3 Minutes on a Park Bench with Master Builder and Founder/Owner of House Health, Giles Griffiths,

Master Builder and Founder/Owner of House Health, Giles Griffiths, tells the Patch his favorite part about working in the Northern Virginia community and explains why frequent inspections are so beneficial in preserving the value and integrity of a home.

Patch: What services does House Health offer?

Giles: House Health is a new offering servicing the Northern Virginia area that provides seasonal, cost-efficient exterior home inspections. Our team of experts inspect the exterior of your home and provide a full report with images and a list of problem areas to help homeowners proactively stay ahead of unexpected issues that can arise, often resulting in costly maintenance and repairs.

Patch: Where did the idea for House Health come from or what was the inspiration behind the company?

Giles: After 20 years in the homebuilding industry, I have seen common and recurring problems that, while obvious to me, are not to homeowners. I came to the realization that these problems often go unnoticed, worsen over time and result in costly repairs. So now I am bringing this knowledge base to homeowners who want to be proactive about maintaining their home, correcting small problems before they turn into larger, more expensive issues, and helping to preserve what is often one’s largest investment.

Patch: What types of problems do you often see?

Giles: I often see issues that are unintentionally created by other trades that the homeowner isn’t aware of – such as poor back drainage causing water incursion into a finished basement; a damaged gable screen allowing birds or squirrels to nest in an attic; or a simple detached downspout damaging the siding of the house. What starts as a minimal fix escalates into a several thousand-dollar repair, and an unwanted stress to our busy lives.

Patch: Why do you think these types of issues occur?

Giles: I have realized that there are two main factors that get in the way of this basic maintenance – knowledge and time. Lives are so busy today that we often forget or neglect to stop and take look around. And quite often, even if someone does have the knowledge base to identify problem areas, it can be months and months due to our busy schedules before we get around to resolving the issue.

Patch: Do you also inspect the interior of a home?

Giles: No, our focus is solely on the exterior as it is continually exposed to the elements and therefore the most vulnerable part of the home.

Patch: Beside the inspection service, does House Health provide any preventative services for homeowners?

Giles: In order to remain objective and ensure we gain our clients' trust, we do not actually do any repair work. Homeowners are free to use their own handyman or building expert. Should a client need a reference, we are happy to help guide them in the right direction.

Patch: Why are frequent inspections so beneficial to the health and value of a home?

Giles: Each season brings it's own challenges - from insect infestation in summers, water damage in the spring and fall, and snow and ice damage in winter - often resulting in problems that are easy to fix if caught early. Because of this, we highly recommend seasonal inspections to ensure you stay ahead of any potential problems and save money. If you feel seasonal inspections are too frequent, we also offer bi-annual and annual inspections.

Patch: Can you tell us a little bit about the reports the homeowners will receive?

Giles: Homeowners will receive a detailed report with images and descriptions of the problem areas, and an action list of what needs to be done to remedy each problem. The report will be sent via email within 24 hours of the inspection.

Patch: Can you tell us about your background?

Giles: I am a class A master builder with more than 20 years of experience in custom homebuilding. I started in the UK working on historic home preservation, and brought that expertise and knowledge to the States. Since then I have been building, preserving and maintaining custom homes throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC.

Patch: What is your favorite part about working in the Northern Virginia area?

Giles: The Northern Virginia area is incredibly unique, from the obvious government influence to the amazing entrepreneurial spirit that exists, coupled with the cultural diversity of the area, which I love.

Patch: What is your favorite part about your job?

Giles: Leaving a job and client knowing we have done the best job possible, and sleeping well because of it!

Patch: What is the best business advice you have ever received and who gave it to you?

Giles: “Would you do it that way if it was your mother’s house?” This is a question I ask myself on every job, which was instilled in me, early on, by my master builder mentor in the UK.

Patch: How can readers contact you or find out more about House Health?

Giles: That’s simple! To learn more or subscribe, homeowners can visit our website at Househealthinc.com or email us at info@househealthinc.com.