Home Inspector in Decatur, AL

Decatur earned the nickname “River City” long ago, and the Tennessee River still shapes life here, from boat ramps on Wheeler Lake to the wintering birds at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Named in 1820 for naval hero Stephen Decatur, the Morgan County seat came through heavy Civil War damage and later merged with neighboring Albany in 1927. Families spend summer days at Point Mallard Park, and Calhoun Community College draws students from across the region. John Killen covers Decatur from his home base in Florence.

Few North Alabama cities can match Decatur's historic neighborhoods. The Bank Street–Old Decatur area and the Albany residential district are lined with Victorian-era houses and early twentieth-century bungalows, many carrying a century of renovations layered on top of each other. John looks for what matters in homes like these: mixed wiring, older drain lines, foundation settling and framing changes from past remodels. Our electrical inspections page explains what he checks.

Manufacturing has long been the backbone of the local economy, and that steady base keeps Decatur's rental market active. Investors buying single-family rentals, duplexes and small apartment buildings need to know what they're taking on before they commit, and John's multi-family inspections cover each unit along with the shared systems. Owners selling an older house often benefit from an inspection before listing, too.

Living this close to the river means humidity is part of the deal. Crawl spaces in low-lying parts of town can hold moisture, and heavy spring rains test every roof, gutter and grading slope. John uses thermal imaging free of charge when he needs to confirm a specific problem, and a whole-house scan is available for a small fee. Morgan County is one of the North Alabama counties the state health department flags for elevated radon potential, so a 48-hour radon test is worth considering.

John is a State of Alabama Certified Real Estate Inspector who is licensed, certified and insured, and he performs every inspection himself. Clients have given him a 5.0-star Google rating for meticulous detail, descriptive photos and explanations that make sense. Reports arrive the same day, and when he's done, you're invited to walk through the house with him. Call or text John at 256-335-0028 to book your Decatur home inspection.