TREC LIC. #26322-PI  •  WDI LIC. #0995554  •  INSURED Mon–Sat 7 AM – 10 PM  |  📞 (903) 808-3898
Cardinal Home Inspections
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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything buyers, sellers, and homeowners ask us — answered honestly. Don't see yours? Call or use the search (🔍).

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How much does a home inspection cost?
It depends on the home's size, age, foundation type, and any add-ons like pool, termite, septic, or well. Most inspections around here run $375–$600. Call or text me at (903) 808-3898 and I'll give you an exact number in about two minutes — no pressure, no runaround. Bundle multiple services and you'll get package pricing, and I offer discounts for active military, veterans, first responders, and teachers.
How long does an inspection take?
Most homes take me 2.5–4 hours depending on size and condition — add-ons like a pool or septic add a bit more. You're welcome to be there the whole time, or just come for the last 30 minutes and I'll walk you through everything I found. Either way, I don't rush it.
When will I get my report?
Within 12 hours — and honestly, it's usually in your inbox the same evening. I know your option period clock is running, so I don't sit on reports. They're digital, loaded with photos, and organized by priority so the important stuff is right up top.
Should I attend the inspection?
Please do! Half the value of an inspection is standing in the house together while I show you what I'm seeing. I'll explain everything in plain English and answer every question you've got — that's half the reason I do this job. Can't make it? No problem, the photo report and a follow-up phone call cover you.
What does the inspection cover?
A thorough visual evaluation of everything visible and accessible: roof, structure, foundation, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, windows, doors, appliances, drainage, and more — following Texas TREC Standards of Practice. Pools, termites, septic, wells, and air quality are dedicated add-ons I can do in the same visit.
Do you inspect the driveway, sidewalks, and patio?
Yes — and I'll be straight with you that I don't have to. Texas standards don't require an inspector to look at concrete flatwork: driveways, sidewalks, walkways, patios, paving stones. Plenty of inspectors skip it for exactly that reason. I document what I observe anyway, on every home. Partly because you're about to own it and you'd like to know, and partly because around here flatwork tells you things — concrete that's heaved, separated, or settled is the same East Texas clay movement that shows up at the foundation, and a driveway sloping toward the house is a drainage problem wearing a different hat. On older homes especially, it's often where the story starts. Grading and drainage are required items and I take them seriously. The flatwork is the part I throw in — as observations and photographs, not an engineering evaluation or a certification of the concrete.
What is the 90-day warranty?
Every inspection comes with 90 days of coverage to protect your investment: electrical systems, mechanical systems, structural elements, appliances, and HVAC systems. It covers the window right after you move in, when you're still learning the house and a surprise repair lands hardest.
What is the 200% Satisfaction Guarantee?
Your peace of mind matters. If you're not completely satisfied at the time of the inspection, I refund your inspection fee and I pay for another licensed inspector of your choice, up to the original inspection fee. That's where the 200% comes from — you get your money back and you get a second opinion paid for. I can make that promise because I stand behind every report I write.
Are you licensed?
Yes. Jeff Stalnaker is a TREC licensed professional inspector (License #26322-PI), InterNACHI certified, AHIT trained, and an FAA Part 107 certified remote pilot (sUAS Certificate #5047202) for drone roof work. Termite/WDI inspections are performed under WDI License #0995554 through Pest Inspection Network, Inc. (TPCL#783068, P. O. Box 700906, San Antonio, TX 78270).
Do you inspect new construction? It already passed city code.
I sure do — and here's the honest truth: city code inspections are quick, and they're not done on your behalf. I routinely find items builders missed, and a pre-drywall inspection checks work that's about to be covered up forever. It's some of the best money you can spend on a new home.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes — active military, veterans, first responders, and teachers all get special pricing. Thank you for what you do. And if you bundle services (home + pool + termite is the popular one around here), you'll get discounted package pricing too.
What areas do you serve?
I'm based in Tyler and work all over East Texas — Lindale, Longview, Whitehouse, Bullard, Mineola, Athens, Gilmer, Gladewater, Frankston, Arp, Winona, and plenty of towns in between. Don't see yours? Just call and ask — odds are I'll come to you.
Can you inspect the pool too?
Absolutely — and honestly, this is my specialty. I spent 30+ years in the pool and spa industry before I ever picked up an inspection clipboard. I'll check the surfaces, equipment, heaters, and safety features, and it bundles nicely with the full home inspection — one visit, one report.
Illustration of Jeff Stalnaker inspecting an open electrical panel with a flashlight

There are no dumb questions

I've been asked all of these, most of them more than once. If yours isn't here, that's what the phone is for — especially the electrical ones. Those are the questions people are most embarrassed to ask and least able to answer safely.

Video

Watch: 60 Seconds on This

Sixty seconds, no jargon. Same thing I'd tell you standing in the driveway.

A Home Inspection Isn't Pass/Fail There's no passing grade. An inspection is a condition report, not a test — and understanding that changes how you read every page of it. Watch on YouTube ↗
Why I Want You at the Inspection Standing in the house together while I show you what I'm seeing is worth more than any report. Come for the last thirty minutes at minimum. Watch on YouTube ↗
We've Never Had a Problem With It Most sellers aren't hiding anything — they genuinely don't know. Nobody notices the leak in the attic they never go into. Watch on YouTube ↗

More videos on my channel ↗

Still Have Questions?

No pressure, no sales pitch — just honest answers. Call, text, or send a message anytime.

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