Serving Massachusetts & Rhode Island
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Inspections Plus. Certified Home Inspectors in MA & RI
(508) 293-1770
SERVICES
Building and Property Consulting
Independent evaluation of building conditions for owners, attorneys, insurance professionals, agents and developers who need a clear written assessment before deciding what to do next.
I evaluate the condition, review the available information and any work that has been proposed, and explain what matters first, what remains uncertain, and which trade or professional is appropriate. Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Stephen M. Gaspar, Founder & Principal Consultant
Unrestricted MA Construction Supervisor #118964
MA Registered Home Inspector #739
RI Home Inspector #44255
ASHI Certified Inspector #253088
17+ years across inspection, construction and property consulting
■ Scope confirmed in writing ■ No repair work ■ No contractor referral fees
Buying a home and need an inspection? Schedule an inspection
START WITH YOUR SITUATION
EVALUATIONS AND REVIEWS
A specific question, answered on the property or from the documents
Every engagement starts with the question and a written scope. Some matters can be handled from reports, photographs and other records. Others require a site visit. I confirm the scope before the engagement begins.
A stair-step crack shows that movement occurred. It does not show when, how much, or whether it is still going on.
ON THE PROPERTY
Second Opinion Before a Repair
An on-site evaluation before you commit to significant repair work. I look at whether the proposed work addresses the condition and what the repair actually needs to accomplish.
USE IT WHEN
A contractor has proposed significant work and you want an independent review before signing.
Quoted on scope
Confirmation or Limited-Scope Inspection
A focused inspection of one system or one condition, including a property I have not previously inspected.
USE IT WHEN
One specific condition needs a written assessment.
Quoted on scope
On-Site Consultation
A site visit focused on the condition in question, with time to walk the property together and talk through what matters and what should happen next.
USE IT WHEN
You want to work through the property together rather than order a broader inspection.
Quoted on scope
REVIEWS AND RE-CHECKS
Third-Party Report Review
Another inspector's report, reviewed for what it establishes, what it does not establish and what still needs to be checked.
USE IT WHEN
You have someone else's report and need a second professional reading of the findings, limitations and next steps.
$650
Flat document review
Repair Scope and Estimate Review
A contractor's proposed scope and estimate, reviewed before you commit. I look at whether the work addresses the condition, whether important steps are missing and what should be clarified before signing.
USE IT WHEN
You have a proposal or estimate and want it checked before authorizing the work.
$650
Flat document review
Already an Inspections Plus client?
Contact me before scheduling additional consulting or verification work on a property I previously inspected. Availability depends on the property, jurisdiction and scope.
MOISTURE CONTROL
Whole-House Moisture Control
Moisture problems often show up far from where they start. Ice dams, attic moisture, peeling paint, window condensation and a musty basement can be connected by the same water, air and insulation conditions.
I evaluate the building as one system, then lay out the corrections in the order they should happen.
WHAT PEOPLE USUALLY NOTICE FIRST
Ice dams
Attic moisture
Peeling paint
Musty basement
Window condensation
Roof sections failing early
Water
Moist indoor air
Outside air through the attic
Where water and moist air enter and move in a typical house. Not every house has every pathway, and more than one can be at work at once. The survey establishes which ones apply.
1
Roof covering and flashings
Leaks can occur at flashings, penetrations and valleys.
2
Roof drainage
Gutters and downspouts collect roof water. Where that water discharges affects whether it returns to the foundation.
3
Grading and surface water
Ground and hard surfaces sloping toward the building can direct water back to the foundation.
4
Foundation, basement or crawl space
Water entry and ground moisture can raise humidity below the house.
5
Moisture from daily living
Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry and occupants add moisture to the indoor air.
6
Air leakage at the ceiling
Warm, moist indoor air can move through ceiling openings into a cold attic.
7
Attic insulation and ventilation
Whether moisture reaching the attic dries or condenses depends on air sealing, insulation and ventilation working together.
8
Equipment and ducts in the attic
Equipment and ducts in an unconditioned attic can add heat and can leak or produce condensation.
Meter at exposed wall sheathing.
ONE DEFINED PROBLEM
Targeted Moisture Assessment
One defined moisture problem, evaluated to identify the likely source, contributing conditions and practical next steps. Written findings are included.
Quoted on scope
THE WHOLE HOUSE
Whole-House Moisture Control Program
A whole-house assessment focused on how water, humidity, air leakage, insulation and ventilation are interacting across the building.
Moisture Control Survey.
Starting outside and working through the building to identify the pathways that apply.
Moisture Control Plan.
Corrections organized in phases: what should be done, which trade is appropriate and what each phase needs to accomplish.
Follow-up review.
Progress check-ins can be included in the scope so one phase can be reviewed before the next begins.
Quoted after scope is defined
This is a limited-scope building consulting service, not a home inspection conducted under the Massachusetts home inspection Standards of Practice. It evaluates moisture and building conditions; it is not mold testing or mold remediation.
1
Outside
Gutters, downspouts, discharge, grading and roof drainage. Interior corrections hold up better once bulk water is no longer being delivered to the building.
2
Lower level
Foundation moisture, humidity control, air leakage and air movement. Moisture entering here can affect conditions elsewhere in the house.
3
Attic and upper envelope
Ventilation, insulation and air sealing at the ceiling plane. Attic work can fall short if moisture and air pathways elsewhere in the house remain active.
Most plans follow this general order. The survey determines what actually belongs in each phase.
FIELD EXAMPLE · BROOKLINE · EARLY-1900S HOUSE
The ice dams were not coming from the slate
THE QUESTION
A house with a history of ice dams: staining in the eaves from earlier damming, and the membrane at the top of the roof wavy and loose.
WHAT I FOUND
On a flat section at the top of the slate roof, a square of membrane covered an opening through the roof deck and the ceiling below, from the living space to the outside. The slate, about a hundred years old, was mostly in fair shape.
THE GUIDANCE
Start below the flat roof section: air sealing and insulation first. Replacing the slate alone would not have addressed the pathway identified at the top of the building.
The slate slope and the flat membrane section at the peak. © Inspections Plus 2026
Found during an inspection and published as a field note in September 2026. Read the field note
PROFESSIONAL
Professional and Commercial Engagements
Documentation, evaluation and written analysis for insurance matters, attorneys and commercial property owners. Each engagement begins with a defined question and written scope.
INSURANCE
Insurance Inspection Forms
Completion of carrier forms from available inspection documentation where the property history and scope allow it.
$550
Report-derived form completion. If additional site work is required, scope and availability are confirmed separately.
Insurance Claim and Damage Consulting
LITIGATION
Expert Witness and Litigation Support
Retained by attorneys and insurance professionals on matters involving residential and commercial building conditions, home-inspection practice, construction and moisture-related damage. Work can include file and report review, written opinions, affidavits and testimony.
Contact me directly to discuss the matter and scope. Qualifications
By engagement
Independent evaluation of building damage and disputed conditions, with written findings and opinions within the agreed scope.
Quoted on scope
Church exterior in winter.
COMMERCIAL
Commercial Property Condition Assessment
Property-condition assessments for restaurants, salons, studios, retail buildings, churches and office properties.
By engagement
Condominium and HOA Capital Review
Condition and capital-needs review for condominium and HOA boards planning major repair or replacement work.
Quoted individually
PROCESS
How an engagement works
01
First call
We define the property, the question, who the work is for and what information is already available. I tell you what I need and whether the work can be handled from documents or requires a site visit.
02
Scope in writing
A written scope identifies what will be evaluated, what is excluded and the fee. The engagement begins when the scope is accepted.
03
Evaluation
Document work is based on the records provided. Site work is limited to the confirmed scope. Anything outside that scope is addressed separately.
04
Findings
What I observed, what the evidence supports, what remains uncertain and the practical next steps, including the appropriate trade or professional when applicable.
This work does not provide an engineering stamp, a code-enforcement determination or a guarantee of future performance.
QUALIFICATIONS
Inspection, construction and property consulting experience
Roof and skylights from above.
Licenses
MA Registered Home Inspector #739
RI Home Inspector #44255
Unrestricted MA Construction Supervisor #118964
ASHI Certified Inspector #253088
Experience
17+ years across residential and commercial inspection, construction and property consulting. Inspections Plus established 2012.
Construction
Unrestricted Construction Supervisor with experience in custom residential and commercial construction and renovation work.
Infrastructure project experience
Prior project work involving highway bridge waterproofing and related infrastructure conditions.
Commercial
Property-condition work across restaurants, salons, studios, retail buildings, churches and office properties.
Independence
No repair work. No contractor referral fees. Scope confirmed in writing before each engagement.
CONSULTING INQUIRIES
Send a consulting inquiry
Tell me the town, property type and the question. If you already have a report, proposal, scope of work, estimate, photographs or other records, mention that too.
On the first call I'll tell you whether the matter can be handled from documents, needs a site visit, or belongs with another professional.
If Inspections Plus has previously inspected the property, say so when you contact me.
Buying a home and need a full inspection instead? Schedule an inspection