The home inspector who works for buyers, not brokers.
I'm Jeff Terry. For more than two decades I've inspected coastal North Carolina homes — over 3,600 of them — as a licensed inspector, general contractor, builder, and broker. My clients find me through past clients, not through agent referral kickbacks, and that independence shapes every report I write.
A native Wilmingtonian who's spent his career on the construction side of homes.
My wife and I chose Wilmington as the right community to live and raise our three children — being a native may have helped. We gathered every piece of information we could before we bought our own home, and when I inspect for clients I bring the same caution. I'm guided by the state's mandate for home inspectors.
— NC Home Inspector Licensure Board
As a licensed general contractor, home builder, real-estate broker, and inspector, I've seen the perils of home buying from every angle. I look for the costly and dangerous deficiencies first, then explain everything in plain language with photographs.
I work for the buyer — not the broker, not the builder.
The North Carolina Home Inspection Board Survey reported that over 85% of home inspectors rely heavily on brokers for their livelihood, with most receiving between 60% and 100% of their work from broker referrals. That's a structural conflict of interest. My practice is intentionally different.
95%+ past-client referrals
The vast majority of my clients are referred by previous clients — people who got an honest report on their own home and want the same for someone they care about.
< 5% broker, < 0.1% builder
I don't pursue agent referral relationships. I don't accept builder kickbacks. That keeps me free to report what I actually find on the property.
Reports that actually explain
State-of-the-art reporting software, detailed photographs, plain-English explanations. After delivery I'm available for a remote conference to walk through findings together.
Three services, deeply specialized.
I focus on resale inspections, new construction (pre-drywall and final), and 11-month builder-warranty re-inspections. Per the 2019 NC Home Inspector Licensing Board Survey, I inspect more new-construction homes than any other home inspector in NC — about 10× the average.
Resale Home Inspection
For buyers under contract. Over 1,600 items inspected following the NC Standards of Practice, with detailed photo report.
New Construction
Pre-drywall framing inspection and final walk-through inspection — built by up to 40 subcontractors, with as few as 4 licensed. Independent eyes matter.
11-Month Builder Warranty
Catch costly issues before the one-year warranty expires. Comprehensive repair list for the builder — before they become your problem.
Not every inspection report is the same.
A joint publication from the NC Real Estate Commission and the NC Home Inspection Licensing Board put it directly:
A: No. While the Licensure Board has established a minimum requirement for report-writing, reports can vary greatly. They can range from a "checklist" of the systems and components to a full narrative including photographs.
After reviewing your inspection report I encourage a remote conference so we can work through the home's positive features and any not-so-great features together. The goal: informed decisions, confident outcomes.
Tell me about the home and I'll get back to you with a fair quote.
Prefer to talk? Call (910) 231-7814 or email jeff@aboveparhomeinspection.com.
Frequently asked
How long does a typical inspection take?
Most single-family homes take 2 to 4 hours on site. Larger, older, or more complex homes take longer. Crawl spaces, attics, and detached structures add time, and I'd rather take an unhurried look than rush a report.
Can I attend the inspection?
You're welcome and encouraged. Even a short walk-through at the end of the inspection helps you understand what you're buying. After the report is delivered, I'm also happy to schedule a remote conference to walk through the findings together.
When will I get the report?
Typically within 24 hours of the inspection. I use state-of-the-art reporting software with detailed photographs and clear explanations.
Do you work with my realtor?
I'll coordinate scheduling and report delivery with your agent — that's normal. But I'm not paid by your agent and I don't take broker referral kickbacks. My report is written for you, my client.
Do you inspect new construction?
Yes — extensively. Per the 2019 NC Home Inspector Licensing Board Survey, I inspect more new construction homes than any other home inspector in NC, averaging about 10× the typical inspector's volume. See the new construction page for details.
What about radon, mold, termites, and septic?
Those are specialty inspections performed under separate licenses (pest control, environmental). I'll happily recommend independent professionals I trust for those services, and I'll coordinate scheduling where helpful.
Do you offer pre-listing inspections for FSBO sellers?
No. For ethics reasons, I don't perform pre-listing inspections for sellers who plan to sell without realtor representation — a pre-listing report could be used to hide issues from future buyers. FSBO pre-purchase inspections are quoted case by case.