Black Cat Greeting the Sunrise

 

Sable is typically anxious to go outside long before daylight on the mountain. Not today with the cold, wet, snow covered ground. 

Happy New Year from The Black Cat

 

Looking back on 50 years of construction, and inspections, under various names in North Carolina, Tomorrow, January 1, 2024 The Black Cat takes over offering multiple inspectors, expanded territory, expanded services, inspections in Spanish, male and female inspectors, inspector training and paid apprenticeships. We will offer residential and commercial pre-purchase, per-listing, condition, construction progress, and mold inspections, mold and radon testing with more to come. 

Visit our new Blog at https://blackcatinspectionservices.blogspot.com/

Visit our new Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554659384369

New website coming soon at www.blackcatinspectionservices.com 

In the mean time visit us at www.chrisdhilton.com

Black Cat Inspection Services, LLC

Black Cat’s 15 Acre Mountain Headquarters In The Snow

 

Black Cat’s current, 3 days a week, and future full time, headquarters on a 15 acre mountian ridge line in Sugar Grove, NC. Later we will book inspections, and manage inspectors across North Carolina , later likely Virginia, South Carolina and Tennessee from here. For now a barn/tiny house with massive retaining wall and pad for future home/office. Sable allows us to live and work here with her but she is very demanding of turkey, roast beef and chicken only from the deli. None of that dry cat food garbage. 

The Black Cat Compound

Barn/Tiny House and Wagon Shed

Barn/Tiny House

Wagon Shed

Retaining Wall at Future Home/Office Pad

Driveway Up to Future Home/Office Location 

Future House Pad (above retaining wall)

Looking Down from House Pad

Ridge Line Above House Pad

Inspector Doug Simmons on home inspection in Reidsville

 

Our inspector, Doug Simmons, is inspecting this home, built in 1923 in Reidsville, this afternoon for Realtor Sandy Fielding‘s client. Officially, Black Cat Inspection Services, (coming in January 2024) isn’t in operation yet and our new website isn’t live. For now you can still book your home, and commercial building inspections, at www.chrisdhilton.com 

StarLink satellite communication in inclement weather

In case you wondered, our StarLink satellite communication dish has a heater to keep the ice off. With the inclement weather it is function fine keeping GrandPam and I connected to the world, and functioning, from our remote location on top of the Black Cat’s mountain in snow, rain, ice and cloud cover as I am on the internet nonstop making changes. Yea, still need to mount it on the building when my balance/stability issues clear so I can access with a tall ladder and use a drill. Experienced volunteers are welcome!!! Note how helpful The Black Cat is. 

Snow at Black Cat’s Mountain Home/Office

It snowed at The Black Cat’s Mountain Home/Office yesterday, and expecting more today, as “The Old Man” is transitioning everything from the former company to the new Black Cat Inspection Services, LLC. It is a monumental task but moving along exponentially as you should be beginning to observe. You simply don’t realize how much is involved until you do it. Basically began at what needs to be transitioned first then moving along to the next issue. This will likely require weeks to complete changing over our internet presence, business, marketing and reporting systems, and making our business partners, past and potential customers aware. The process of pricing inspections and booking hasn’t skipped a beat as yesterday we priced a home built in 1890, 9 KFC Restaurants located in NC and SC and a 90,000 sf corn chip processing plant, similar to what we did in October. Come on 2024 we are ready to rock and roll. 

 

The 2023 local real estate market compared to 2022

 

The 2023 local real estate market compared to 2022, from a home/building inspectors perspective.

Our dollar volume increased 28% over 2022

Our unit volume increased 13% over 2022

That is an indication that we did more, larger, older, homes and commercial buildings

Compared to 2021

Our dollar volume was $6,760 less than 2021

Interestingly our unit volume was only 2 less than 2021

As always the market, and our part of it, is difficult to predict. However, due to changes we are making, I predict 2024 will be a stellar, record breaking year, for the new Black Cat Inspection Services. 

Reality - Don’t be this stupid.

 

Electrical Service air supported

This manufactured home electrical service support screws have rusted out and it is supported with zip ties. Check out the video and photos by our own Doug Simmons. 

Manufactured Home In Asheboro

Our inspector, Doug Simmons, is inspecting this manufactured home in Asheboro this afternoon for an investor/flipper client. Between Doug and Josh that is two manufactured homes for today. Officially, Black Cat Inspection Services, (coming in January 2024) isn’t in operation yet and our new website isn’t live. For now you can still book your home, and commercial building inspections, at www.chrisdhilton.com 

Potential Manufactured Home Issue

 

Our inspector, Josh Hedges, is at a manufactured home conducting a Condition of Home Inspection for the homeowner. The primary concern is that homeowner needs to verify that an addition, and added decks and porches, are not bearing on, adding weight to, the manufactured home. This is not allowed by the manufacture and can become an issue attaining a mortgage. Yes, we do that and this client found us in a Google search. 

Officially, Black Cat Inspection Services, (coming in January 2024) isn’t in operation yet and our new website isn’t live. For now you can still book your home, and commercial building inspections, at www.chrisdhilton.com 

The transition from the old to the new begins

Over the next few days, more likely weeks, we will transition from the 25 year old Chris D. Hilton and Associates Home/Building Inspections to the new Black Cat Inspection Services LLC. We will do that without missing a beat taking care of your home and commercial building inspection needs on the fly as we transition. Ending one company and starting another, from scratch, is a relatively simple transaction. Keeping one operational as the other becomes operational in a piece by piece handoff and not so simple. You may notice some unusual happenings such as you may receive something from the older company and the next from the new. You may even receive something from the new company and the next from the old. Most of what goes out is automated and must be changed one piece at a time. Not to be concerned, the brand and umbrella is changing but the people functioning under both brands and umbrellas are the same offering the same impeccable service you have been accustomed to receiving for 25 years, even as we morph into something different. 

Becomes 

New Website Coming Soon

Imagine your ingenious kid using this as monkey bar.

You be the inspector. Is there an issues here? Comment below please. Photo by our own Josh Hedges.

Are concrete block intended to be turned this way?

You be the inspector. Are concrete block intended to be turned this way? Please comment and explain below. Photos by our own Josh Hedges. 

Several Major Gutter Concerns Here

You be the home inspector. Can you discern the potential issues with these gutters? Please add your comments below. Photos by our own Josh Hedges.

Oops!!!

 Nothing makes this issue more clear than the fact it is raining. Photo by our own Doug Simmons. 

Less Than 700 Square Foot House In Winston-Salem

Yes, we inspect homes, and commercial buildings, of all shapes and sizes. Our inspector, Josh Hedges, is inspecting this under 700 square foot home, in Winston-Salem this afternoon, which is part of a for sale by owner transaction. Officially, Black Cat Inspection Services, (coming in January 2024) isn’t in operation yet and our new website isn’t live. For now you can still book your home, and commercial building inspections, at www.chrisdhilton.com 

Over 5,000 Square Foot Home in Winston-Salem

 

Our inspector, Doug Simmons, is inspecting this over 5,000 square foot home, in Winston-Salem, this afternoon for Realtor Philip Dorsett‘s client. Our new inspector Gearld Rutledge is shadowing Doug gaining more knowledge of our procedures and report system. Officially, Black Cat Inspection Services, (coming in January 2024) isn’t in operation yet and our new website isn’t live. For now you can still book your home, and commercial building inspections, at www.chrisdhilton.com 

Check out more about this home by clicking here. 

Manufactured Home Inspection Rural Hall, NC

Our inspector, Doug Simmons, is inspecting this manufactured home in Rural Hall this morning for Realtor Daniel Dillard‘s client. Our new inspector Gearld Rutledge is shadowing Doug gaining more knowledge of our procedures and report system. Officially, Black Cat Inspection Services, (coming in January 2024) isn’t in operation yet and our new website isn’t live. For now you can still book your home, and commercial building inspections, at www.chrisdhilton.com 

Under Construction

 

 Coming in January of 2024

Our team’s Christmas present to you. Out of 50 years of construction and inspections in North Carolina, in January of 2024, a new company will be born, Black Cat Inspection Services, LLC, with more inspectors, added territory and services, and new website. The 25 year old company www.chrisdhilton.com will be transformed into a different, new, and better entity, with a much longer shelf-life to carry on as The Old Man fades into the sunset, over the next few decades, as younger, brighter, faster, more agile, and intelligent inspectors take the reins and carry on.

Merry Christmas from our Inspection Team

Chris Hilton, Pam Hilton, Josh Hedges, Emily Cabrera, Doug Simmons, Gerald Rutledge, Jeff Theys and “The Black Cat” Sable

Chris D, Hilton and Associates Home/Building Inspections
Soon to become Black Cat Inspection Services, LLC

Visit Our New FaceBook Page