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Get to Know Us

We are committed to providing the highest level of service in our industry for an unparalleled inspection experience and result. We strive to become your trusted resource for building related concerns.

Company Overview

Chicago Building Inspections (CBI) was founded in 2015 but has a deep background in all things real estate. We’ve been providing expert-level building inspections since 2008 – earning a solid reputation as one of the most thorough in Chicagoland. We have extensive experience with the rigors of running both single and multi-inspector firms and have a substantial quantity of recommendations on many social media outlets around the web.

CBI inspectors are not tire-kickers; we are extremely thorough, efficient, and fair. We have well over 250 yrs of collective experience and much of that is deep in the trenches. Our fees reflect the effort it takes to stay on top of the ever-changing world of construction materials and methods of installing them. It is a rare week when we’re not in communication with trusted tradespeople to get a better understanding of something new we’ve seen or want to investigate further.

We have inspected thousands of buildings and units over the past decade and uncovered volumes full of building practices we wish we’d never seen. However, that’s what has helped motivate us to become tenacious inspectors, looking for what others may not even know is missing. Having passed the gauntlet of energy auditing and surveys via RESNET and BPI, extensive HVAC and thermal imaging training, and countless moisture intrusion inspections and investigations, we are prepared to help you understand what lies ahead.

We are a family first small company that supports each other in every endeavor. When someone hires CBI, they hire all of us to support them in any way we can.

Our Team

We’ve assembled one of the sharpest groups of inspectors in our area, bar none. From significant residential development complexes that were once a cornfield up to the high rise condo building a stone’s throw from the Hancock, we’ve seen just about all there is in our respective fields. Having two licensed architects and an engineer on staff only bolsters our confidence in helping clients receive the best and most pertinent information we can uncover.

  • Ross Neag, Founder/Inspector

    Ross Neag

    Founder

    Solid home inspectors usually become so by accident and Ross is no different. A lifelong Chicagoan, his journey started in the late 90’s working for a master carpenter and skilled general contractor in South Carolina before returning to Chicago in 1999. Since that time, he's renovated nearly 20 homes before helping build his own in 2005.

    Along the way, he's completed curricula through RESNET, Building Performance Institute, and National Comfort Institute (HVAC); become a Level 1 Thermographer, a HAAG certified residential and commercial roof consultant, DCW Engineering commercial inspector, Roof Consultants Institute, voting member of the American Society for Testing & Materials, and a panelist for Chicago Bungalow Association; appeared on the Science Channel's Strip the City, WBBM Radio, and WGN News; and given numerous moisture intrusion and HOA presentations locally. He's performed well over 5,000 inspections since 2007 and helps keep the CBI team as sharp as possible.

  • Andrew Danner, Managing Partner

    Andrew Danner

    Managing Partner

    Andrew's career in the real estate industry began in the 80′s while managing construction, sales and leasing of condominiums and apartments in the Madison, Wisconsin area. After moving to Illinois in 1994, he progressed through the ranks at a mid-sized, Chicago area development company ultimately managing land development, construction management, sales and service of single and multi-family homes in communities throughout the area.

    He has participated in thousands of home inspections, walk-throughs, and customer service inspections on both sides of the equation, and has also developed custom homes through his own company in the North suburbs of Deerfield and Lake Forest, as well as numerous condominium remodeling projects in Chicago high-rise buildings. He currently sits as a condominium association board member of a 131 unit Chicago high-rise building in the Streeterville neighborhood helping provide a well-rounded perspective in client relations.

    Andrew's emphasis in customer relations and satisfaction is through a hands-on and unwavering dedication to client success.

  • Morgan Hughes, Field Supervisor/Inspector

    Morgan Hughes

    Field Supervisor / Inspector

    Morgan has been in the home construction, building and real estate industry for 17 years. He has a broad base of knowledge ranging from frame carpentry to the building and design of new construction, as well as the renovation of older homes.

    Since 2013, he has focused his expertise to the field of home inspection. In that time, he has performed well over 2000 home inspections and continues to be highly demanded.

    Morgan has a reputation of professionalism, diligence, and attention to detail and is highly respected among his colleagues, clients and other real estate professionals. He is dedicated to providing each and every client with the information they need when making such an important personal and financial investment.

  • Dave Chojnowski, Engineer/Inspector

    Dave Chojnowski

    Engineer / Inspector

    Over the past 25 years, Dave has worked in a variety of laboratory, research, manufacturing, and engineering facilities, and has a broad set of skills and hands-on experience. Growing up in a family that owned a construction company lead to a life-long passion for understanding everything about buildings.

    During his high school years, he worked on construction sites on weekends and after school, learning electrical, carpentry, plumbing, masonry, roofing, and everything else in between. After completing both a Bachelors of Science and a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Dave started his professional career working as a project engineer at Caterpillar. From there, he moved on to a scientific appointment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This was followed by a Senior Research Engineer/Director position at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

    A keen student of all things masonry, Dave can often be found maintaining or renovating one of his rental properties in the city of Chicago. He is a licensed home inspector in the State of Illinois, and his broad skillset and wealth of knowledge across many industries make him a valued member of the CBI Team.

  • Christi Malone, Inspector/Architect

    Christi Malone

    Inspector / Licensed Architect

    Christi has over 25 years experience in architecture and construction, and has developed a keen awareness of residential systems over the years. After graduating from Arizona State University in 1996 with a Master of Architecture degree, Christi worked on a variety of residential, commercial, and educational projects. She has consulted professionally, lectured at the university level, and was a partner in an award-winning architecture firm in New Mexico.

    Christi has been inspecting in Chicagoland for over five years, combining her extensive experience in residential architecture, construction and inspecting to provide the highest level of quality home inspection and analysis. She is a licensed architect and a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) specializing in issues of environmental health and sustainability. She is a member of ASHI and InterNachi home inspection organizations.

    As a mother of two, her goal has always been to dramatically improve the health and safety of the home, work, and school environments. Christi enjoys running, camping, hiking, and cooking with her family in the western suburbs.

  • Xavier Enriquez, Inspector/Drone Operator

    Xavier Enriquez

    Inspector / Licensed FAA Drone Operator

    Xavier transitioned into the home inspection field in 2013 and has performed well over a 1,000 inspections since. He has developed a reputation for being professional, insightful, detailed and approachable. To inform and educate the client in the best possible way is his goal each and every time. Always happy to help, Isac is easy to reach and excited to inspect.

    Xavier is bi-lingual in Spanish, has construction experience and a degree in art education. These skills and knowledge allow him to help clarify issues or concerns on various levels and languages suited to the client’s needs.

    Always an inquisitive mind and community participant, Xavier has received various awards and accolades for his work in the community and art education. Ranging from such honors as a Fulbright Scholarship, being a Kathryn Wasserman Projects for Peace recipient, and various others.

  • Ken Whitelaw, Inspector/Drone Operator

    Ken Whitelaw

    Inspector / Licensed FAA Drone Operator

    Ken grew up on a horse farm where there was always something to maintain or fix to keep things running smoothly. At a relatively young age, he developed a knack for taking things apart and figuring out what was wrong with them. This lead to an interest in home renovation in his mid-twenties, and he eventually turned a part-time handyman side hustle into his own handyman services company. Over the years, his services consistently won awards for exceptional quality.

    Eight years ago, at the insistence of a client, Ken got his home inspector's license. Over that time, he has performed around 1,700 inspections. He focuses on providing clients with knowledge they can use to make an informed decision about one of the largest purchases they'll every make—their home. He's thorough, unbiased and not some Chicken Little who thinks that every minor defect is a 'sky is falling' scenario.

    What you'll receive from Ken, and all of CBI's inspectors, is an inspection and report designed to help you with your decision. He prides himself on always being available to help clients review the report and answer any questions (no matter how difficult) that might come up.

  • Molly Hughes, Operations Manager

    Molly Hughes

    Operations Manager

    Molly is the office manager for CBI. After 10 years of being at home and managing a family, as well as starting and growing a personal chef and catering business, she went back to work in the title insurance industry. After two years in that field, she came on board with CBI to manage the daily office needs of the growing company.

    Molly loves to work with the variety of clients that CBI serves – first time buyers to experienced owners who have purchased many times before. She has a love for real estate, client service and satisfaction, and is happy to marry the two in her role with CBI.

  • Robert Munguia, Inspector/Architect

    Robert Munguia

    Inspector / Licensed Architect

    Robert has over 26 years of extensive experience in Architecture, specializing in commercial interior projects. He worked on projects in sectors such as corporate, medical and dental, banking, retail, manufacturing, and warehousing, both nationally and internationally. He has participated in Malcomb Baldridge National Quality Award and Iso 900 Initiatives and was a member of the Construction Specification Institute with certifications as a Construction Document Technologist and Certified Construction Contract Administrator. He currently maintains his license as an architect in the State of Illinois.

    Robert is a native resident of Chicago and since 2008 he has focused his efforts in the residential sector both architecturally and in the home inspection industry. He is a passionate practitioner and is committed to performing inspections that will provide relevant information to assist the home purchaser in making an informed decision regarding one of the most important purchases one can make in a lifetime.

    He enjoys spending time with family and friends and truly believes in serving others. Helping clients obtain a home is what gives Robert complete job satisfaction.

  • Scott Smith, Inspector

    Scott Smith

    Inspector

    Scott Smith has been in the inspection business since 1998, and performing residential, commercial, and investment property inspections for nearly 20 years. Experience and depth of knowledge is at the core of the services we provide to our clients, and Scott is certified by InterNachi for non-invasive evaluations in specialized areas such as WDO, Moisture Intrusion, and Stucco/EIFS—in addition to having the broader understanding of the built environment that has come from his years in the field. His reputation has been built on providing a positive and engaged experience for his clients throughout the Greater Chicago Area. Never one to be complacent, his mantra has become, “I’m only as good as the inspection I’m performing for YOU—right now.”

  • Don Neag, Inspector/Radon Specialist

    Don Neag

    Licensed Radon Professional

    Don is a life-long resident of the Chicago area except for a couple of years in California and going to college in Georgia where he graduated with an engineering degree from Georgia Tech. He was a part of the Information Tech industry from right out college until his retirement.

    In 2016, Don started the Chicago Radon Testing, Inc. company as a badly needed service to help make Chicagoland housing safe for residents. In the past six years, he has placed 1000’s of radon monitors in homes, commercial buildings and schools all across the greater Chicagoland area. He is a licensed radon measurement professional and is a member of AARST, the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technicians.

  • Tammy Reidy, Operations

    Tammy Reidy

    Operations

    A native of River Forest, IL, Tammy graduated from OPRF high school and went on to obtain a bachelor's degree from Bradley University in international business followed by a MBA in finance from Loyola University. After her studies, she spent two years living and working in the Cayman Islands. Upon returning to the US, she worked as a Property Manager for 300 apartment units while obtaining her real estate license and actively working as a residential broker.

    After many years she followed her heart and opened a boutique in Chicago followed by an exercise studio in Elmhurst where she lives to this day. After spending 10 years staying home to raise her family, now that her two daughters are older she decided it was time to return to the work force, so she joined the team of Chicago Building Inspections in February of 2022. Tammy's interests including reading, nature, travel and all things metaphysical.

  • Hassan Adams, Radon Specialist

    Hassan Adams

    Licensed Radon Professional

    Hassan brings over a decade of experience in customer relations to the radon testing field. Most recently in the space of retail pharmacy, Hassan enjoys cultivating relationships with clients and helping them along the path towards better health. While most people would never dream of purchasing a home without having an inspection performed first, a surprising number neglect to test for something you can't see but could have serious ramifications: radon and its decay products. Hassan loves the opportunity to help make people make more informed decisions in their home buying and identifying trouble that may otherwise be overlooked.

  • CBI Team Member

    Jonathan Smith

    Inspector / Master HVAC (retired)

    Son of a carpenter contractor, Jonathan grew up helping his father (as early as 5 years old), working full time on vacations and summer breaks and after high school, building houses, additions and general remodeling. During his construction career Jonathan focused on energy efficiency and safety, leading him in to a career change into the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) field. For over 40 years Jonathan has grown a successful HVAC business in the North Shore suburbs and is passing the business on to his daughter and son in law.

    While in the HVAC and construction industries, Jonathan has helped hundreds of clients improve the health of their homes, improve the safety and comfort all while reducing energy consumption. As an HVAC contractor, his company worked with all aspects of construction, heating, air conditioning, ventilation, safety, comfort, indoor air quality, electric, plumbing, insulation and building construction.

    The transition to home inspector is a natural progression. The experience in the construction industry over a lifetime has helped his understanding and expertise in the building as a system, not just individual parts. His goal has always been to help the client. He grew his business by word of mouth and great customer service. Now his goal as an inspector is to help home owners and business owners make the best decision on purchasing their next home or building.

    Jonathan's personal interests (beyond Building Science): Woodworking, Cycling, Hiking, Sailing, Kayaking, Camping and just about everything outdoors.

Organizations We Support

We didn’t succeed by ourselves and support several local charities including The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Adoption Center of Illinois, PAWS, (Habitat for Humanity) and St Jude’s Research Hospital.

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