Markus is very very very detailed
If there is one thing you want in an home inspector - its detail. We found Markus on yelp and we wanted someone with experience in older homes. Markus specializes in all kinds of homes and Chicago locations. I sent him a resquest for a quote via email and within 1 day he had written me back a very detailed explanation of his process and what I might find in homes and locations I was considering. When I called to make an appointment he had great availability to get right in and review the property.
Markus was early (on time) and he began the perimeter work. Markus revisited areas he already reviewed with family who showed up later and basically walked the entire house with us. This was very helpful as we could be more educated on property in its totality and not just when we reviewed the report 2 days later. My last inspector just gave highlights when he came to big ticket items but Markus really led us around so we were intimately involved in the process and was aware of the big and small and how to fix each. He should us the when, why, where, and how to with every defect. He gave his honest opinions and gave us insight into scope of work that would be ahead of us and his expertise as a contractor really paid off.
Now that bad.
Markus while personable and knowledgeable made many unsavory remarks in his chit chat and throughout the inspection used foul language. This was witnessed by not only myself but both relators. Markus is a city inspector and contractor not a home inspector by origination. This is his second career and as such will not have a similar write up of your property as other inspectors where it is neutral and just giving facts. He offers to write another report to go to the sellers but unless you request that upfront there will be delays and headaches. Markus himself acknowledged he had received several complaints about his write up (but clearly failed to adjust based on the clients who were paying him). Again the write up he gave us was excellent for our eyes only ------but as law dictates "if you request an item to be fixed you must send over the report". Because this is his second career Markus could not understand this and has not grasped that very critical fact. Needless to say we could not negotiate any repairs due to his opening sentence. "This house is in very good shape. " He then followed that sentiment for another paragraph but then ended with 5 pages of defects. Atleast 3 were pretty major with repairs needing to be done immediately to the tune of 15,000. There were issues that were defects that had very immediate future needs but the phrasing made it appear that because they werent an issue at present they fell upon us to eat. The sellers only saw that first paragraph about how great their home was and had blinders during negotiations to the other five pages he wrote up on defects. I'd select Markus only if you personally want to know how the house is and want a knowledgeable narrative not to be shared. If his write up has to go to sellers I'd select another inspector to write it up and or represent you in an inspection situation.