A State of Illinois licensed home inspector bringing 29 years of experience and more than 9,000 inspections — and the integrity your biggest investment deserves — to every home across Southern Illinois. Real Spect is a proud veteran-owned business.
Eric D. Smith is the owner and lead inspector of Real Spect Home Inspections, proudly serving home buyers, sellers, and homeowners across De Soto and all of Southern Illinois with unbiased, accurate, and thorough home inspections. Over 29 years in the field, Eric has personally completed more than 9,000 inspections — a depth of hands-on experience few inspectors in the region can match, and one that shows in the thoroughness of every report he delivers. Real Spect is a proud veteran-owned business, and Eric brings the same discipline, attention to detail, and integrity he learned in service to every inspection he performs.
Every Real Spect inspection is performed to a single, consistent standard: it follows the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Standards of Practice and is carried out in accordance with Illinois state standards. From the foundation to the roofline, Eric evaluates the whole home — the structure, roof, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, insulation, and more — and documents what he finds so nothing important gets overlooked.
Real Spect is also a specialist in the environmental concerns that most directly affect a family's health. Eric provides mold inspection and indoor air quality testing, carbon monoxide detection, combustible gas detection, and moisture detection in-house, and can coordinate radon testing, termite inspection, and sewer scope through trusted partners — so clients can arrange everything they need through a single point of contact.
What ties it all together is how the findings are delivered. Every client receives an on-site, computer-generated report that is free of technical jargon and easy to understand. Eric takes the time to walk through the results, provides post-inspection consultation and honest repair advice, and offers a free, no-commitment cost consultation for homeowners considering an inspection — so you have everything you need to make a confident decision.
Real Spect Home Inspections was built on a simple belief: the purchase of a home is one of the largest and most important investments most people will ever make, and the buyer deserves the whole truth about a property before they sign. An emotional attachment to a home is natural — which is exactly why an independent, experienced inspector matters.
Eric's standard never changes: evaluate each home with care, identify the issues that matter most to the buyer, and explain every finding clearly and honestly. He takes the time to review the report with the client, answer questions, and give straightforward advice on any repairs. No rushed walkthroughs, no glossed-over findings — just an accurate, unbiased picture of the home, delivered to the person who matters most: you.
"Unbiased, accurate, and thorough — the truth about your home, every time." — Eric D. Smith, Owner & Lead Inspector
When you hire Real Spect Home Inspections, you're hiring a State of Illinois licensed inspector with 29 years of experience and a specialty in the health and safety concerns that matter most to Southern Illinois homeowners.
From your first phone call to a clear, easy-to-read report, here's what sets Real Spect Home Inspections apart.
29 years and 9,000+ inspections across Southern Illinois — Eric knows exactly what to look for.
Every inspection follows the ASHI Standards of Practice and Illinois state standards.
On-site, computer-generated reports free of jargon — easy to read and act on.
Mold and indoor air quality testing — a Real Spect focus that protects your family's health.
IL License #450.000678 • ASHI Standards of Practice • 9,000+ Inspections • Serving Southern Illinois for 29 Years