⭐ Certified Master Inspector
Certified Master Inspector
Sarasota & Manatee Home Inspections
Professional, thorough, customer-focused inspections with same-day reporting, so you can buy with total confidence.
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!
Bradenton Service Area – Home Inspection
Are you looking to have a home inspection in Bradenton? Getting a home inspection is an important part of the real estate purchase process. We provide same-day reporting on the homes we inspect! We pride ourselves on the level of care and attention we provide.
Our services generally include a professional HVAC and Termite inspection as well. Additionally, we have a host of cutting edge tools that give our company an advantage. Bradenton offers many different types of homes of all ages. From waterfront mansions to more affordable houses built in the 1960s and 70s, each home deserves to be inspected with the same level attention and care.
Building practices have greatly changed over the years and the use of different materials means different inspection methods. Older homes from the mid century may have outdated electrical wiring. Also in many cases, the electrical service panel is original. This is not bad by itself but is still a factor that should be considered. Older electrical panels often use older safety mechanisms such as fuses and outdated breakers. Updating these panels should be considered for safety reasons.
Most mid-century homes were constructed of masonry. While the newer homes also primarily use masonry, the integration of other materials requires careful attention. Our home inspection process is an attentive evaluation of the home’s installed systems.
Bradenton is also home to new many construction developments. If you are buying a new home, it’s important to know that the county inspection services don’t test anything in the home. They do look at the design intent of the installed systems, but they don’t actually test anything. As part of our inspections, we go up on the roof, we go in the attic, and we test the electrical, air conditioning and plumbing systems for operation.
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: Bradenton, Bayshore Gardens, Cortez, West Bradenton, Palma Sola, Whitfield Estates, Tallevast and any other local areas. The City of Bradenton website can be helpful in locating details about a property you intend to purchase.
Bayshore Gardens is a planned community that was developed in the mid-1950s. A few developers got together, buying up all the land from existing homeowners. The whole community was planned as a family friendly space. The roads feature bends that will promote safe driving. Palma Sola is a more tranquil and remote part of the county. It was settled back in 1868 by a gunsmith who built his house on the Manatee River because of the river’s depth. The area got its name from a single palm on the shoreline that was used to identify the area.
At the southwestern corner of Bradenton you’ll find the fishing village of Cortez. This is a sleepy little village that is largely unchanged by time. There are some interesting housing options in this area. Due to its proximity to the coastal keys, some more expensive developments have begun to spring up but these are largely tucked away from the main village. Whitfield Estates is a development near the airport at the southern end of Manatee County. It was originally developed as one of the area’s first golfing communities. Close by you’ll find the Ringling College and New College which keep the area vibrant.
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
Bulldog-Pushmatic electrical panel! These
panels were commonly installed in the
1950’s to 1960’s throughout the United
States. They are often found in older condo
developments on Siesta Key, Florida. They
have experienced a high level of
malfunction due to their age and antiquated
design. The breakers have operating
difficulty; it’s not always clear if the breaker
is on or off. Also they rely on lubrication of
internal components to function well.
Overtime these breakers malfunction
which results in a fire hazard. If you have
one of these panels in your home it is
recommended to contact an electrician to
have it replaced.Long May You Run … Most air conditioning
systems generally last 10 to 15 years in
Florida. The closer you are to the coast, the
shorter those numbers become due to the
corrosive nature of the salt air. Every once
in a while we see an air conditioning
system that is defying all the odds.
Yesterday we came across a General
Electric air conditioning system that was 37
YEARS OLD. It was installed in 1981 and
was still running acceptably. The system
had an 18 degree temperature split which
is very respectable for a new system, let-
alone one that is 150 years old in human
years. That being said, almost every
component in that system showed
advanced age, wear and depreciation.
Nevertheless, it must be recognized that
General Electric produced some fantastic
central air conditioning systems before they
sold the division to Trane in 1982.If you are purchasing a brand new home, you
would expect the interior ceilings to be
completely dry. The last thing you would
expect is an active moisture source making
your drywall ceiling wet. Recently, a home
buyer contacted us to inspect the roof of a
brand new home in Sarasota. As part of our
roof inspections, we go up on the roof, into
the attic and we also do a infrared scan of the
interior ceilings. Infrared (IR) is very cool
technology. While scanning the ceilings for
moisture, we came across a wet spot. We
confirmed the moisture using a pin probe
moisture meter. After that we went up in the
attic to look for the moisture source, which
turned out to be an HVAC refrigerant line
whose insulation had been torn. The line was
buried under 12 inches of blown insulation
and would never have been discovered in the
short-term. The builder of this home is an
excellent builder, but even so, hiring a
professional home inspector to inspect your
home helps to uncover defects that even
great builders can overlook. Michael Koester,
Lead Inspector Direct Inspections (T)
941-251-1000
Our Recent Reviews
“Buying a home in Bradenton, Florida was much less stressful thanks to Direct Inspections. Michael and his team were thorough, professional, and brought in specialists to inspect every major part of the property. We felt confident moving forward with our purchase.”
“Direct Inspections provided exceptional service during our home purchase in Bradenton. The team carefully evaluated everything from the roof to the foundation and explained their findings clearly. Their professionalism and attention to detail gave us real peace of mind.”
“We highly recommend Direct Inspections to anyone buying a home in Bradenton, FL. Michael’s expertise, honest advice, and comprehensive inspection helped us understand exactly what we were purchasing. The entire experience was smooth and reassuring.”
“Our inspection in Bradenton, Florida couldn’t have gone better. Michael and his team were knowledgeable, responsive, and incredibly thorough. Their detailed assessment helped us move toward closing with confidence, and we truly appreciated their dedication throughout the process.”
CALL NOW:
941-251-1000
Map of Our Recent Inspections
Certifications & Memberships
