Steve and Cathie Lobpries

Owners

Steve Lobpries

Home Inspector

Steve Lobpries, a fourth-generation Houstonian, was named one of the Top 10 Best Home Inspectors in The Houston area. Steve attended the University of Houston after graduating from Spring Woods High School. Steve is code certified and professionally licensed TREC no. 4571, with previous construction experience. Steve is also certified by Southwestern Assemblies of God University, having mastered Home Inspection, 1 & 2 Dwelling Codes and Standards and Practices, with over 360 hours of continuing education.

Education:

University of Houston
Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Affiliations and Certifications:

Texas Real Estate Commission, Texas Professional Real Estate Inspector License No.4571
Houston Association of Real Estate Inspectors
Houston Areas Oldest Inspector Association
(Memebership is by invitation only for Houston’s most experienced inspectors)
International Code Council - Certified Residential Building Inspector
International Association of Certified Home Inspectors

We are a family owned and operated business. Our business is based on referrals.  Call us today at 281-347-1426, or Toll Free at 1-877-312-7230, to book your appointment.  Client satisfaction is our first priority, but don’t take our word for it, look at what our clients are saying about us.

Services

Foundation

Inspection Team prides ourselves on providing an inspection with diligence that’s a cut above the rest. Our computerized level is able to measure the elevation variance of your foundation within a fraction of an inch.

Roofs

Roof coverings and flashing must be installed properly to prevent rain intrusion. Composition shingles are the most common roof covering in the Houston Area and generally have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. Hail damage is one of the most common reasons for roof failure.

Attic

An attic can provide clues to serious problems that might not be disclosed or even known by the current owner such as previous fire damage, inadequate attic insulation, and roof leaks.

Grading

When we inspect site grading, we check to make sure the grade falls at least 6 inches within the first 10 feet, to swale when 10 feet is not available - this ensures that water drains away from the home into the street instead of draining under the foundation of the home. Poor grading and foundation are the main causes of foundation failure in the Houston Area.

Fireplaces

When you’re having a home inspection, you’ll want us to take a close look at potential safety hazards like fireplaces. A standard home inspection will include an overview of the fireplace, based on what we find, we can tell you if you need a more in-depth fireplace inspection.

Stairways

Inspection Team carefully assesses the stairways of a home and will notate potential risks or areas for concern. We inspect improperly installed handrails, dimensions of stairs, and railing conditions.

Stucco, Brick Stone, Siding, Wall Covers

Inspecting the exterior wall coverings is an important part of the home inspection because the coverings protect the interior of the house from the elements. Brick, stone, wood, and stucco are usually used as wall coverings.

Interior and Exterior Walls

The walls of the home can be covered by a wide variety of materials and divide the home into individual rooms and areas. Typically, the walls in a home can support floors or other portions of the home above. Future homebuyers occasionally ask if they can remove a wall or if it must stay. Once we’ve inspected the home we can inform the buyer about what walls are load-bearing and which are partition and removable.

Windows and Exterior Doors

People trained to install windows and doors should be knowledgable about issues related to water leakage. The framing, nailing, caulking, water membranes, flashings, trims, and sill pans must all be applied with precision to protect the home from the elements. When we inspect windows and doors we look for signs of proper installation and operation.

Electrical

When we inspect the home, we get right down to the inner details of the operation of all lights, receptacles, and switches. We take off the cover of the electrical panel and inspect every wire down to the size and breaker.

Plumbing

The problem with hidden leaks is that you typically don’t realize they exist until visible damage has been done to your walls. Our thermal imaging camera can detect major and unseen leaks before major damage is done. We also inspect all showers, sinks, and tubs.

Air Conditioning and Heating

The heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are a critical component of all of our inspections. The HVAC components not only supply heating and cooling to the house, but they are also a critical part of the health of the home. Our thermal imaging cameras are used to measure the air temperature in every room. One common problem we come across on many furnaces are gas leaks. This particular problem is hazardous and should be rectified as soon as possible if found by an inspector.

Water Heaters

The average lifespan of a water heater is only 8 to 12 years, so we pay particular attention to the condition of the water heater condition in every home. We use an electronic gas detector to detect if there are any gas leaks.

Kitchen Appliances

We find nearly as many problems on new homes during inspections as we do with older homes. If you’re purchasing a home we will inspect the installation and operation of all appliances.

Clothes Dryer Ducts

Improperly installed dryer ducts are a common cause of house fires. All residential dryer manufacturers require a 4-inch diameter duct, but often a 5-inch diameter duct is installed.

Lawn Sprinklers

Sprinkler system leaks and failures can lead to high water bills and potential damage to your new home or property. We inspect the system of every home with a sprinkler. Even though most of the sprinkler system is located underground, we still assess the sprinkler operation, including a visible inspection of the controllers, sprinkler head locations, pressure differentials, and sensors.

Testimonials

"Great communication on all aspects of what is covered including items under code. Great schedule including Saturdays which I recommend being there as they show you what all is found In case you have good questions. The report was timely and included lots of pics to support the findings. Friendly fast and efficient what else could you ask for?"

-Stephen C.

"As a real estate investor, I have purchased many homes in the Houston Area and have used several different inspection companies. I have found Steve Lobpries with Inspection Team to be the most thorough and most knowledgable about home construction.

-David D."

"Thank you very much for this report. We appreciate your effort and prompt reporting with important details."

-Roman and Eva

“Thanks for the quick turnaround. We will absolutely refer your company to our friends and family. We are very happy with the experience that we had from start to finish.”

-Lisa

"I am a Real Estate Broker and I have used Steve for house inspections for over 6 years. He is very knowledgeable with regards to current code requirements. He is very professional, detail oriented and courteous. His reports are available within 24 hours. I would highly recommend using Inspection Team."

-Kay S.

"Thank you! Your report was very understandable, detailed and well illustrated with pictures."

-Jonathan

“Thank you very much for your services. Mr Lobpries gave me a lot of useful information and tips to make low cost improvements, especially when this is my first home. I was recommended by another client and I would also recommend you guys to anybody else.”

-Debanhi

"Thank you so much for sending the report so promptly. Steve was a pleasure having in my home and so very thorough and detailed. I immediately picked up the fact that he was very knowledgeable and very passionate about his work and that put my mind at ease. I knew I was in good hands. It was a great service experience, and I will strongly suggest to both of my neighbors that they use the “Inspection Team.”

-Drell

"I want to thank you for the thorough inspection. You found major issues that two other previous inspectors missed. By finding these issues before our warranty expired, we were able to make multiple claims and avoid literally thousands when selling in the future. This was certainly money well spent and Susanna and I appreciate it! We’ll certainly recommend you to others."

-Greg and Susanna

FAQs

Why choose Inspection Team?
Steve Lobpries is a native Houstonian, highly experienced, code certified, has completed over 15,000 home inspections. He has been a member of the Houston Greater Business Bureau for 20-years with an A+ rating. Steve has previous experience in home building and remodeling. Also, Steve has been a member of the prestigious Houston Association of Real Estate Inspectors for over 10 years. Membership is by invitation only for highly experienced inspectors.

Appropriate time to inspect?
Home inspections are performed prior to purchasing your home, or phase inspections when you are having a house constructed. We usually find just as many problems with a new home as we do older homes. This includes new homes that were previously inspected by the city and the builder’s inspector.

Should newly constructed homes be inspected?
Yes, yes, yes. One might think that new homes should not have any problems. We have inspected some new homes that had over 100 problems or issues that were not installed properly or need repair. These include homes that were inspected by a city inspector or by a inspector hired by the builder.

Some homebuyers are advised by a real estate agents, friends, etc. to wait until the one year warranty is about to expire. Our experience has shown in performing warranty inspections, home builders sometimes refuse to repair some things. The best time to get the builder to repair these issues is before you close on the home.

What types of buildings do you inspect?
Inspection Team only performs home and light commercial inspections.

How long does it take to receive my home report?
Reports are available the following day.

Do you inspect homes prior to the builder’s warranty expiring?
Yes. It’s better for your builder to do necessary repairs than for you to pay for them later. Unlike most other inspectors, our reports include cosmetic items that might have been overlooked before you moved in. We are familiar with what issues are covered by the homebuilder's warranty. Many inspectors only perform a "resale" home inspection.

Do you belong to any trade or inspector organizations?
Yes, Inspection Team Inc. belongs to the following organizations; Texas Real Estate Commission, Texas Professional Real Estate Inspector License No.4571, Houston Association of Real Estate Inspectors, Houston Areas Oldest Inspector Association (Memebership is by invitation only for Houston’s most experienced inspectors), International Code Council - Certified Residential Building Inspector, and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.  For over 19 years, Inspection Team Inc. has held an A+ rated member status with the Greater Houston Better Business Bureau.

How much does a home inspection cost?
Fees are determined by the size, age and foundation type (slab or pier and beam).

Call us today at  281-347-1426 to book your appointment.

Follow us on facebook