ProVantage Inspections, PLLC

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The day has finally come – effective TODAY, Karey Carter (TREC #22231) and his wife Dee, will be the new lead inspector and owners for ProVantage Inspections!

I could not be more excited and confident about passing the baton of ProVantage Inspections to them. The phone number (936-900-3421) to reach ProVantage Inspections will be the same as it's always been and the website will also stay the same - www.provantageinspections.com. Nothing is changing with that!

Please check out the brief video on the YouTube link with me introducing Karey and Dee Carter together!

YouTube Link to Video ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGXZmNcAb-4

I am really going to miss being in the inspection business. I am extremely grateful and honored for the trust you have placed in me for your inspection needs over the past decade. A huge thanks to my wife, Sherry ... I could not have done this without her help, bookkeeping, records, and encouragement! From the beginning, it has been a team effort starting with her popular quiche breakfasts at the real estate school.

For many reasons, this has been the most rewarding "job" I have ever had. I turned 69 two months ago, and it's time to hang up my tool belt and move on to what's next in life's journey. You will be hearing about what I will be doing next to serve real estate agents anywhere in Texas ... be looking for that announcement soon! We plan to have it up and running by January 1, 2026.

September 1 2025 PVI Video Introducing the new owners and lead inspector for ProVantage Inspections, Karey and Dee Carter. Karey (TREC Professional Inspector # 22231) has been with Pro...

Sometimes you get a referral or two that really make your day! When I retire soon and pass the baton to Karey Carter, I'm really going to miss the rewarding relationships and many aspects of being an inspector.

In October 2018, I had a old friend use us for an inspection and his agent had never heard of us or used us before. After the inspection we did, she loved what she experienced and started referring us for her clients. She sent me the following text message the other day . . .

"Good morning... I am preparing my day with a ProVantage "Seller's Pre-Inspection Checklist." Why? My 2024 "chihuahua" of a listing (it's been an ankle biter that I haven't been able to clear my life of) is finally under contract and being inspected tomorrow morning. Even when ProVantage is not the inspector, ProVantage is involved. You have made a lasting impression on my life as a Raaltor. Thank you again for your professionalism, wisdom, knowledge, contacts and interesting stories and life shares."

Two weeks ago, I did an 1-year warranty inspection for a lady who was extremely unhappy with her builder and the experience she had (won't mention the builder) and was telling me how she was going to sue the builder. She told me she had called 4 other inspection companies and said I had the highest fee of the companies she had called. I told her I could give her the names of a couple of other inspection companies and then I would not be the highest anymore. She laughed. She said that her daughter said that, after reading all the reviews on the companies she had called, ProVantage Inspections was her choice regardless of the fee. I told her we would take good care of her. I was actually surprised when she called me back and hired us. Admittedly, I went to the house with some apprehension. After finishing the inspection, she posted another 5-Star Google review that was worth it all! She said . . .

"I had ProVantage Inspections inspect my home due to it being close to the end of the 1 year builders warranty. I am very impressed with how thorough and efficient Lee was. I learned things about my home that aren’t in the owners manual or that I hadn’t been able to get a straight answer from the construction manager. I receive a very professional and detailed report before the end of the day. It’s clear to me that I made the right choice going with ProVantage Inspections and highly recommend them to anyone needing home inspection services."

We are grateful for the trust placed in us and really love what we do! Thanks to all!

The same basic scenario has now happened three times in the last two months and is disconcerting. That always gets my attention. We are very conscientious and try to do a stellar job ... every time! Are we perfect... of course not. Are we good? ... I think we're better than average.

I received a call this morning and could quickly tell the buyer was not happy from his tone. He caught me in the middle of something, and I told him I would be glad to call him back. I printed out the report on the house and reviewed it before calling him. I remembered the house and was pleased with the report... actually thought it was a very good inspection report, if I don't say so myself. When I called him back, he said that now that they were in the house, they were NOT HAPPY (emphasis on not happy) with the inspection. I asked what he might be talking about and glad to go over anything.

The buyer told me that when they ran the dishwasher, it leaked all over the floor. Yep ... two pictures on page 47 of the water leaking on the floor and another with the towel that I used to wipe up the water with a very understandable comment clearly written out. The buyer said, "Oh sorry, I guess should have reviewed the report better." "Glad to help," I said. "Was there something else?" I asked.

He then said, "One of the plugs in the house doesn't have any power to it." I asked him, "The plug on the left side of the master bathroom sink?" "Yes", he said. To which I replied, "I have that noted on page 20 with a comment and a picture." Embarrassed for having called me, he apologized a second time and said he was sorry for bothering me.

When compiling a report, a buyer has a lot of information to go through and comprehend. With all the information in a report about the structure, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, appliances, and more, we do our best to write out clear logical comments in understandable language with good photos next to the comment for a buyer to read through a report and not be overwhelmed. For an older house, as this one was, there is generally more to write about. When reviewing a report, please go through it slowly and thoroughly.

Letting the cat out of the bag officially now … 3 months from today on 9/1, I am planning to retire from my ProVantage Inspections business! There, I said it to the “whole world.” I will be 69 a month from tomorrow, and it’s time to transition to what God has next on this life’s journey!

You’ll hear more about that soon and it will be a major announcement too! And all the Real Estate Agents ANYWHERE in Texas are REALLY going to be excited! In fact, in another way, I will be serving more real estate agents than I ever did with the inspection business. So looking forward to that.

I have exciting news to share with you regarding the future of ProVantage Inspections! Through a mutual friend, I was introduced to Karey Carter over 8 years ago, and he joined me doing inspections part-time. Many of you already know him and he’s done an inspection or several for you. Neither of us could have imagined how much we would so thoroughly enjoy working together and here we are now at a major transition. We will be very intentional and systematic to pass the baton of the reigns of the inspection business over to Karey.

Karey has an incredible background in many areas that are so very fitting to being an inspector. He has been a full-time insurance adjuster for many years and will be taking over ProVantage Inspections full-time effective 9/1/2025. He is now a seasoned experienced excellent inspector! Many of our 5-star Google reviews are for inspections that Karey has performed. With the working relationship and friendship we’ve developed, I could not be more confident and thrilled with Karey continuing to provide the professional quality of inspections and service that we have strived to provide for 10 years.

We took the picture under the dessert sign area of Spring Creek BBQ a few years ago. It was a fitting sign of what was and is ("A Great Team") and will continue to be (in a different way) as ProVantage Inspections. We took another picture today at lunch to share this news. Howdy Y'all! On the first of the next three months, we will be sharing some conversational videos and additional announcements.

We would love to hear any comments and questions you may have.
Grateful and honored for your trust in us for your inspection needs!

Nothing is changing now … I am still performing 1-2 inspections almost daily and will still be doing inspections through August, and Karey is available also as he has been. Call us for your inspection needs!

At your service, Lee ... and Karey!

To All Real Estate Agents . . .

When listing a house, please advise your client to make sure if the smoke alarms are monitored / set up to contact the fire department that they are disconnected for the inspection. This is increasingly more common with all the different types of personal security systems people install in their homes. The smoke alarms are supposed to be tested as part of an inspection. It hadn't happened to me in quite a few years, but it happened today. Fire truck arrived in response to being alerted that the smoke alarms went off. I wonder what it cost for the dry run of the fire truck and 4 fireman to the house I was inspecting today?!

What an unusual VERY diverse week of inspections! Fun, fun fun ...
1 - pre-pour slab inspection
2 - brand new final home inspections
2 - HUD Structural Engineering Certifications on manufactured homes
1 - pre-drywall inspection
1 - existing 7-year old home inspection
1 - new custom home plans consultation with out of state buyer