Home & Commercial Inspections in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
top rated Inspector
ACI Inspections Serving Fort Lauderdale & Surrounding Areas
Are you looking for a Fort Lauderdale home inspector? Our home inspections serve buyers and investors across Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods, including Las Olas Isles, Coral Ridge, Victoria Park, and waterfront communities along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Fort Lauderdale is famous for more than 165 miles of navigable waterways, allowing many homes to have private boat docks.
Top-Rated Home Inspection Services in Fort Lauderdale
ACI Inspections has been known for many years as the expert in the inspection field in Broward County. An inspector team of past contractors, ACI Inspections is the go-to team for local builders, engineers, top realtors, brokerages, and other home inspectors to diagnose complicated building science issues.
fort lauderdale
Home & Commercial Inspection Services
Property inspection services provided by ACI Inspections include:
Core Property Inspections
✓ Home inspections
✓ Commercial property inspections
✓ Luxury property inspections
✓ New construction phase inspections
Environmental, Health, & Diagnosis
✓ Indoor air quality
✓ Thermal imaging survey
✓ Mold spore testing
✓ WDO Inspections
Insurance & Compliance
✓ 4-Point inspection
✓ Wind mitigation inspection
✓ Roof certification
Specialied Services
✓ Swimming pool & spa inspections
✓ Sewer video inspections
Waterfront & Structural
✓ Seawall, Dock, & Pile Inspections
✓ Generator & Dock electrical inspections
Land & Preconstruction
✓ Geotechnical soil testing
✓ Design phase consult
Luxury Property Inspections
Waterfront home inspection Fort Lauderdale: Waterfront properties, luxury construction, and wealthy estates.
The most important systems and components of these properties are outside the scope of your average home inspection. The level of expertise needed is way beyond most inspectors and contractors. ACI Inspections has a team of ASHI inspectors, licensed contractors & engineers who specialize in diagnosing problems and inspecting luxury estates.
Areas where ACI Inspections’ services are considered crucial are Las Olas, Rio Vista, Harbor Beach, Harborage Isle, Bay Colony, Sea Ranch Lakes, Miami Beach, Fisher Island, & Lauderdale Beach in Fort Lauderdale.
Certified Home Inspections
Broward County home inspection service: Real estate home inspections for buyers of condos, first-time home buyers, buyers upgrading or moving in from out of state.
Experienced home buyers know not to go with the cheapest option or the inspector your realtor recommends. ACI Inspections stays true to the standard of practice and code of ethics of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
We have been the go-to inspectors for Pompano Beach, Coral Ridge, Victoria Park, Lighthouse Point, Parkland, Weston, Wilton Manors, Plantation, and Davie, in the greater Fort Lauderdale area.
Commercial Inspections or Property Condition Assessments
For all non-high-rise and non-40-year inspection services, ACI Inspections is the local property condition assessment company for commercial properties. Our team possesses the tools and experience needed to provide commercial inspections following ASTM guidelines and provide a 5-year cost breakdown.
We specialize in the many beachside small hotels in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Pompano Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. We have inspected many commercial properties throughout Plantation, Coral Springs, Sunrise, Coconut Creek, Miramar, and Pembroke Pines, throughout Broward County.
Pre-listing Home Inspections
More and more, great realtors want to have a solid strategy before listing properties for sale. Look no further than ACI Inspections, the only home inspection company in the greater Fort Lauderdale area training realtors to offer this strategy.
We have taught real estate licensing classes on pre-listing inspection strategies at the offices of Compass and ONE Sotheby’s Intl. Realty, Re/max, Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, Miami Association of Realtors, Broward-Miami Realtors Association, & the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors Association.
Indoor Air Quality Testing
This is truly our service to the community, as we are able to provide this service at a fraction of the typical cost. For the most part, having VOC air testing performed is simply cost-prohibitive for homeowners and home buyers. This is a service generally accessible on a large-scale industrial application, but needs to be accessible to homeowners due to the frequent cases of hazardous air quality affecting families nationwide. We perform this service throughout the greater Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.
Thermal Imaging Building Survey
ACI Inspections provides infrared inspection services for residential and commercial buildings. We use high-cost equipment (Flir E75 cameras) to detect issues or causes that are unseen to the eye. This service is requested to locate the source of moisture intrusion, locate electrical issues, and troubleshoot ventilation, insulation, and air conditioning problems. These problems are common throughout the greater Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.
Mold Inspection and Testing
ACI Inspections provides mold inspections and testing to help South Florida residents and commercial building owners get to the bottom of suspected mold issues. Mold reports based on spore count are often inconclusive and misleading. This testing is often done at inflated costs and used to promote unneeded mold remediation. Misleading mold testing is extremely common in the greater Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.
New Construction Home Inspections
ACI Inspections has been working closely with the top luxury builders and architects in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding area. We also frequently represent new home buyers in inspecting newly constructed homes before real estate closing. We strongly recommend our Phase I, II, and III inspections for property owners who’ve hired an architect and builder to perform a custom build. Builders who want to be known as top-quality builders hire our Fort Lauderdale team to perform Phase inspection, quality control, and certification from ACI Inspections.
Specialized Inspections In Fort Lauderdale
Residential and commercial properties in the greater Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas have components prone to failure or high-cost repairs.
Here is a list of services and areas where they are frequently needed:
- Sewer video inspections: Residential properties in Imperial Point, Pompano Beach, Coral Ridge, Victoria Park, Rio Vista, Las Olas, Lighthouse Point, Wilton Manors, Plantation, & throughout Fort Lauderdale.
- 4-Point, Wind Mitigation, & Roof Certification inspections: Residential properties throughout Miami and Broward counties require having these performed when renewing, changing, or requesting insurance coverage. When replacing a roof or windows, or to prove there is still life left on a roof that is being questioned by the insurance provider. Need a hurricane inspection in Florida? Call ACI Inspections.
- Swimming Pool Inspections: In many Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods, almost every home has a swimming pool. ACI Inspections is trusted to inspect the condition and maintenance of your swimming pool, confirming that your pool maintenance company is doing right by you as the homeowner.
- WDO Inspections: Termites are a major concern to home & commercial building owners throughout the greater Fort Lauderdale area. ACI Inspections often performs termite inspections in the following neighborhoods: Pompano Beach, Coral Ridge, Victoria Park, Rio Vista, Las Olas, Lighthouse Point, Harborage Isle, Bay Colony, Lighthouse Point, Sea Ranch Lakes, Lauderdale Beach, & throughout Fort Lauderdale.
- Seawall, Dock, & Pile Inspections: Fort Lauderdale has been called the Venice of America due to the vast waterways installed by the U.S. Marine Corps. All of these “boat accessible” properties have seawalls that require maintenance and eventual replacement. Call ACI Inspections to have our seawall engineer inspect your seawall, dock, and piles.
- Elevator Inspections: ACI Inspections is your source for Florida-licensed elevator inspections. Many multi-story townhomes in Fort Lauderdale have installed elevators, as well as many luxury properties. Areas where ACI Inspections performs frequent elevator inspections: Las Olas, Rio Vista, Harborage Isle, Bay Colony, Coral Ridge, Lighthouse Point, Sea Ranch Lakes, & Lauderdale Beach, & Fort Lauderdale.
- Generator & Dock Electrical Inspections: Many residential and commercial properties in the greater Fort Lauderdale area are located along the extensive water canal system, which creates a “boater’s paradise” and the “South Florida lifestyle”. It is extremely important that marine electrical systems are safe from electrocution hazards and the potential to damage boat electrical systems. ACI Inspections provides a master marine electrical contractor to inspect these and other outdoor electrical systems.
Why Property Inspections Matter in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Attracts Many Home Buyers
Who likes to buy in Fort Lauderdale? Just a few names that come to mind are tennis legend Chris Evert, David Cassidy, Dan Marino, Kevin Hart, and Dwayne Johnson. The Fort Lauderdale lifestyle and boat life can be irresistible to high-end buyers of luxury properties. Many of these and other notable residents have hired ACI Inspections to help represent their property investment interests.
The Fort Lauderdale Port Everglades alone generates over $28 billion in economic activity and supports more than 200,000 jobs. Home to the largest annual boat show in the world.
Flood Zones and Home Inspections in Fort Lauderdale
Many homes lie within Special Flood Hazard Areas requiring flood insurance. Low elevation, extensive canal systems, heavy rainfall events, and the possibility of hurricane storm surge cause this.
“King tide” events can cause flooding even without rain. This causes water to flow back through drainage systems, which seasonally floods some streets and at times will flood some garages and damage vehicles.
Common Home Inspection Findings in Fort Lauderdale Neighborhoods
In Las Olas, we inspected a luxury waterfront home with a brand new $100,000 concrete dock, only to find that the seawall underneath is badly in need of replacement. The entire newly constructed dock had to be removed, and both the seawall and dock were replaced. So glad ACI Inspections was called!
In a Bay Colony luxury estate in the general Coral Ridge area, a famous architect designed a meandering river-rock shower in the primary bathroom. Thermal imaging revealed that a moisture barrier was not installed behind the river rock and grout; when running the shower for an extended period, water came through the office ceiling below. So glad a thermal imaging survey was requested!
A prominent luxury residential builder hired ACI Inspections to consult with their construction manager and architect before starting construction in Harbor Beach, Lauderdale Beach, and the Las Olas Isles. It was recommended to install a paint-on moisture barrier covering all blockwork from the footing to the roof bond beam. It was also recommended to install flashing under door thresholds and window sills. This started a new wave of leak-free new construction resistant to the more intense tropical storms that have been occurring. The reputation of this builder, as well as their confidence in their design and construction quality, increased tremendously.
Two of the wealthiest families in Fort Lauderdale hired ACI Inspections to inspect their estates in Rio Vista. One of these families was helped to navigate a $500,000 window replacement and a $750,000 roof replacement that was needed. Adjustments were made to the crawlspace insulation and the HVAC systems, which eliminated the growing moisture damage, high humidity, and mold problems.
A local investor hired ACI Inspections to perform all recommended inspections in a series of Victoria Park rental properties he was purchasing. Collapsed underground sewer pipes were located; non-visible termite damage inside walls was suggested; and site drainage problems were identified, resulting in seasonal leakage into the downstairs living area of one building. After repairs were performed, we had a client for life, as all non-visible issues that were called out were, in fact, a problem.
Why Choose ACI Inspections in Fort Lauderdale
Choosing the right home inspector in Fort Lauderdale is not simply about completing a checklist—it is about understanding how coastal climate, hurricane exposure, high humidity, and waterfront construction systems affect a property over time. In South Florida’s complex real estate environment, buyers and homeowners benefit significantly from working with inspectors who bring both formal certification and deep, field-tested construction experience.
ACI Inspections provides a distinct advantage in the Fort Lauderdale market as a team built around ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) certification standards, widely regarded as one of the most rigorous professional benchmarks in the home inspection industry. ASHI-certified inspectors are required to demonstrate extensive field experience, adhere to a strict code of ethics, and maintain continuing education—ensuring inspections are performed with consistency, accuracy, and professionalism.
ASHI-Certified Expertise with a Multi-Inspector Advantage
ACI Inspections stands apart in South Florida by offering a three-inspector ASHI-based team approach, providing clients with a depth of expertise rarely available from a single inspector.
- Michael Gaurnier, ACI – Founder and ASHI Certified Inspector, setting the standard for inspection quality, reporting accuracy, and structural evaluation methodology across the organization.
- Maurice Phaneuf, ACI – Senior inspector with extensive construction experience, known for a balanced and highly knowledgeable evaluation style grounded in real-world building systems expertise.
- Mike Heffner – Licensed home inspector with 15 years of inspection experience and 40 years in contracting, building, and remodeling, offering unmatched insight into how homes are actually constructed, repaired, and modified over time.
- Tony Valles – Trained for over a decade directly under Michael Gaurnier, managing inspection operations while developing a reputation as a South Florida specialist in luxury property inspections, environmental assessment, and coastal building performance.
This layered team structure allows ACI Inspections to combine ASHI-level technical rigor with practical construction intelligence, providing Fort Lauderdale buyers with a more complete understanding of property condition than a standard single-inspector model.
Local Fort Lauderdale Knowledge That Matters
Fort Lauderdale presents unique inspection challenges that require local expertise, including:
-
- Hurricane wind resistance and roof system integrity
- Flood zone and drainage system performance
- Salt-air corrosion of mechanical and electrical systems
- Waterfront seawall and dock conditions
- Moisture intrusion and mold risk in high-humidity environments
- Aging mid-century construction and renovation quality
ACI Inspections evaluates these systems with a building-science-based approach tailored specifically to coastal South Florida conditions, helping buyers understand not just visible defects, but long-term performance risks.
Trusted by South Florida Homeowners and Buyers
Clients throughout South Florida consistently value the team’s professionalism and communication style:
-
- Tony Valles is frequently recognized for his exceptional technical depth, environmental assessment insight, and expertise in luxury waterfront properties, making him a trusted advisor for high-value Fort Lauderdale real estate.
- Maurice Phaneuf is appreciated for his calm, friendly, and non-alarmist approach, delivering thorough evaluations without unnecessary stress or exaggeration.
- Mike Heffner is known for his efficient inspection process and timely, well-organized reporting, ensuring clients receive actionable information quickly during fast-moving real estate transactions.
The ACI Advantage in Fort Lauderdale Real Estate
When an ASHI Certified Inspector (ACI) performs a home inspection, buyers gain more than a report—they gain a professionally validated assessment aligned with national inspection standards and reinforced by decades of combined construction experience.
In a market like Fort Lauderdale, where properties face elevated risks from hurricanes, flooding, and coastal wear, this level of expertise provides a meaningful advantage. ACI Inspections delivers clarity, confidence, and technical precision—helping buyers make informed decisions in one of the nation’s most competitive and complex housing markets.
Areas We Serve Near Fort Lauderdale
Our areas of service include:
- Las Olas Isles
- Coral Ridge
- Pompano Beach
- Lighthouse Point
- Parkland
- Davie
- Plantation
- Rio Vista
- Victoria Park
- Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
- Wilton Manors
- Weston
- Harbor Beach
- Lauderdale Beach
- Harborage Isle
- Plantation
- Coral Springs
- Sunrise
- Margate
- Sea Ranch Lakes
- Bay Colony
- Fisher Island
- Oakland Park
- Hollywood
- Hallandale Beach
- Aventura
- Sunny Isles Beach
- Miami Beach
- Key Biscayne
- Star Island
- Bal Harbour
- Surfside
- Cooper City
- Pembroke Pines
- Miramar
- Coral Gables
Schedule Your Inspection in the Fort Lauderdale Area Today
Construction Issues Common to Fort Lauderdale Homes
Call ACI Inspections to find:
Homes must withstand:
- High UV exposure
- Hurricane winds
- Tropical rainfall
Common roof issues:
- Worn tile roofs
- Improperly installed hurricane clips
- Underlayment deterioration
Salt air can corrode:
- Electrical panels
- HVAC equipment
- Fasteners and connectors
- Exterior metals
Subtropical humidity means:
- Attic ventilation is critical
- Improper insulation traps moisture
- Poorly sealed windows cause leaks
Many Fort Lauderdale homes were built between 1950-1975.
Inspection concerns:
- Aluminum branch wiring
- Cast iron plumbing
- Older seawalls
- Aging flat roofs
In canal neighborhoods, you may inspect:
- Seawall integrity
- Dock structures
- Bulkhead deterioration
- Erosion along canals
Schedule a Home or Commercial Inspection Service in Fort Lauderdale
Reach out for a custom quote, and we’ll help you get your inspection scheduled.