Residential Home Inspection
A thorough owner-operated inspection of visible and accessible home systems, with photo-rich findings organized around significant defects, safety concerns, and maintenance priorities.
View scope and territory pricingOwner-operated from Lone Pine, California
Home inspections and property services with territory-correct pricing.
Smart Start helps buyers, homeowners, agents, investors, property managers, builders, estates, and remote owners understand and document properties through professional inspections, organized photo reports, progress documentation, repair verification, and scheduled property checks.
Direct service from Mike GravesCalifornia service onlyScope and price confirmed before acceptance
Inspection services
Choose the inspection that matches the property and decision.
Condominium & Townhome Inspection
A focused inspection of the unit and accessible components, with clear reporting on visible conditions and notes where exterior or shared systems may involve the association.
View scope and territory pricingManufactured & Mobile Home Inspection
A property-specific inspection focused on the home, visible support and anchoring conditions, roof, exterior, utilities, interior systems, additions, and accessible manufactured-home components.
View scope and territory pricingPre-Listing Inspection
A seller-focused inspection before marketing, designed to identify visible concerns early and support repair, disclosure, and listing-readiness decisions.
View scope and territory pricingNew Construction Inspection
Independent visible-condition documentation at an approved construction stage so buyers and owners have an organized record of incomplete work and apparent defects to raise before the next milestone.
View scope and territory pricingAnnual Home Health Check
A maintenance-focused review for homeowners who want to track aging components, moisture risks, safety concerns, and repair priorities before small issues become larger projects.
View scope and territory pricingRoof Inspection
A focused visible review of accessible roofing materials, penetrations, flashing, drainage, roofline concerns, and related exterior or attic indicators.
View scope and territory pricingDeck & Balcony Inspection
A focused visible review of accessible deck framing, connections, supports, stairs, guards, rails, surfaces, and safety-related conditions.
View scope and territory pricingExterior-Only Inspection
A defined exterior-only review for cabins, rentals, vacant homes, remote owners, listing preparation, or properties where interior access is unavailable or unnecessary.
View scope and territory pricingAttic, Insulation & Ventilation
A focused review of accessible attic conditions, insulation coverage, ventilation, moisture indicators, visible electrical or structural concerns, and roof-deck observations.
View scope and territory pricingProperty documentation and recurring visits
Current property information for people who cannot always be there.
Property Photo Reports
Organized address-verified exterior or interior photographs with the requested visit notes for agents, managers, investors, builders, estates, lenders, and remote owners.
View service detailsInvestor & Remote-Buyer Walkthroughs
A defined walkthrough with current photos, factual observations, access notes, and requested documentation for investors and remote buyers who cannot visit in person.
View service detailsMove-In / Move-Out Documentation
A detailed visual record of accessible rooms, surfaces, fixtures, appliances, exterior areas, and visible condition at a defined move-in or move-out transition.
View service detailsVacant & Occupancy Verification
A defined exterior or interior assignment documenting current access, visible condition, occupancy indicators, postings, utilities, vehicles, yard condition, and requested evidence.
View service detailsConstruction Progress Reports
Organized visual documentation of current construction or renovation progress, visible line items, incomplete work, site conditions, materials, and requested milestones.
View service detailsRepair-Completion Verification
A return visit documenting the visible status of identified repair items with current photos and factual notes based on the supplied repair list or prior report.
View service detailsListing-Readiness Walkthroughs
A factual walkthrough focused on visible presentation, access, exterior condition, deferred-maintenance indicators, photo needs, signs, lockboxes, utilities, and agreed listing-support tasks.
View service detailsScheduled Property Checks
A scheduled visit using an agreed checklist, current property photos, access notes, and factual observations for owners who are away or cannot visit regularly.
View service detailsPublished service territories
Use the exact guide for the property location.
When a community or zone fee applies, it is charged once per property appointment—not once per same-visit service.
Eastern Sierra / Owens Valley
Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine, Bishop, and covered Inyo County communities
No separate mileage or travel fee in the covered local service area. Mammoth Lakes is priced separately.
Open Territory GuideRidgecrest / Trona
Ridgecrest, Trona, Inyokern, and the approved Indian Wells Valley route
No separate mileage or travel fee in Ridgecrest or Trona. California City has its own schedule.
Open Territory GuideCalifornia City
California City and approved nearby assignments
Full and specialty inspections add one $125 travel fee per property appointment. Published Realtor field-service prices already include normal travel.
Open Territory GuideMammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes
Published Mammoth rates include normal travel from Smart Start’s Eastern Sierra base. Parking, permits, HOA access, snow removal, specialty equipment, hazardous conditions, materials, and third-party charges remain separate when applicable and approved.
Open Territory GuideNorth Mono County
Crowley Lake, McGee Creek, Long Valley, June Lake, Benton, Chalfant Valley, Lee Vining, Mono City, Bridgeport, Twin Lakes, Walker, Coleville, and Topaz
Add one applicable community travel fee per property appointment, even when several services are completed during the same visit.
Open Territory GuideLake Isabella / Kern River Valley
Lake Isabella, Bodfish, Mountain Mesa, Squirrel Valley, Wofford Heights, Kernville, Riverkern, Weldon, Onyx, South Lake, Havilah, Walker Basin, Caliente, Alta Sierra, and approved remote valley sites
Add one travel-zone fee per property appointment. Remote roads and mountain access are accepted only when safe and practical.
Open Territory GuideOwner-operated service
You hire Smart Start. Mike handles the property visit and follow-up.
One direct point of contact handles the service scope, route, access, visit, documentation, report, and questions. Public credential and insurance claims remain suppressed unless current supporting documents are verified.
Inspection training and continuing education
Photo-rich inspection and documentation deliverables
Clear limitations, written scope, and property-specific confirmation
Local route knowledge for Eastern Sierra and approved extended assignments
Start with the property address
Request the correct service and territory price.
The website stores the request privately before attempting email delivery.