what may realistically affect your plans for the property.
Radon and Water Testing
I offer radon testing for your Salem home inspection using a continuous electronic monitor that records conditions throughout the test period. If you’d like to learn more about radon testing and whether it’s something you need to be concerned about, here’s a blog post I wrote about that topic.
Many Salem homes are served by municipal water, but private wells are still present in parts of town and in surrounding communities. Water testing is available for properties with private wells, with different testing panels depending on the property, lender requirements, and your concerns.
When radon and water testing are scheduled together with a home inspection, the bundled price saves $100 from the combined standalone cost.
For Buyers, Sellers, and Investors
For buyers, the inspection is an opportunity to step away from the pace of the transaction and spend a few hours concentrating on the house itself.
I am not there to convince you to buy it, and I am not there to frighten you away from it. I am there to tell you what I can see, what I think it means, and where uncertainty remains. You decide what fits your budget, tolerance, and plans.
For sellers, a pre-listing inspection can identify concerns before the property is under contract. That gives you time to decide what should be repaired, what should be disclosed, and what you would rather leave for the next owner without discovering it in the middle of a negotiation.
For investors, landlords, and multi-family buyers, I focus on the issues most likely to affect safety, renovation scope, insurability, operating costs, and near-term capital expenses. Multi-family buildings are not simply large houses. They often have multiple heating systems, electrical panels, kitchens, bathrooms, entrances, living spaces, and generations of repairs to sort through.
A Practical Inspection Report
After the inspection, you receive a digital report with photographs, clear explanations, and findings organized so that significant concerns do not disappear into a hundred pages of routine observations.
The report is intended to remain useful after the appointment. You should be able to send a finding to an electrician, show it to a contractor, use it during negotiations, or return to it months later and still understand what I was talking about.
Safety concerns and major defects are stated directly. Routine maintenance is identified without being treated like a crisis. When something warrants evaluation by a structural engineer, electrician, plumber, HVAC contractor, chimney professional, or another specialist, I will say so clearly.
Reports are generally delivered the same day. I also remain available after the inspection to answer questions about the findings. The report should not be the end of the conversation if you need help understanding what is in it.
What Does a Home Inspection Cost?
Most inspections run between $500 and $900 depending on the size of the home. A standard inspection for a home up to 1,500 square feet is $600, stepping up in $100 increments by size tier to $900 for homes over 3,500 square feet. Homes built before 1950 carry an additional fee because they take longer for a thorough inspection. Condos and homes under 1,000 square feet are generally $500. Multi-family and estate properties are quoted individually.
Radon testing and water testing can be added to the inspection. When both are scheduled with the home inspection, the bundled price saves $100 from the combined standalone cost.
To get a firm price, use the online scheduler, instant quote tool, or send me the property address, square footage, year built, number of units, and any additional testing you would like included. I will confirm the scope and price before the appointment is placed on the calendar.
Serving Salem and Southern New Hampshire
I provide home inspections throughout Salem and nearby southern New Hampshire communities, including Windham, Pelham, Atkinson, Hampstead, Derry, Londonderry, Hudson, Nashua, Merrimack, Bedford, and Manchester.
I also travel throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. For the full list of communities I serve throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, visit the Service Areas page.
Schedule Your Salem Home Inspection
If you are buying a home in Salem or the surrounding southern NH area, I would be glad to help you understand what you are looking at before you move forward.
Call or text: (802) 289-0025
Email: connect@resonanthomesnh.com
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Inspections in Salem, NH
How quickly can you schedule a home inspection in Salem?
I try to keep enough flexibility in the schedule to accommodate normal inspection contingencies, including shorter ones. Availability varies from week to week, so the best approach is to call, text, or use the online scheduler as soon as the property is under contract.
If the inspection deadline is unusually tight, contact me directly. I cannot always create an opening, but I will give you a clear answer rather than leaving you wondering whether the request went through.
How long does a Salem home inspection usually take?
Most inspections take roughly three to four hours, although the size, age, condition, and complexity of the property can move that in either direction.
A smaller, straightforward home may take less time. A large house with multiple heating systems, finished basement areas, additions, outbuildings, or a long renovation history can take considerably longer.
I do not rush through a property to meet an arbitrary time limit. The house determines how long the inspection takes.
Should I attend the home inspection?
Yes, for the final portion.
That allows me to concentrate on the house first and then walk you through the most important findings without making you follow me through every attic corner and electrical panel.
The walkthrough is where I can show you the concerns that matter, explain what appears manageable, and put the report into context before you leave.
If you are unable to be there that’s not a problem either. I commonly inspect for out of state buyers, and the inspection report is written to stand on its own. I’m also happy to do a phone call to review, discuss findings, and answer questions.
Do Salem homes need radon testing?
Radon testing is worth considering anywhere in New Hampshire, including Salem. You cannot determine the radon level from the age, style, condition, or appearance of the house.
A well-maintained newer home can test high. An old basement that looks like it was assembled while our nation was still under British rule can test low. The only reliable way to know is to test.
I use a continuous electronic monitor that records conditions throughout the testing period. Radon testing can be added to the home inspection.
Do you offer water testing for homes with private wells?
Yes. While much of Salem is served by municipal water, private wells are still present in parts of town and throughout nearby communities.
Water testing can be tailored to the property, your concerns, and any lender requirements. Common panels may include bacteria, nitrates, nitrites, arsenic, lead, uranium, radon in water, and other contaminants.
Water quality testing does not evaluate well yield or guarantee that the well will keep up with heavy use, but it can provide important information about the quality of the water being supplied to the home.
Are finished basements a concern in Salem?
Not automatically, but they deserve a careful look.
Finished basements are common in Salem, and the finishes often conceal the very areas I would normally use to evaluate the foundation, framing, drainage, wiring, plumbing, and moisture history. A dry-looking room does not necessarily mean the basement has always been dry.
I look for the evidence that remains visible, including staining, damaged trim, elevated moisture, corrosion, floor movement, drainage problems, patched areas, and changes in materials that suggest previous repairs.
What should I know about homes built in the 1980s and 1990s?
Homes from that period are often perfectly serviceable, but some materials and installation practices deserve attention.
Depending on the house, I may be looking for certain plumbing materials, aging decks, original heating and cooling equipment, synthetic stucco systems, older roofing, and alterations made over several decades of ownership.
The concern is rarely the year itself. It is whether the materials are still performing properly, whether previous work was done well, and what may be approaching the end of its useful life.
Do you inspect condominiums and townhomes in Salem?
I do. A condominium inspection generally focuses on the interior, visible systems serving the unit, and any exterior or common components that are accessible and relevant. The exact scope depends on the building type and what the association maintains.
It is also important to review the condominium documents, reserve funding, meeting minutes, pending assessments, and responsibility for roofs, siding, decks, windows, plumbing, and other shared systems. A unit can be in excellent condition while the association has a very expensive problem approaching.
Do you inspect multi-family and investment properties?
Absolutely. However, multi-family properties are quoted individually because the time and scope can vary considerably.
These inspections often involve multiple kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems, electrical panels, entrances, utility arrangements, and generations of repairs. I pay particular attention to safety concerns, major systems, renovation quality, and conditions likely to affect operating costs or near-term improvement plans.
For investors, the goal is not simply to produce a defect list. It is to help clarify what you may be taking on after closing.
Can you tell me what repairs will cost?
I can often give you practical context about the likely scope of a repair and whether it appears minor, substantial, or likely to involve multiple trades.
What I generally will not do is pretend that every visible defect can be reduced to an exact number during the inspection. Costs depend on access, finishes, contractor availability, the full extent of concealed damage, and how far you choose to take the repair.
There are many inspection companies these days that offer “repair pricing” through software. I am firmly against this practice and believe that it should not be trusted. If you’d like to learn more about why I wrote a blog post about it that is worth the read.
My construction background helps me explain what a repair may actually involve, but firm pricing should come from the contractor who has inspected the issue and is prepared to perform the work.