Brownstone Home Inspection, LLC

On Brownstoner From Brooklyn Multi Family Homeowner: Big thumbs up for the recent inspection of our house by Steve Cymbalsky Safety first: Steve alerted us to a gas leak and its probable location. We got a plumber in, pronto, who confirmed the leak (at a meter joint) and promptly fixed the line. Big picture: After 30+ years in our Prospect Heights brownstone, my wife & I are contemplating what needs to get done to preserve the building and doing triage on our wish-list of improvements. For a fair price (already proven to be worth it), Steve spent almost a whole day examining the bones of our home and all of its systems, from cellar to roof and front gate to rear hatch. He talked us through every step of the way, explaining clearly (albeit not always briefly) what we were looking at and why, what his observations and gear revealed, what needed attention immediately, and what could be watched and dealt with down the road. Along with the gas leak, he spotted vulnerabilities in the masonry and some red flags in the wiring. He shared his in sights in repairing windows and gave us some ideas to try before deciding to replace them. Steve gave us advice and confidence on where to go DIY, and where to turn to the pros. When he didn’t know something (rarely), he was open and didn’t try BS us, reaching out instead to others in the trades for back-up. At the end of the day, it’s our house. Steve helped us recognize our role and responsibilities and priority for keeping it healthy.

Just to chime in, HomeInspector / Steve spent an hour on our roof looking at and commenting about everything, including the chimneys and parapet walls. I specifically remember him pointing out cracking on the back part of the roof and bulging on one of our chimneys on the side facing the neighbor, neither of which were included in our pre-purchase inspection from a big name company. Honestly, from that original inspection, I never got the sense I needed to do anything. After I got Steve's inspection, I learned a lot about what to look out for and realized that I need to be on top of maintenance issues up there…

My family’s property was built in the early 1800s. Because of its age and a period of neglect, it has problems ranging from the cosmetic to the very serious. I hired Steve to help me prepare for an insurance inspection and to get the property ready for sale. Steve was incredibly responsive, hardworking, and thorough. He took the time to inspect every part of the house closely. The report was ready two days after the inspection and was clear and comprehensive. As I have started work on the property, I have had new questions come up. Steve has very kindly continued to answer my questions and to give me thoughtful advice. I know very little about the construction trades or building maintenance, but Steve explained everything until I understood completely and took my questions seriously. He also did an excellent job of helping me sort out possible solutions and the order in which I should address them. When he did not have an answer at hand, he let me know and followed up with me. I started this process feeling completely daunted and overwhelmed. I now feel empowered and have an excellent plan for moving forward. I recommend Steve without reservation- he's a good guy who knows a ton about older buildings and provides through, thoughtful service.