Sarasota Service Area | Direct Home Inspections

Are you purchasing a home close to downtown Sarasota? If so, you are making an interesting choice! As one of the oldest and most established areas in the region, there is a wide range of homes available. Some of the area’s oldest dwellings stretching back to the 1920s exist around downtown. Within walking distance you might have brand new ultra-modern condos and homes. No matter the age, having a quality inspection performed is always to your benefit. Our reports are issues the same day as your inspection so waiting is never an issue!

As you may know, older homes may have systems that may be wearing out or malfunctioning. Newer homes can have poorly installed components. Regardless of what age of home you are purchasing, each home deserves to be inspected with the same level of care and attention. Our home inspections are a quality review of the homes installed components. If you can attend the inspection, it is highly recommended to get the most out of the process.

Roof Inspected

HVAC Inspection

Plumbing Inspection

Electrical Evaluation

Kitchens Inspected

Interior Inspection

FLIR – Infrared Cameras

SARASOTA SERVICE AREA OVERVIEW

The Direct Inspections Service Areas include: Sarasota, Gillespie Park, Laurel Park, Alta Vista, Ringling Park, Harbor Acres, St. Armands, Bird Key, Lido Key, Sarasota Heights, Indian Beach, Sapphire Shores and many other local neighborhoods. If you are looking up permits for a prospective purchase you may choose to browse the Sarasota City Records. Additionally, Direct Inspection is proud to be part of the Sarasota and Manatee Realtor’s Association.

Sarasota is a world-class town with pristine beaches, beautiful homes and a strong cultural presence. The famous and not-so-famous flock here to enjoy a sophisticated life at a slower pace. Whether it’s dining on St. Armands Circle, a vibrant evening downtown or a leisurely bike ride down the Venice bike trail, people of all ages enjoy this growing city.
Closer to the center of town is where you’ll find most of the oldest and most historic homes. The 1960s and 70s saw a large expansion of middle class concrete block homes. From the 2000s to the present, homes have gotten bigger and more visually dramatic. Some buyers prefer older, more historic homes for the old-time charm. Other buyers prefer a more modern and updated home. No matter what preference, Sarasota surely has a home style to your liking. The question always is, how far is the beach?

Sarasota has a ton of hidden gems worth exploring. A few of our favorites include Selby Gardens and St. Armands Circle!

Direct Inspections service area includes: Sarasota City & Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and most of Manatee County!

A Few Tips On Choosing The Right Home Location in Sarasota

St. Armands Home

St. Armands and Lido Key

St. Armands and Lido Key boast some of the oldest homes in our area. Beautiful 1920s waterfront mansions, alongside modern homes, overlook the Intracoastal Waterway. Also the key has more common ranch style homes that sprung up in the 1950s and 60s. Another popular living choice are the older and charming condo developments. Make no mistake, this area is prized real estate, so of course many people are tearing down and building new.

If you are purchasing on Lido or St. Armands, it’s important to research if the home has cast-iron sewer lines. These can become brittle and fail after 50 years or so. Living on Lido and St. Armands is a dream for many. Some of the areas best shops and restaurants ring be circle. There’s a great mix of locals and tourists comfortably hanging out together. St. Armands Circle has been carefully updated throughout the years, preserving its old world charm. People love to live in this area because of the casual luxury atmosphere…if budget permits. One place you have to eat at is the Columbia Restaurant. The company is now over 110 years old and their founders would be proud!

Gillespie Park Neighborhood

The Gillespie Park Neighborhood of Sarasota is in the process of transformation. This is one of the areas where property values are ascending most rapidly. Originally, it is one of the oldest settlement areas in Sarasota. A drive through the neighborhoods will display the many smaller and modest homes. Some buyers choose to update the older homes, maintaining the quirky old-world charm. However since many of the homes are wood frame, building a new home out of masonry is a popular option.

Whatever style home you choose, you will be sure to see lots of activity in the years to come. Entire streets are being rebuilt and the city is undergoing urban renewal projects. If you do choose to buy a home in this area, it is recommended to get a termite inspection from a licensed WDO inspection company. Gillespie Park is home to many of the oldest wood frame structures so it is wise to do your due diligence.

One of the many benefits to living in the Gillespie Park and 17th Street area is the proximity to downtown dining. Everyone has their favorites. Boca opened up in downtown Sarasota in the past few years. They serve upscale casual traditional American fare. Miss Saigon on Washington Boulevard is also a favorite. They have an excellent vermicelli bowl that is unsurpassed. Lastly Patrick’s on Main Street serves the best restaurant burger in our area.

Rosemary District

Just around the corner is the Rosemary District. This is a residential and commercial mixed zone, which it’s kind of like Sarasota’s Brooklyn. Hipper, trendier and more expensive shops rub elbows with blue-collar auto repairs and industrial supply houses. The area has a genuine feeling of future greatness. Many delicious food and beverage establishments are popping up in the area. A favorite is Station 400, a railway themed breakfast restaurant. Lolita Tartine and the Mandeville Beer Garden are also making waves for there high quality and inventive fare.

If you do see a home that you like in the Rosemary District, it would be wise to look closely at buying it. Property values in this area will continue to ascend. If you like the living style of the area, there’s nothing else in Sarasota like it. New construction is booming. Currently there are over 1000 new residential units being developed as well as dozens of condominiums and several hotels. The area will continue to rapidly expand in the years to come. This spot is Sarasota’s most stark intersection of old & new Sarasota to be found in the area. In bigger cities, I believe it is called “gentrification.”

Arlington Park

Arlington Park is south of downtown. It is another eclectic and upcoming neighborhood. There are still a few bargains left for a home that is mere minutes from downtown. Many of the 1950s and 60s homes in Arlington Park require some updating. If you are purchasing one of these homes, you will want to pay particular attention to the plumbing and electrical systems. If no updates have been done, it is time to do so. This is another area where homes are being torn down and rebuilt. Unfortunately the popular Style is two-story homes which look strikingly unsimilar to the older homes in the area. This is primarily done by builder is to maximize square footage on smaller building lots.

Many of the people that live in Arlington Park have the benefit of being close to the Yummy House China Bistro. They serve authentic Cantonese dim sum which are small plates for small prices. Also if you have a few extra bucks, you can have dinner at Michael’s on East which is a landmark fine dining Institution.

OUR RECENT REVIEWS

Direct Inspections saved our retirement! I am so lucky to have found Michael Koester of Direct Inspections before we almost made the biggest mistake of our lives on a home in Sarasota. Rather than go with the inspector recommended by our realtor, I found Direct Inspections based on their excellent reviews. Michael Koester and his team arrived on time and found many issues with the home that we didn’t have a clue about, including mold which had not been disclosed by the homeowner.

He also found faulty electrical wiring and a panel box that is prone to go on fire. The roof needed to be replaced immediately. There were many other things they found as well but I won’t bore anyone with the nasty details. I had Michael’s report within 12 hours of the inspection and then he called me to ask if I had any questions. Suffice it to say I am incredibly grateful to Michael Koester and his Direct Inspections as we were able to back out of a contract on a home that would have been a money pit.

We also used Direct Inspections on another home in the neighborhood and we were able to go to contract on that home knowing exactly what we were getting. If you are buying a home, you need Direct Inspections looking out for you and your investment. If you are selling a home, Michael Koester and his company can help you find out what areas need to be taken care of before putting the home on the market. Direct Inspections is a win-win for both home buyers and homeowners.