Professional · Reliable · Experienced
Inspected Once, Inspected Right!




Sarasota & Manatee Home Inspections
Hello, I’m Michael Koester, CMI (Certified Master Inspector) & Founder of Direct Inspections. We are a professional, customer-focused home inspection company working in Sarasota & Manatee region. Our inspections include evaluation of the Roofing System, Air Conditioning, Electrical, Plumbing, Structure, Interior, Pool & Spa. As your trusted home inspector in Sarasota, we can also schedule an independent Termite Specialist & HVAC Professional upon request! Furthermore, we can provide contacts for special examinations including Mold, Dock & Davit, Elevator, Chinese Drywall and many more. Just ask!

Michael Koester, CMI, Owner
Direct Inspections


Professional · Reliable · Experienced
Inspected Once, Inspected Right!
Siesta Key Service Area – Home Inspection
Top Rated, Professional Home Inspector Siesta Key | HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing & Roof | Infrared-Scanning | Call Inspector Michael to find out why we are different!
If you are buying a home or condo on Siesta Key, there are a few items you should be aware of. Most homes on Siesta Key are part-time residences or rentals. When the owners fly down from freezing Buffalo or Chicago, the first thing on their mind is to hit the beach, not Home Depot. Owners tent to put off projects because who likes to work while on vacation? As a result, our inspections often uncover quick fixes or components that are wearing out. Older electrical panels, corroded water heaters, old sewer lines, windows that barely operate, water damage from leaks – these are issues we commonly find while inspecting on Siesta Key.
The good news is, you can change the home but the location will remain the same! Purchasing a home or condo on Siesta Key is a lifetime goal for many people. Be sure to have your prospective home or condo inspected so that you can be aware of the condition of the installed components.
Plumbing, electrical, roofing and air conditioning are all subject to advanced wear/aging due to the closeness to the ocean. Most metal components will corrode more rapidly. Therefore it is important to have the home’s systems evaluated by a professional home inspector. Our inspection process is a professional evaluation of the systems and components in the dwelling. Our report is produced the same day and we encourage that you attend the inspection if possible to get the most out of the process. Let us know how we can help you!


Included in every inspection:


Roof System


Heating & Air Conditioning


Plumbing System & Water Heaters


Electrical System Evaluation


Kitchen & Appliances


Interior Rooms & Areas Inspected


FLIR Infrared Camera
The Direct Inspections Service Areas include: Siesta Key, Bay Island and Bay Isle.
Siesta Key is home to the world-class beach of the same name. People from around the world flock to Siesta Key for its pristine sand and gently lapping waves. In my personal opinion, it is the best beach community in the world, offering a wonderful little village, plenty of dining and a nearly endless beach (that requires a concerted effort to walk end-to-end). Those lucky enough to purchase a home on Siesta Key will be rewarded with easy beach access and plenty of rental opportunities.
Many of the homes and condos on Siesta Key have some age to them. The area had a large building boom in the 1960s and 1970s. Most of the structures are original to that time. Roofing Systems, Plumbing Systems, Air Conditioning Systems and Electrical Systems can wear out in the course of that time. It is important to have these properly inspected. Also Siesta Key has a host of newer homes and condos. Direct Inspections works frequently on Siesta Key and we’ll be happy to inspect your purchase and help you!
You might already be spending a lot of time on Siesta Key as you read this but if you wait until Sunday evening, they have the Siesta Key Drum Circle. It’s a local favorite!
Why Hire Us For Your Home Inspection?
Certified Master Inspector, Less than 3% of Florida’s Inspectors achieve Master Inspector Certification
Board-Certified: InterNACHI Certified Professional
FLIR Thermal Imaging: Allows us to see what others can’t
Same Day Reporting: Direct Inspections reports are always issued same day!
One Source: Full Home Evaluation, Condo Inspections, Insurance Inspections
We Carry a SUPRA Key: Quick & Easy Access to locked homes
Local & Experienced: We’ve inspected every type, age and size dwelling.
Excellent communication & customer service!
A Few Recent Notes & Observations

When we find moisture staining, we do our
best to verify whether it is wet or dry. There
are several ways to achieve this. Often
times we use an infrared camera which will
allow us to see if the spot is cold, which can
indicate that it is wet. As a secondary
means of confirmation, we prefer to stab
the questionable staining with a pin probe
moisture meter. These types of moisture
meters have two pins that run a little
electrical current between them. The wetter
the material, the easier the flow of
electricity which the moisture meter will tell
you. The meter that I prefer to use is the
original GE Protimeter. It’s display goes
from green to yellow to red, indicating the
wetness of the material being tested. It is a
very good tool to know with absolute
certainty whether moisture is present or
not.
If the home you were looking to purchase has cast-iron
sewer lines, you should strongly consider having the waste
lines evaluated buy a sewer camera. The lifespan of cast
iron sewer lines is generally 40 to 80 years. The lines can
deteriorate and become brittle eventually collapsing. While
some homes have lines that are still in good condition,
others may have had partial or full collapses. Repairing or
replacing these lines is very costly. Therefore, it is important
to know the condition of these lines before purchasing a
home. In more recent years PVC plastic sewer lines have
become the material of choice. They do not suffer from the
same deterioration issues the cast iron does.
We recently inspected a sweet little condo on
Siesta Key. This 1970s unit was located near
the South Bridge. It was well taken care of. One
of the benefits of a condo over a single family
home is that the Community Association takes
care of the exterior for you. You really only have
to concentrate on the interior. It is important to
make sure that your air conditioning, water
heater and electrical systems are in good
working order. Safe operation of your condo is
very important. Another important part of
condo inspections is to look for water damage
from upstairs units. Eventually someone’s toilet
or sink will overflow upstairs, potentially
causing water intrusion into the unit below. We
are very careful to look for any signs of this in
our inspection process. Unfortunately however
it is almost inevitable that it will happen at one
point.














