Areas We Serve / Santa Clara County
Plan for the site, the buildings, and access between them
TCIS helps Los Altos Hills agents and clients build an inspection plan that describes the whole assignment. Tell us about the residence, separate buildings, equipment, and access conditions so the proposal and any specialty services fit the property under consideration.
Better Understanding Creates Better Deals.
TCIS provides buyer and seller/listing inspections, specialty property inspections, construction consulting, and executive Advisory Summaries in Los Altos Hills. Plan the right services for your purchase, listing, or ownership needs.
Buyer and seller inspections in Los Altos Hills
Buyer’s inspection
Understand the property before completing your purchase. A buyer’s home inspection documents the visible, accessible condition of the home and helps you identify repair needs, maintenance concerns, and questions that call for further evaluation. Choose additional roof, termite, foundation, sewer, or other inspections to fit the property and your transaction.
Seller’s inspection / pre-listing inspection
Prepare for the market with a clearer picture of your property. A seller’s or listing inspection helps identify conditions before buyer inspections begin, so you can plan repairs, gather records, and discuss how to present the findings with your agent. TCIS can coordinate the inspection services appropriate to your listing.
For either side of the transaction, an optional Buyer’s Advisory Summary or Listing Advisory Summary turns the report findings into an organized plan for the decisions ahead.
Property inspection and consulting services
TCIS serves Los Altos Hills with the following services. Select the services you need when requesting a quote; specialty inspections and consulting are scoped separately from a general home inspection.
Home inspections. Buyer, seller/listing, and homeowner inspections, with the property’s accessible systems and components documented in the report.
Roof inspections and certifications. Roof condition evaluation, repair recommendations, and certification when the roof qualifies.
Foundation inspections. Focused review of accessible foundation and related conditions, with recommendations for appropriate follow-up.
Termite / wood-destroying organism inspections. A separate inspection scope addressing wood-destroying organisms and related findings.
Construction consulting. Property and transaction consulting, report review, repair-scope comparisons, renovation planning, and practical construction questions.
Repair estimating and remodeling consulting. Planning guidance on repair scope and anticipated contractor costs.
Sewer lateral camera inspections. Camera evaluation of the accessible sewer line to help identify conditions that an ordinary home inspection cannot show.
Pool and spa inspections. Evaluation of accessible pool and spa components and equipment within the agreed inspection scope.
Mold and indoor air quality services. Targeted evaluation and sampling based on the moisture or indoor-air concern being investigated.
Construction-phase and warranty inspections. Inspections during construction and 11-month warranty inspections before the builder’s warranty period ends.
Commercial property inspections. Inspection planning for commercial properties, with scope established for the building and intended use.
Additional property needs. Ask about ADU and detached-building inspection scope, follow-up inspections, chimney and fireplace evaluation with specialist referral when appropriate, sidewalk inspections, and fire escape certifications. We confirm service availability, jurisdiction, and the appropriate scope for the address.
A town shaped by its foothill setting
Los Altos Hills incorporated in 1956 with preservation of its rural foothill character among the goals described by the Town. This setting offers context for planning; the actual slope, drainage, and building conditions must be considered at the specific property.
Prepare a practical access outline
For a property with several entries, gates, or detached structures, identify who can open each area and where service equipment is located. Clear access information helps the inspector plan the visit and explain any areas that remain inaccessible.
Define questions about site structures
Retaining walls, large decks, and drainage improvements should be identified in the initial inquiry when they are a concern. TCIS can discuss the accessible inspection scope and whether the question calls for separate engineering or another specialist’s evaluation.
Keep budgets connected to access and scope
Repair planning for separate buildings or site features needs more than a brief defect label. Consulting can identify the assumptions and missing details that should be clarified before contractors price the work, including which structures and access conditions are involved.
Executive Advisory Summaries for buyers and sellers
Several inspection reports can leave you with a long list of findings and no clear order of action. TCIS offers two executive advisory options: the Buyer’s Advisory Summary and the Listing Advisory Summary for sellers. Each brings the available reports together into a practical decision guide.
Buyer’s Advisory Summary
Understand the findings that deserve attention before your purchase decision, the follow-up questions to resolve, and the repairs or maintenance to plan for after closing. The buyer’s edition organizes inspection concerns, explains their significance, and helps you discuss repair requests, credits, and priorities with your agent.
Listing Advisory Summary
Give your listing a clear plan before it reaches buyers. The seller’s edition helps you prioritize pre-listing repairs, organize supporting reports and repair records, and prepare for questions about remaining conditions. It also gives you and your agent a structured basis for discussing repair work, credits, and presentation of the inspection findings.
What the advisory includes
Executive risk overview. A plain-language explanation of the significant findings and unresolved questions across the supplied reports.
Priority ranking. An organized view of conditions needing prompt attention, further evaluation, planned repair, or routine maintenance.
Repair matrix and scope clarity. A practical list connecting each finding to its recommended action and the appropriate contractor or next step.
Cost planning. Approximate Contractor Estimates, where the available information supports them, to help frame a repair budget. These are planning figures; actual contractor pricing depends on the confirmed scope and site conditions.
Photo highlights. One to three selected report photographs, when available, that help explain the most useful findings.
Negotiation considerations and next steps. Buyer- or seller-focused discussion points, follow-up questions, and an action plan to review with your real estate agent.
Advisory Summaries are an optional service, included with the TCIS Premium package and available as an upgrade. They can draw on TCIS reports or reports from other inspection companies. The summary explains the supplied findings alongside the original reports; additional inspection or specialist evaluation may still be recommended.
Ask about a Buyer’s or Listing Advisory Summary
Questions about your Los Altos Hills inspection
Can TCIS determine slope stability during a home inspection?
A home inspection is not a geotechnical evaluation. Tell TCIS about the concern so the inspection scope and any appropriate specialist follow-up can be discussed.
What should I send for a multi-building appointment?
Provide a building list, approximate sizes, uses, available reports, and access instructions, along with your transaction or ownership goals.
Local resources
Santa Clara County cities and towns
Better Understanding Creates Better Deals.
Get to know TCIS through our team, sample reports, and warranty information. Tell us the property address, your timing, and the questions you want answered. We will help you identify the inspection services to include in your quote.