From pre-purchase and pre-listing to new construction, wind mitigation, four-point, 203K, HUD, and the Lowcountry specialty inspections that matter most on the coast — A Closer Look covers everything Charleston buyers, sellers, and homeowners need to make informed decisions.
The decision to buy or sell a home is a big one — and it's best made with accurate, reliable information about the property. Peter Newman brings 35-plus years of past ASHI member, South Carolina-licensed inspection experience to every service offered — from a complete pre-purchase inspection to the specialty inspections Lowcountry homes so often require — so you get the complete picture of your property, every time.
A complete, top-to-bottom evaluation of the home's major systems and components — performed in accordance with the ASHI Standards of Practice and backed by 35+ years and 11,000+ inspections. Roof, attic, insulation and ventilation, plumbing and electrical, heating and cooling, foundation, walls, ceilings, windows and doors, siding (including stucco/EIFS), garages, decks, and built-in appliances.
Every inspection includes a thermal imaging scan to reveal hidden moisture, electrical, and insulation issues — and after 11,000+ Lowcountry inspections, Peter knows exactly where coastal homes hide trouble. You receive a clear, jargon-free digital report with photos, typically within 24 hours.
Pre-purchase inspections are completed before you buy, giving you an unbiased, third-party picture of the home's true condition and what repairs may be needed — so you can make an informed decision and negotiate with confidence.
Pre-listing inspections are completed before you list, letting you address issues on your own terms and avoid surprises that can derail a closing later. Both are backed by Peter's full ASHI-standard inspection.
New construction inspections catch errors or omissions that occurred during the build and need correcting before closing — including phase inspections at key stages of construction.
The 11-month builder's warranty inspection is completed before your first-year warranty expires, giving the builder time to make covered repairs. It's one of the most valuable inspections a new-home owner can schedule.
On the Charleston coast, these two inspections can directly affect your insurance. A wind mitigation inspection documents the home's roof construction, attachments, and wind-resistant features — often qualifying homeowners for meaningful discounts on their windstorm and hurricane coverage.
A four-point inspection focuses on the four systems insurers care about most — roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC — and is frequently required to obtain or renew coverage on older Lowcountry homes.
The FHA 203K loan lets buyers finance both the purchase of a home and the cost of its renovation in a single mortgage — and those projects require qualified inspection and oversight along the way.
Peter provides the 203K inspection services these renovation loans depend on, documenting the property's condition and the scope of work so buyers, lenders, and consultants stay on the same page from start to finish.
For buyers working with HUD homes and government-backed financing, Peter provides the HUD inspection services these transactions require — a thorough, impartial evaluation of the property's condition and major systems.
With 35+ years and 11,000+ inspections behind every report, you get clear documentation you and your lender can rely on, delivered in plain language and on the timeline your closing demands.
The Lowcountry's heat, humidity, sandy soils, and crawlspace foundations create problems a generic checklist misses. Stucco & EIFS inspections check for the moisture intrusion these systems are prone to in a coastal climate, while crawlspace & moisture inspections target damp crawlspaces, rotten floor joists, cracked block piers, and the mold and structural concerns that follow.
Peter also performs mold and termite-related evaluations and the kind of targeted, experience-driven looks that only 11,000+ local inspections can teach.
Peter inspects more than just standard homes. Multi-family inspections cover duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and apartment and condo buildings. Investor and property inspections help rental and second-home owners stay ahead of costly repairs.
Foreclosure inspections document the condition, defects, and water-intrusion concerns of vacant properties, and commercial inspections are available for light commercial buildings throughout the Lowcountry.
From your first phone call to final report delivery, here's exactly what to expect when you hire A Closer Look.
Call Peter at 843-607-8486. We'll answer your questions and book a time that fits your closing timeline.
Peter walks the home top to bottom and documents every finding with photos. You're encouraged to be present.
You receive a detailed, photo-rich digital report — free of technical jargon — typically within 24 hours.
Questions after the report? Call Peter directly. Free follow-up service means you understand every finding.
No franchise packages. No upsells. Just honest, thorough inspections from a Past ASHI Member, SC-licensed inspector with more than 35+ years of experience — every time.
The industry's most rigorous credential — held by an inspector who's earned it over 35+ years.
Real-world experience few Lowcountry inspectors can match — and the eye for detail that comes with it.
18+ years in the construction trades means Peter knows how homes are built — and where they fail.
Not a franchise — a local Charleston inspector who works directly with you from first call to final report.
Past ASHI Member — 18 Years Experience • SC License #RBI 11355 • 35+ Years • 11,000+ Inspections • Serving Charleston & the Lowcountry