Buying a Home Shouldn't Be a Gamble.

You deserve clear information, practical advice, and an experienced perspective before making one of the largest investments of your life. Our team provides thorough inspections and unbiased recommendations to help you move forward with confidence.

Proud to be trusted for home and commercial inspections, mold assessments, radon testing, water quality testing, and environmental services throughout New York's Capital Region and Hudson Valley since 2014.


Call or email us today to schedule your inspection or request a quote — we're available seven days a week by appointment.

Over 3,000 Inspections in the Capital Region & Upstate New York since 2014 Albany · Rensselaer · Saratoga · Schenectady · Columbia · Greene · Ulster · Dutchess · Washington · Schoharie · Fulton · Montgomery · Warren

What Our Clients Say

4.9 ★★★★★ — 287 verified reviews across Google & Yelp

Meet the Team

John H. Allison

John H. Allison

Owner & Founder

NYS Licensed Home Inspector #16000061763 NY Mold Assessor's License #24-63KJP-SHMO

John has always had a passion for homes and how they are made. At 14, he tore down a wall in his family home to open up two rooms. As you would hope, he was also able to put the new walls back together. That love of design/build projects has flourished in architecture and landscaping, as well as his deep background in historic woodworking. When not on a ladder or in a crawlspace, he enjoys adventure sports and discovering the natural world. John currently owns his fourth home with his wife, sons, and host of cuddly furmongers.

Inspection Qualifications

  • Owner and Founder of Hollis Home Inspection LLC
  • Graduate of NY State accredited Home Inspection program
  • NY State Licensed Home Inspector #16000061763
  • NY State Licensed Mold Assessor #MA00080 24-63KJP-SHMO
  • Insured: Liability coverage exceeds requirements, Errors and Omissions Coverage
  • Incorporated: NY State registered LLC
  • 500+ hours and counting of continuing education

Additional Qualifications

  • Studied in B. Architecture Program at RPI
  • Studied in Civil Engineering Program at HVCC
  • Excelled in Historic Restoration Woodshop
  • Managed a local CNC Fabrication Shop
  • Woodworking Instructor at Community Arts Center
  • Rental Property Manager
  • Homeowner
Stephen Stringer

Stephen Stringer

Home Inspector

NYS Licensed Home Inspector #16000083545 NY Mold Assessor #25-63RJV-SHMO

Stephen loves to fix things. For ten years he worked in industry, with many of his days spent repairing enormous commercial machines. Now entering his 9th year as an inspector, he enjoys using that extensive HVAC, plumbing and electrical experience to help clients their new homes. When he's not working, Stephen can be found at his recently purchased fixer upper, happily toiling alongside his partner Rachel and their young children on one of their many projects. His hobbies include basketball, restoring a cantankerous convertible, hiking, camping, playing music.

Inspection Qualifications

  • Graduate of NY State accredited Home Inspection program
  • NY State Licensed Home Inspector #16000083545
  • NY Mold Assessor's License #25-63RJV-SHMO
  • Insured: Liability coverage exceeds requirements, Errors and Omissions Coverage
  • 300+ hours and counting of continuing education

Additional Qualifications

  • BA in History, aiding in communicating effectively with non-technical clients
  • 10+ years as an Industrial Electrician/Maintenance Manager
  • 10 years as Property Manager and Landlord
  • Graduate of the Arcosanti Build/Design Program
  • NABCEP Solar Certified
  • Long-time volunteer with Buffalo Reuse
Ryan Fitzgerald, Home Inspector at Hollis Home Inspection

Ryan Fitzgerald

Home Inspector

NYS Licensed Home Inspector #16000151058

Ryan has always been curious about how things work and why they fail. With a background in mechanical engineering and a strong interest in building science, he brings a systems-based approach to understanding homes — looking at how structure, moisture, air, and mechanical systems interact over time. As a professional home inspector, his goal is to provide prospective buyers with clear, unbiased information so they can make informed decisions with confidence during one of life's largest financial investments. When he's not inspecting homes, Ryan enjoys most outdoor activities including hiking, biking, skiing, and snowboarding. At home, he stays plenty busy keeping up with life alongside his wife and three young children.

Inspection Qualifications

  • Graduate of NY State accredited Home Inspection program
  • NY State Licensed Home Inspector #16000151058
  • FAA Licensed Drone Pilot #5274857
  • Fully insured, including General Liability and optional E&O coverage, exceeding NY State requirements

Additional Qualifications

  • BS in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University
  • Long-time homeowner with hands-on maintenance experience
  • Strong background in building science and system performance
  • 8 years of experience in drywall trade
  • Clear, practical communicator who explains findings in plain language

Services & Capabilities

We Inspect and Evaluate

Roof Attic Kitchen Bathroom Laundry Fireplace Basement Structure Exterior Grounds Exterior Walls General Interior Electrical System Plumbing System Heating System Foundation Garage

We also look for

Pests Mold Wood Destroying Organisms Contamination from oil & asbestos

Commercial Inspection

A Second Business Requires Due Diligence

Purchasing a commercial building means taking on a second business — one that demands its own time, capital, and attention on top of the operation you've already built.

Done right, a solid inspection becomes real leverage — adding value from day one. Skip that step, and hidden problems can drain resources for years. Contact us to discuss what your commercial property inspection should include.

The numbers have to work.

To know the real numbers, you need a thorough inspection — one that surfaces as many issues as possible before you're legally and financially committed.

We Inspect All Types of Commercial Buildings

Restaurants Churches Offices Warehouses Multifamilies Garages Resorts Clinics Dental offices Municipal buildings Barns & stables Farms Schools Banks Mixed use Apartments Condos & townhomes Boathouses Theatres Hotels Funeral homes

Construction Phase & Progress Inspections

Verify Progress at Every Stage

Construction projects move quickly, and defects can become hidden as work progresses. Our independent third-party inspections provide objective evaluations at key stages of construction to help identify concerns before they become costly to correct.

We perform progress inspections for residential, commercial, renovation, and new construction projects. Whether you're a property owner, contractor, lender, or investor, we provide detailed documentation of workmanship, project progress, and observed conditions to help you make informed decisions.

What We Inspect

Site preparation and grading Foundations and footings Structural framing Roofing Building envelope and weather barriers Rough plumbing, electrical, and HVAC Insulation and air sealing Interior and exterior finishes Final completion inspections Punch list inspections One-year warranty inspections Construction loan draw inspections Progress inspections for lenders and investors Repair verification inspections

Consultation

Unbiased Answers to Building Problems

When a problem arises in your home, it can be difficult to know where to turn or whom to trust. Our consultation service provides an unbiased third-party evaluation to help identify likely causes, assess the severity of the issue, and discuss potential repair or mitigation options.

Reasons to Consult

Water intrusion Moisture concerns Structural movement Indoor air quality issues Renovation options Practical design solutions Mystery odors Contractor management

We're Flexible

We can meet onsite before, during, or after work is performed — or consult remotely to discuss the options most beneficial to your property and budget. Some clients also opt for a phone or video call to address their questions and concerns.

Reach out if you're unsure whether a consultation could help.

Mold Assessment

When mold is discovered within a property and remediation is being considered, a thorough mold assessment helps ensure the issue is addressed safely, effectively, and completely. A mold assessment is a comprehensive inspection for mold growth and conditions conducive to mold.

The assessment identifies the extent of contamination, determines the underlying causes, and provides a written remediation protocol designed to address the problem at its source.

Mold Testing

While mold can often be identified through a professional inspection, laboratory testing can provide additional information when answers are needed. Mold testing may help identify mold genus, investigate potential allergen sources, verify remediation effectiveness, or confirm whether a questionable material is mold.

We offer mold testing with or without a mold assessment, and all samples are analyzed by New York State accredited laboratories.

What's Included in a Mold Assessment

Identify conditions conducive to mold growth Mold sampling as necessary Protocol for remediation Post remediation clearance inspection Clearance report Compliance with NY Article 32 Mold Law

Water Quality Testing

Know What's in Your Water

The quality of your water has a direct effect on the health and well-being of everyone in your home. Hollis Home Inspection offers comprehensive water quality testing compliant with NYS Department of Health, DEC, and EPA regulations.

We offer

Testing for bacterial, chemical, and organic contaminants Packages designed for FHA, VA, and HUD mortgage requirements Environmental testing including VOCs, PFOAs, radon in water, and more Lab result interpretation and practical action recommendations

Air Quality Testing

What You Can't See Can Still Affect You

Air quality testing helps evaluate indoor mold conditions by identifying the types and concentrations of airborne mold spores present, comparing indoor levels to outdoor baseline measurements.

Beneficial when hidden mold is suspected, occupants are experiencing allergy-like symptoms, or when comparisons between rooms are needed. Combined with visual inspection, air quality testing provides important insight into your indoor environment.

Wood Destroying Organisms

Don't Let Pests Eat Your Investment

Wood Destroying Organisms like Termites, Carpenter Ants, or Powder Post Beetles can wreak havoc on the wooden structure of your home, migrating throughout and potentially leaving the structure severely compromised in their wake. Hollis Home Inspection offers Pest Inspection services for home buyers and home owners. Pest inspection is often required by FHA, VA, and HUD lenders.

For people considering buying a new home, a professional pest inspection is a must before proceeding with any sale. Hollis Home Inspection performs pest inspection as part of our buyer's home inspection without additional charge!

Our pest inspection is designed to discover evidence of damage or unsafe conditions resulting from infestation. Have us inspect your home today and be certain there is no cause for concern.

Radon Gas Testing

The Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer Is Invisible

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that permeates up through soil and rock. Across New York State, approximately 1 in 5 homes spike above the EPA threshold of 4.0 pCi/L. Testing is the only way to know your level.

Even a functioning mitigation system is no guarantee radon is below threshold. We recommend testing regardless.

We prefer Continuous Radon Monitors — more data, faster turnaround, tamper-resistant.

The EPA recommends testing when buying or selling a home, and every few years as an owner. Radon can be mitigated — usually without large expense, and often at the seller's cost. The presence of radon should not be a deal breaker.

Our Service Area

Albany · Rensselaer · Saratoga · Schenectady · Columbia · Greene · Ulster · Dutchess · Washington · Schoharie · Fulton · Montgomery · Warren

Residential neighborhood in the Capital Region of New York

Code of Ethics

What is more important than ethics? At Hollis Home Inspection our duty is to our clients. We take our position as an unbiased 3rd party very seriously, and aim to perform for you the same thorough inspection that we would want for ourselves and our loved ones.

It has taken time and patience to build a reputation that we work hard every day to protect. We do not compromise our integrity, our reports, or our findings for anyone regardless of the situation. When real estate is involved and your money is on the line, having a clear understanding of issues is critical.

We strive to provide sound, practical advice based on our experience serving thousands of clients throughout the Capital Region, Hudson Valley, and beyond. Whether you are purchasing a home, investigating a mold concern, or evaluating a property's condition, our goal is to deliver clear answers and actionable recommendations.

Our proof is in the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your inspection report is more than a list of defects. It is a detailed guide to the home's condition, organized by section and supported by photos and videos taken onsite. The report helps you identify which concerns are most important, what may require immediate attention, and what can be monitored over time. Many clients use the report to obtain contractor estimates and negotiate repairs before closing, then continue to rely on it as a repair and maintenance checklist for years after moving in.


See a Sample Report

Since we inspect all kinds of properties from cottages to estates, restaurants to resorts we found it works best to quote each inspection individually. We would be glad to provide a quote specific to the property of interest which would include all pertinent services, the scope of work, a sample report, and of course, pricing.

Our clients rely on us for our thoroughness and we recommend the same when it comes to septic. Any septic inspection short of having the septic pumped and inspected empty does not constitute a thorough inspection of the septic system. We recommend hiring a qualified septic company to pump and inspect the system.

Hollis Home Inspection carries both General Liability and E&O (Errors and Omissions) Insurance. We can offer Proof of Insurance at the request of our clients and can add additional parties as insured or increase coverage for high value properties when requested.

We have officially been in business since May of 2014.

Our availability changes day to day but often we only book out about a week or two. Feel free to reach out for last minute inspections as we may be available. Contact us today to see what we can offer you.

We love to meet our clients onsite to discuss our findings. However, we can still perform thorough inspections without our clients present. If you can only be present for part of the inspection the best time is at the end after we have had a chance to complete our site work.

We have experience inspecting Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Columbia, Greene, Ulster, Dutchess, Washington, Schenectady, Schoharie, and surrounding counties. We are willing to travel for our clients.

You can read reviews on Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

We walk roofs when site conditions such as accessibility, safety, and weather permit. We also use drones when applicable. We prefer to walk roofs as nothing substitutes for physically being on the roof.

Absolutely. If you have a preference, simply let us know when you reach out and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Yes. Our inspectors routinely inspect homes less than 20 years old and discover major defects. New construction is not immune to faulty workmanship, improper installations, or code violations. An inspection is one of the most valuable investments you can make regardless of a home's age.

Absolutely. We routinely inspect properties that are more than 150 years old. Our team has extensive experience with historic properties — from balloon framing and knob-and-tube wiring to stone foundations and cast iron plumbing.

Yes. We regularly inspect larger estates over 6,000 square feet. For larger or more complex properties, we can deploy a multi-inspector team to the site simultaneously. Contact us to discuss the scope.

We do. We have inspected cabins, mobile homes, and accessory dwelling units as small as 300 square feet. No property is too small to deserve a thorough evaluation.

Absolutely. Once you take ownership of a property we are happy to come out and perform a full inspection — a clear picture of what you are working with and a practical starting point for prioritizing repairs or maintenance.

Ready to Schedule Your Inspection?

Whether you're purchasing your first home, investing in commercial property, or investigating environmental concerns, our team is ready to help.

Available 8am–9pm · 7 Days a Week · By Appointment

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