Stonehouse
Inspections
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Who Is Stonehouse Inspections?
I am Matt
Steinhausen. I've been operating
Steinhausen Home Inspections / Stonehouse Inspections independently since
1999. My background includes over 30
years construction-related experience in historic home preservation /
restoration, concrete construction, roofing, building maintenance, homeowner
insurance claims adjusting, fire and water damage restoration, and property
management. I earned a Bachelor of Science
degree from the University of Nebraska College of Engineering - Department of
Construction Management in 1994. My
hands-on experiences combined with my formal training / education are ideal for
a career as a home inspector. I get to
be a detective, photographer, researcher, writer, and most importantly, a
communicator. I enjoy my job.
I have a
unique perspective as a home inspector because my prior work experiences as a
contractor and claims adjuster dealt almost exclusively with damaged
properties. I was trained to
investigate cause and origin of damage.
Between 1992 and 2018 I inspected or investigated damage to over 2500
properties in the Lincoln area as a home inspector, insurance adjuster or
restoration contractor. I pride myself
on being an inspector who is aware of the most common causes of property damage
and areas most prone to problems. To
contrast that, I think I am an inspector who will point out the qualities of a
house that enhance value and minimize maintenance.
Qualifications
Education University of
Nebraska-Lincoln
College of
Engineering and Technology-BS Construction Management
Nebraska
Wesleyan University
Major area of
study: Physics, Pre-Engineering
Experience
10/99-present Home Inspector, Steinhausen / Stonehouse Inspections
6/96-10/99 Senior/Staff
Claims Representative, Allstate Insurance
4/94 - 6/96 Construction Associate, Paul Davis Systems Restoration
5/93 - 4/94 Crew Supervisor/Sales/Estimator, Leifert Concrete
Construction
11/92-5/93 Engineering
Assistant, Lincoln Snack Company
5/88 - 8/90 Building and Grounds Maintenance, Nebraska Department of
Roads
5/80 – 5/87 Farmhand (spent my youth working on the family farms)
Other Training - Inspection and
Restoration Continuing Education training includes:
▪ Fire
restoration
▪ Odor
removal
▪ Water
damage mitigation
▪ Property
damage investigation
▪ Structural
restoration
▪ Construction
estimating
I also do consultation work for contractors and sub-contractors. I sometimes help assemble estimates and
bids, do design work, determine feasibility of repairs, and/or provide general
business advice. I have provided
professional training to contractors and insurance agents / adjusters on
subjects related to estimating, roof damage, water mitigation and smoke
damage. I have testified in civil court
as an expert witness and have provided numerous inspections for parties in
legal disputes related to standards of care, disclosure and contractor
liability.
In addition to
my professional background, I have been involved with the preservation and/or
restoration of numerous old and historic homes. I enjoy the challenge of solving the puzzles that arise in
restoring older homes. I also study
barns as a hobby - structures, history, styles, uses, etc. I have been involved with the preservation
of a couple barns in the past and plan to do much more barn preservation work
in the future. Since 2002 I've been
researching and photographing area barns in conjunction with the Denton
Community Historical Society's "Barn History Project".
Why Choose Stonehouse
Inspections?
Thorough:
The most common comment I hear from my customers (and critics) is “you
are very thorough”. I am credited with
making observations that might be missed by other home inspectors. I have a variety of ladders and tools that
allow me to access most any part of a home - roof, attic, crawlspace, etc. I not only look for existing problems, but I
spend the extra time to look at areas of the house that are most prone to
damage. Plus, having many years
of experience as a contractor whose primary job was to repair damage associated
with water, smoke, wind, hail and pet damage, I am aware of the subtle
indicators of previous problems. I
often discover problems missed by other inspectors; in fact, I've found termite
damage in numerous homes within days of being evaluated as satisfactory by
others.
Simple:
My reports are easy to read and can be supplemented with digital photos
if needed. I hope that I am able to put
the details regarding a home's condition into layman’s terms so the most novice
homeowner can understand my reports.
Independent: I am not affiliated with any other individual, company or
organization that might potentially be construed as a conflict of
interest. I don’t receive any
contributions or marketing incentives for recommending the services of others
in the realty industry, nor do I spend any funds sponsoring, contributing to or
marketing realtors, mortgage companies and/or title companies in an attempt to
get referrals. My independence also
saves me money, which allows me keep my rates so low.
Practical
and Innovative: My goal as a home inspector is to give
you more than a report. I consider my
knowledge, resourcefulness and creativity as an asset to you because I can
provide ideas and solutions to quickly resolve issues raised by my inspections.
Repeat
Customers and Referrals: Over half of my business is a result of
repeat customers and referrals. I am
proud of my relationships with previous customers and think that you will agree
that not only am I friendly to work with, but I am also going to provide you
with the most dependable inspection available.
Knowledgeable:
No one knows everything about every aspect of construction, but I think
I bring a breadth of knowledge and experience that rivals most others in the
construction industry.
Communication:
I always answer the phone if I'm available, and I return phone calls and
emails promptly.
Is Stonehouse Inspections Certified?
Yes, I am HUD
certified, however there is no rule or law in Nebraska requiring inspectors be
certified, and Nebraska doesn't license home inspectors. I am one of the only home inspectors in my
area that's a government certified HUD 203k Inspector / Consultant, however I
am not certified by the independent inspection associations such as the
American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) because becoming a member of a home
inspection organization won't make me a better inspector. Real estate agents and clients can attest to
the fact my inspection scope, standards of care, and code of ethics exceed
those established by any home inspector association.