About

THE BEST VALUE HOME INSPECTOR IN JOHNSTOWN, PA

Welcome to Hill Property Inspections, LLC. At HPI we truly offer the best value in home inspecting in Johnstown, PA and the surrounding area. We do this by providing many free benefits to our home inspection clients that offer additional protection, valuable information, and assistance – all at a competitive price.

Whether you’re buying or selling, a property transaction is likely the biggest financial decision you will ever make. Having your property thoroughly inspected is one of the most important things you can do before making such a major decision that will significantly affect you for the rest of your life, and our goal is to provide you with clear and detailed information about your property so you will be completely confident in your decision prior to closing.
All of our inspectors are Certified Professional Inspectors (CPIs) through the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and Certified Residential Inspectors (CRIs) through the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI). These designations reflect the knowledge, experience and skill of our first-rate team and give you the confidence of knowing your inspection services are being completed to the highest industry standards.

MEET OUR OWNER

  • NACHI Certification #: 18030632
  • ICA Certification #: 17401
  • PA DEP Certified Radon Testing Individual #: 3311
  • IAC2 Certification #: IAC2-07-9684
  • FAA Certified Remote Pilot #: 4233086
  • Certified Pesticide Applicator #: 550133

Steve Hill, CMI

Certified Master Inspector Steve Hill is the owner and operator of Hill Property Inspections, LLC. Steve resides with his family in Windber, Pennsylvania and has experience as a contractor, real estate investor and former State Farm Insurance Agent. Steve is the founder and President of the Southwestern PA Chapter of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and is a Certified Master Inspector (CMI), which is the highest credential attainable in the home inspection industry and places him among a rare and elite group of professionals in the field. He is also the founding president of the Blair chapter of Business Network International (BNI), which is the world’s largest and most successful business networking organization. In addition to founding and managing HPI, Steve is also the founder and operator of our sister company, Hill Pest Control, LLC, and is a pest management professional (PMP) licensed in Category 11 (household / health related) and Category 12 (wood destroying pests) to provide professional treatment of nearly all common pests a home or business owner may encounter. Steve is an affiliate member of the Cambria Somerset Association of Realtors (CSAR) and stays up-to-date with changing real estate trends and the agents in our area to provide our clients with the best possible service. When he’s not inspecting properties, Steve loves being outdoors, crafting woodworking projects, building and remodeling, and making music. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army JAG Corps and is proud to serve the Laurel Highlands by providing top-notch inspections and building lasting relationships within our community.

Email Steve

Meet the Team

Susannah is the HPI office manager and wears many hats as the “heart” of the office. She’s the go-to team member for scheduling new appointments, fielding calls, handling various administrative tasks, and answering most questions, and she frequently communicates with realtors, brokers, lenders and our valued clients to ensure promptness and efficiency from start to finish. She will likely be the first person you speak with when contacting our office, and she’s known for her extremely friendly and outgoing nature and her constant willingness to help in any way she can!
Certified Professional Inspector Amy Hill is Steve’s wife and the co-owner of HPI. After several years of Steve trying to convince Amy to leave her prior, long-term career in the medical field, she finally made the leap to help with the business as it rapidly expands. To say she is glad she did is a major understatement, and Amy brings a great deal of expertise to the team. During her seventeen years as an ultrasound technologist – several of which were also spent as the technical director for her department – Amy built a solid reputation as an exceptionally talented tech with multiple credentials (RT(R), RDCS, RDMS) and never once called off a single day of work! That type of work ethic is unheard of, and it’s that example that helps keep the HPI team dedicated and committed to excellence. While Amy is capable of inspecting all systems and components of a home, she primarily focuses on inspecting common living areas, kitchens and bathrooms. Amy and the entire HPI team are proud to have a female inspector onboard in a generally male-dominated industry, and Amy’s overall contribution speaks for itself. Apart from work, Amy’s passion is her family – especially her and Steve’s teenage daughter, Ariana, and son, Jacob – and she’s an avid reader always eager to learn and grow, both personally and professionally.


Certified Professional Inspector Nathan Pilkington is a talented member of the HPI team and, like Steve, lives in Windber, PA. Nathan spent more time doing repair and remodeling work of older homes than new construction prior to becoming an inspector, which has given him unique insight into the evolution of building methods over the years. As Nathan manages SkyWest Airlines at the Johnstown Airport (a job that keeps him very busy) and works as Chief Cover Designer of the “Facsimile Project”– a large-scale project that helps get rare, older books back into print as part of his own family’s business, he primarily helps the team with larger inspection jobs as needed and on a part-time basis. He primarily helps Steve and other members of the team with larger inspection jobs as needed. Nathan loves to travel and has traveled across the country on numerous occasions, having visited all 48 continental states and camping along the way in places like the Redwood Forest, Yellowstone and the Oregon Dunes. He’s also a very skilled poker player and an excellent problem solver, and he loves kayaking and other outdoor activities, as well as spending time with his nieces and nephews.


Jacob Hill is Steve and Amy’s son and is currently in training to become a certified inspector and eventually join the HPI team. Jake is an honors student at Windber Area High School, a very talented soccer and basketball player, and passionate about outdoor life and fitness. At only 16 he still has a ways to go but, fortunately, more than enough time to learn the knowledge and skills it takes to be an outstanding inspector (it’s in his blood, after all). You may run into Jake at your inspection – provided Steve or Amy is also present – and you’re likely to see him working hard with his mom and dad.

WHAT SETS US APART

We realize there are other inspectors you could work with, and we’d like to take a moment to point out what sets us apart as we seek to earn your business.

You will receive your report(s) immediately, and our reports are clear, easy to understand, and include high-definition photos along with written observations, recommendations, and a concise summary. Most home inspectors’ reports contain countless check boxes and condition ratings that are overwhelming, confusing and difficult to weed through for the average client. On the contrary, our reports are a narrative style with simple written explanations, lots of pictures, and easy-to-understand example illustrations, making the report reading experience extremely simple and user-friendly.

We use state of the art technology during our inspections to ensure the most accurate reports possible. For example, we use a high quality drone for inspecting high or steep roofs, allowing us to see any roof in great detail. We also use a high-grade thermal imaging (infrared) camera to enable us to uncover defects not visible to the naked eye.

We charge no mileage fees within our large service area, and we proudly offer a military discount to all current and prior service members. We provide all of our home inspection clients with a free home maintenance guide, which you can save to reference as needs arise. We have a “call any time” policy, so our clients are free to call us any time, 24/7/365. If we can’t answer or respond immediately, we will respond as quickly as possible.

We provide all clients who opt for our premium inspection with a complimentary, zero deductible, FREE 90 Day Home Warranty through Residential Warranty Services to give you true peace of mind once the inspection has been completed and you’ve moved into your new home. Beyond the home warranty, we also provide all home inspection clients with three additional free protection plans: SewerGard, MoldSafe, and a 5-year Platinum Roof Protection Plan. For more information about these great plans, click here. 

So what, exactly, IS a home inspection?

A home inspection is primarily an unbiased, objective inspection of a home’s visible and readily accessible components that is intended to assist you before you make such a major investment. While your inspection report will provide a great deal of detailed and helpful information, it is not possible for a home inspection to uncover every possible defect of a home, as some portions are not visible and others may not be accessible or safe for inspection. For example, we will not be able to see behind walls, will not snake through plumbing lines, and will not be able to thoroughly inspect a snow covered roof in the middle of winter. A home inspection is also not a “pass” or “fail” of the home being inspected. As the client, you alone determine how significant any uncovered defects are to you.

With all the people involved with the real estate transaction, it is easy to become overwhelmed very quickly – especially if you are a first-time homebuyer. As your inspection company, we are one very important part of the entire process, but we are not real estate agents, attorneys, appraisers or insurance agents. For that reason, we do not comment on what those other professionals may or may not advise. For example, we will not be able to tell a client what the appraiser may flag on the appraisal or predict what defects may make the homeowners insurance premium increase. With all of that in mind, here’s what you can expect once your inspection is scheduled…

Prior to Your Inspection:

We will email you Inspection Agreements for each type of inspection you order. The agreements contain important information about what the inspections cover, legal terms, fees, and more. Please read the agreement(s) carefully and let us know if you have any questions. This is standard practice, and all agreements must be signed prior to any inspection services being provided. Upon receiving your agreement(s), you will have the opportunity to order additional inspections you may have not previously ordered. You, and typically your agent, will receive electronic reminders of your inspection date and time. While you are not required to attend your inspection, we strongly encourage you to join us near the end so we can walk you through the property and go over, in person, what will be on your report. We encourage and welcome any questions you may have and will take as much time as needed to answer them. Hiring a home inspector is an investment, not a mere expense, and we go to great lengths to thoroughly educate our clients before, during, and after an inspection. Your inspection(s) must be paid for on or before the date of the inspection. The inspection report(s) will be sent to you in PDF form and you will not be able to open and view your report(s) until full payment has been received. You will have the opportunity to pay in advance with a credit/debit card online, but you may also pay on the inspection date with a card, cash, or check. If you would like a hard copy of your report(s), let us know and we will gladly provide you with one. Once at the property, the inspection typically takes anywhere from a couple to a few hours, and may even take most of the day, depending on the size of the home, accessibility, whether additional inspections are being done, and other factors. The inspection will typically begin outside the property and end on the interior. If the client is present, we will conclude the inspection by discussing and summarizing the inspection findings before leaving the property. At that time, we will also ask you if you would like to schedule a discounted annual home maintenance checkup for the following year so you have priority of booking a time in advance. Your home is likely your biggest investment, and like your vehicle or your health it should be professionally checked annually as a form of preventative maintenance. This service is obviously not required but is strongly recommended to help you stay on top of your home’s needs and avoid unwanted surprises or costs.

Additional Benefits

As a courtesy to our clients who opt for our premium inspection, we submit appliance information to a service called RecallChek during the inspection to determine if there are any recalls that may need dealt with. Any potential recalls can be handled in-house and for free through the manufacturer. RecallChek is a free lifetime benefit! When you update any of your appliances, simply submit the new appliance information to RecallChek and you will be notified if any recalls on your new appliances ever arise.

If you are a premium home inspection client, we will send you a free home maintenance guide in PDF form and will enroll you in a free, zero deductible 90 day home warranty through Residential Warranty Services. In addition to the home warranty, you will also be automatically enrolled in the SewerGard, MoldSafe and 5-year Platinum Roof Protection Plans, completely free of charge! We also partner with a company called Porch to provide you with the Porch Home Assistant – a helpful service designed to assist homeowners in setting up a variety of common services and finding the right professionals to perform any home related jobs. As one of our clients, you can also take advantage of a very valuable service called Homeowners Resource, which connects you with a professional expert who can answer any home maintenance questions you ever have, completely free! Last but not least, we email you a list of trusted local contractors for virtually anything related to home repair so you will know who to call if and when the need arises and won’t have to spend countless hours searching and researching to find the right person/company for the job.

We invite you to call or email us with any questions any time after your services have been completed, and, as previously stated, you will have the opportunity to enroll in our reminder program for discounted future maintenance inspections – a program we strongly recommend. This is all part of our commitment to exceptional customer service and an expression of our appreciation for trusting us with your business!

In short, we don’t simply give you your inspection report and go on our way. Our job remains on-going after the inspection has been completed, and we strongly encourage you to contact us at any point after your inspection if you have any questions or simply need advice regarding your property, as we aim to build long-term, friendly relationships with our clients. We invite and encourage you to join us at the end of your inspection so you can see everything that’s inspected first-hand and we can go over the details together, in person. We very much look forward to working with you!

HOME INSPECTIONS As a member of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), one of the largest and most recognized inspection societies in the United States, we proudly adhere to established Standards of Practice and a strict Code of Ethics. Standards of Practice (SOP) define exactly what we are obligated to inspect, as well as what we are not obligated to inspect, so you know exactly what your inspection fee will be covering (at minimum) before the inspection takes place. While we are only required to perform inspections in accordance with the standards, we typically go above and beyond the standards and inspect more than what’s required in order to provide exceptional customer service. We strongly encourage you to carefully review the SOP prior to your inspection. To review the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics in detail, please click on the links below:

InterNACHI Standards of Practice
Code of Ethics

COMMERCIAL INSPECTIONS When performing commercial property inspections, we adhere to the InterNACHI Commercial Standards of Practice (comSOP) as we feel these standards provide the most clear expectations and best service to our business clients. To review the InterNACHI commercial Standards of Practice, please click on the link below: InterNACHI comSOP

ANNUAL HOME MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS We perform annual home maintenance inspections in accordance with InterNACHI’s SOP for Home Maintenance Checkups. To review the SOP, please click on the link below: InterNACHI Home Maintenance Checkup SOP

MOLD INSPECTIONS We perform mold inspections in accordance with the Standards of Practice of the International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants (IAC2) and are certified through IAC2. To review the IAC2 Standards of Practice, please click on the link below: IAC2 Mold SOP

HOME ENERGY INSPECTIONS We perform home energy inspections in accordance with the InterNACHI Standards of Practice for home energy inspections. To review the SOP, please click on the link below: InterNACHI Home Energy Inspection SOP If, after reviewing this information, any of the Standards of Practice we adhere to seem confusing or difficult to understand, please do not hesitate to contact us for further clarification. We want to ensure you have a clear understanding of the inspection process and what you’re paying for prior to hiring us.

Unsure of what inspections you need? In addition to a home inspection, we recommend that ALL clients have at least a WDO (pest/termite) inspection and a radon test done. In fact, HOME + PEST + RADON is our most popular inspection package. In addition, we strongly recommend adding a Home Energy Report for a small but very worthwhile fee. If the home you are having inspected is in a rural area and uses a well and septic system, we recommend also having a septic dye test and water analysis completed, even if these tests are not required by your lender. Visit the blue links on the Services & Pricing page and read the FAQ page for important information regarding these types of inspections. If you live in a newly built home, we recommend having an 11th Month Warranty Inspection done prior to your warranty expiring. For all clients, we strongly advise taking advantage of our Annual Home Maintenance Inspection each year, which provides you with continual peace of mind at a great price.