Real Inspection Services

Real Inspection Services Real Inspection Services is Chicagoland's premier inspection company. Serving 13 counties
203(k) Consultant Services

RIS Inspectors deliver trusted, detailed reports to help to protect your biggest investment. REAL INSPECTION SERVICES provides expert home inspection services to ensure your property meets the highest standards. Trust our professional inspectors for thorough evaluations and valuable insights. Serving local communities with integrity, we deliver peace of mind for your home-buying journey.

This Thanksgiving, we want to pause from the day-to-day of inspecting roofs, foundations, plumbing, electrical systems, ...
11/27/2025

This Thanksgiving, we want to pause from the day-to-day of inspecting roofs, foundations, plumbing, electrical systems, and everything in between to say something simple and sincere:

Thank you.

To the homeowners, buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals who trust us with one of the biggest decisions they’ll ever make - your confidence in us means a lot. Your trust and partnership motivate us to show up every day with clarity, care, and a commitment to keeping homes safe and sound.

Homeownership comes with plenty of surprises, and we’re honored to be the team you call to help make sense of what’s happening behind the walls, under the roof, and throughout the home.

Wishing you a warm, joyful, and stress-free Thanksgiving surrounded by the people who matter most.

Stay safe, stay thankful - and know we’re always here to help protect your home.
🧡🏠🔍
Real Inspection Services

 




11/25/2025

When your roof turns into a *waterbed*… 🫠💦

Sounds fun in theory, right?
Except when you realize you're not in a 90s mattress commercial - you're looking at MAJOR trapped moisture under shingles or a saturated flat roof.

From an inspector’s lens, a “squishy,” “wavy,” or “bouncy” roof means one thing: **water has been hiding there way too long.**

What this usually tells us:
• The roof system is saturated under the shingles or membrane
• Underlayment has failed or aged out
• Decking is absorbing moisture like a sponge
• Ventilation is poor, leading to trapped condensation
• Flashing or penetrations (vents/chimneys) are leaking
• Drainage on low-slope roofs isn’t doing its job

Why it matters:
Water doesn’t stay where you think it should. It spreads, softens wood, feeds mold, and slowly destroys the deck under your feet. By the time a roof feels like a waterbed, the problem is well past “surface level.”

Signs to watch for:
• Soft spots or “give” when walking on the roof
• Waves or unevenness in shingles
• Interior stains that appear after storms
• Musty attic smell
• Granules collecting in gutters

A roof should be solid - never squishy, never springy, and definitely never *sloshy*.

If your roof feels like it’s auditioning to be a water feature, it’s time for a professional inspection and moisture testing ASAP.

Stay dry, stay safe, and keep that roof doing the *roof things* 🏠🔍






11/18/2025

🧱 Repointing Fail Alert

Found a wall today where the repointing popped off with a fingertip. Why?

1️⃣ They skim-coated instead of removing the old mortar
2️⃣ Joints were over-tooled, trapping water
3️⃣ Mortar mix was too strong for the soft brick

Once water sits in those pockets, freeze–thaw cycles wipe out the repair.

Reminder: Mortar should be the sacrificial part of the wall.
Good repointing lasts decades - bad repointing lasts months.

11/12/2025

📣 NEW STATE, SAME ENERGY.

Southern Wisconsin, we’re officially here! 🙌
Along with our established coverage of Chicago and suburban IL, we now service Kenosha, Racine, Walworth and Rock County in Wisconsin.

Same exceptional service. More locations.
Real inspections. Real results.

Home inspections • Radon • Mold • Air Quality • Sewer & Chimney scopes

11/03/2025

🔥 Ever heard of creosote?
This black buildup inside your chimney is highly flammable - a leading cause of chimney fires.

🧹 Sweep it. Inspect it. Stay safe.

Call Real Inspection Services for chimney scopes or home inspections.

10/31/2025

🔦 Weekend update: Checking houses for leaks, mold, and any monsters that didn’t sign the lease.
Who’s in? 👻🏠





👻

10/30/2025

Haunted house? 👻 Cute.
Uninspected house? Now THAT’S a horror story.
Protect your investment - get it inspected.

Call to schedule 312-724-5100




👻
🏡❤️ 😍 ❣️

With cooler Chicago temps setting in, now’s the best time to schedule a radon test.When homes are sealed tight for winte...
10/30/2025

With cooler Chicago temps setting in, now’s the best time to schedule a radon test.

When homes are sealed tight for winter, radon levels can rise—posing a serious but invisible health risk. A quick test can give you peace of mind and keep your family safe.

👉 Learn more: https://hubs.la/Q03R06V90

10/25/2025

🔦 This is a perfect reminder that not everything hidden is fixed. Foam may cover a foundation crack, but it can trap moisture and mask structural movement underneath. A proper inspection helps uncover what’s really happening before small problems become major ones.

Real Inspections. Real Results. ✅


10/22/2025

Drone roof inspection in action!

Spotting soft spots, clogged gutters, abandoned heat cables, and past repairs - all potential troublemakers for the building. 💧⚡

Hidden issues like these can lead to serious damage if left unchecked.

Safe. Fast. Thorough. We provide drone roof inspections for commercial and residential properties where walking isn’t an option.

Real Inspections. Real Results. ✅

Address

1363 Shermer Road Suite 320
Northbrook, IL
60062

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5am
Tuesday 8am - 5am
Wednesday 8am - 5am
Thursday 8am - 5am
Friday 8am - 5am

Telephone

+13127245100

Website

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About Us

Real Inspection Services is Chicagoland premier inspection company. Buying a home is the single largest transaction in most people’s lives. Hiring a RIS Inspector to your handle your inspection is great way to make sure your large transaction is protected.

RIS conducts a top down inspection starting in the attic working our way to the lowest level of the building. Included in every inspection is an infrared moisture scan and thermal imaging.

Your inspector will expertly test the following systems of the property:


  • Structural / Foundation