📞 Call — 618-924-1982
📞 618-924-1982 ✉ smithrealspect@frontier.com Serving De Soto & All of Southern Illinois
🎖 Veteran-Owned Business | 🏖 29 Years Serving Southern Illinois | IL License #450.000678 | ASHI Standards of Practice | 9,000+ Inspections Completed
Real Spect Home Inspections — Serving All of Southern Illinois

Complete Home Inspection Services for De Soto & Southern Illinois

Our Services

Complete Inspection Services

Work directly with a State of Illinois licensed home inspector for thorough home inspections and specialized environmental testing — mold & indoor air quality, carbon monoxide, combustible gas, and moisture detection — across De Soto and all of Southern Illinois.

29 Years of Experience — In Every Inspection

Whether you're buying, selling, building, or maintaining a property, having accurate and reliable information is critical. Real Spect Home Inspections delivers thorough inspections from an inspector who has personally completed more than 9,000 inspections across Southern Illinois over 29 years. Every inspection follows the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Standards of Practice and Illinois state standards, and is delivered in an on-site, computer-generated report that's free of technical jargon and easy to understand.

Real Spect also coordinates radon testing, termite (wood-destroying organism) inspections, and sewer scope through trusted partners — so you can arrange everything you need through a single point of contact.

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Our Specialty • Health & Safety

Mold & Indoor Air Quality Testing

What It Is

Mold inspection and indoor air quality testing identify mold growth and the airborne conditions that affect the health of everyone living in the home. Real Spect examines the areas where moisture and mold tend to develop and evaluates the quality of the air inside the home.

Why You Need It

Mold and poor indoor air quality can cause real health problems — and often point to hidden moisture issues behind the scenes. Because this is a Real Spect specialty, Eric emphasizes it in every applicable inspection, so you know exactly what you and your family are breathing before you commit to a home.

What's Inspected

  • Visible mold identification
  • Moisture-prone areas — baths, basements, crawlspaces
  • Indoor air quality assessment
  • Ventilation & humidity review
  • Signs of past or hidden water intrusion
  • Plain-language findings & recommendations
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Environmental Testing • Health & Safety

Carbon Monoxide Detection & Testing

What It Is

Carbon monoxide detection and testing checks for CO — a colorless, odorless gas produced by fuel-burning appliances and heating systems. Real Spect evaluates the conditions that can allow this dangerous gas to build up inside a home.

Why You Need It

Carbon monoxide is impossible to see or smell, and elevated levels can be dangerous or even deadly. Testing is the only way to know whether a home's appliances and ventilation are keeping CO where it belongs — outside.

What's Checked

  • Fuel-burning appliances & heating systems
  • Carbon monoxide level measurement
  • Venting & flue review
  • CO detector placement guidance
  • Findings & safety recommendations
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Environmental Testing • Fire Safety

Combustible Gas Detection & Testing

What It Is

Combustible gas detection identifies leaks of natural gas or propane around a home's gas lines, fittings, and appliance connections. Real Spect checks the accessible points where leaks are most likely to develop.

Why You Need It

A gas leak is both a health hazard and a serious fire and explosion risk. Catching a leak early — at a fitting, a connection, or an aging appliance — protects your home and everyone in it.

What's Checked

  • Accessible gas lines & fittings
  • Appliance gas connections
  • Leak detection at accessible points
  • Signs of unsafe conditions
  • Findings & safety recommendations
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Advanced Detection

Moisture Detection & Testing

What It Is

Moisture detection and testing reveals hidden water and damp conditions — behind walls, under floors, and in basements and crawlspaces — that a visual look alone can miss. It's closely tied to Real Spect's mold and air quality specialty.

Why You Need It

Undetected moisture is where the expensive problems start: rot, mold, and structural damage all begin with water where it shouldn't be. Finding it early tells you what needs attention before it turns into a major repair.

What's Checked

  • Moisture readings in problem areas
  • Signs of water intrusion & leaks
  • Basement & crawlspace damp conditions
  • Areas prone to hidden moisture
  • Findings & recommendations
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For Sellers

Pre-Listing Inspections

What It Is

A pre-listing inspection is a complete, top-to-bottom evaluation of a home performed before it goes on the market — the same thorough inspection a buyer would order, done for the seller first.

Why You Need It

When you know what a buyer's inspector will find before they find it, you're in control. You can make repairs on your own terms, price the home accurately, and avoid last-minute surprises that stall or sink a deal at the closing table.

What's Inspected

  • Roof, attic, insulation & ventilation
  • Plumbing & electrical systems
  • Heating & cooling systems
  • Structure & foundation
  • Walls, ceilings, windows & doors
  • Plain-language pre-listing report
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For New Builds

New Construction Inspections

What It Is

A new construction inspection is a thorough, independent evaluation of a newly built home before you take ownership — a fresh set of experienced eyes on the work before the builder hands over the keys.

Why You Need It

Even brand-new homes have defects and unfinished work. An independent inspection catches those issues while they're still the builder's responsibility to correct — so they get fixed before closing, not on your dime afterward.

What's Inspected

  • Structure & framing
  • Electrical, plumbing & HVAC systems
  • Roof & exterior
  • Finishes, fit & workmanship
  • Unfinished or overlooked items
  • Pre-closing punch list
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For Renovations

Pre-Remodeling Inspections

What It Is

A pre-remodeling inspection evaluates a home's existing structure and systems before a renovation begins — giving you a clear picture of what you're working with before the first wall comes down.

Why You Need It

Renovations are far smoother when there are no hidden surprises. Uncovering existing conditions — moisture, aging systems, or structural concerns — up front lets you budget accurately, plan the work properly, and avoid costly mid-project discoveries.

What's Inspected

  • Existing structure & systems
  • Hidden or existing conditions
  • Moisture & mold concerns
  • Areas affected by planned work
  • Findings to guide your project

Our Simple 4-Step Inspection Process

From your first phone call to final report delivery, here's exactly what to expect when you hire Real Spect Home Inspections.

1

Schedule

Call 618-924-1982 or use our contact form. We'll answer your questions and book a time that fits your timeline — and offer a free, no-commitment cost consultation.

2

Inspect

Eric evaluates the property thoroughly, following ASHI Standards of Practice and Illinois state standards. You're encouraged to attend and ask questions.

3

Report

You receive an on-site, computer-generated report free of technical jargon — clear findings and recommendations you can actually use.

4

Support

Questions after the report? Eric provides post-inspection consultation and honest repair advice, so you feel confident in your next steps.

Four Reasons Southern Illinois Chooses Real Spect

Unbiased, accurate, and thorough inspections — explained in plain language you can actually use, every time.

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29 Years Experience

Nearly three decades and 9,000+ inspections across Southern Illinois — Eric knows what to look for.

ASHI Standards

Every inspection follows the ASHI Standards of Practice and Illinois state standards.

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Air Quality Specialist

Mold and indoor air quality testing is a Real Spect focus — protecting your family's health.

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Plain-Language Reports

On-site, computer-generated reports free of jargon — easy to read and easy to act on.

Ready to Schedule Your Inspection?

Call Eric today • IL License #450.000678 • ASHI Standards of Practice • 9,000+ Inspections • Serving Southern Illinois for 29 Years