Capital Property Inspection Service, LLC is a veteran-owned, comprehensive property inspection service
offering licensed and insured residential inspection and commercial property inspection. Capital Property
Inspection Service is also a Certified FHA 203(k) Consultant. Capital Property Inspection Service, LLC is
also licensed as an FAA Part 107 Unmanned Aircraft Pilot approved to do drone reconnaissance of land,
utility rights-of-way, and other related aerial services.
Establishing the firm after 18 years of respected state service, Dale Gunter, PE, CEO, has over forty-six
years of design and construction experience as a licensed Civil / Sanitary Engineer, which includes sixteen
years in private consulting engineering doing subdivision development and site development for multi-family
and commercial property developments, and municipal street and drainage improvements, thirteen years in
municipal government administering design and construction contracts for public funded street and drainage
projects.
Dale dedicated sixteen years as the Chief of the Construction, Engineering and Real Estate Division of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as the Commission’s only licensed civil engineer, administering design and construction contracts over the entire state of Arkansas for renovation and expansion of fish hatcheries, nature centers, regional offices, dams, bridges, boating accesses, and other conservation related projects, and two years of experience with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Division of Building Authority, regarding operation and maintenance of state buildings. He also self-contracted construction of his own lakeside Heritage steel home in 2002, designing such unique features as a master suite that encompasses a full third of the home, with his and her baths, his and her large walk-in closets, sunroom overlooking the lake, two loft areas with two spiral staircases in the great room, a then-novel steel roofing system, and a laundry room in the master suite.
As a past president of the Association of Conservation Engineers and recipient of the 2015 Carl V. Garner Award, Dale has held a deep respect and abiding passion since a boy growing up in the rolling hills of Missouri for the outdoors and its proper stewardship. A lifelong bass fisherman, Dale is a proud owner of a BassCat boat, participating in countless bass tournaments that have raised tens of thousands of dollars for worthwhile charities, ranging from children’s hospitals to assistance for veterans. Dale considers it a privilege to serve for several years now as a volunteer boat captain with Wounded Warriors / Fishing With Heroes, an outreach benefitting those who have sacrificed for this great country. When you come visit Dale at Capital Place in Fairfield Bay, you’ll be met with a waving American flag. Dale is honored to offer a 10% discount for active duty military personnel and veterans of all the American armed services with current military ID or DD Form DD 214, law enforcement officers, firemen, first responders, and EMS personnel, including those who are reserve law enforcement officers and volunteer fire and first responders with proof of identification.
Dale and his wife Mary Anne have been a blended family for nearly thirty years. They met in 1988 when they were both divorced, single parents raising one young child each. They are active in the Church at Rock Creek in Little Rock, and have led ReEngage, a marriage ministry through Watermark Church, of Dallas, as well as co-led Merge, a ReEngage ministry for premarried couples. Dale’s wife Mary Anne is a marriage & family therapist pursuing her Ph.D. Her private counseling practice, Sincera Wellness, LLC (www.sincerawellness.net), holds office space in the Capital Place building as well. Dale is proud to have watched his family grow into a fleet of serious boat owners, the youngest a six year-old granddaughter who he has already introduced to her own kayak. They have adopted, fostered, and spoiled useless a succession of six basset hounds over the years. Get Dale talking about fishing, granddaughters, or dogs, pull up a chair, for you’ll be there for awhile. His wife says, “Shhh….this professional southern gentleman is really just a big puppy.” And speaking of dogs, come visit Roscoe, Capital Property Inspection's resident mascot, a no-kill shelter pit bull terrier adoptee who outshines his "dreaded label" by being a shy, sweet boy who has a doctorate in napping and Frisbees.
Should a home buyer hire a home inspector?
Yes. Purchasing a home is the single largest investment many people make in their lives – as well as the most naïve. Lacking construction knowledge, they associate quality construction with superficial features like crown molding, hardwood floors, granite countertops, etc. The reality is these features are only aesthetic. The true quality of a home is reflected by what lies beneath these amenities. What is important is the structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and other components. This is why hiring a Licensed Professional Home Inspector is important. A licensed and objective home inspection report gives the home buyer an unbiased assessment of the actual condition of the property on the day the inspection is made. Home inspectors come from many different design and construction-related backgrounds such as architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and other related backgrounds, but all are required by the Arkansas Home Inspection Board to complete an 80-hour classroom training class for home inspectors approved by the Arkansas Department of Education, pass the National Home Inspector Exam and the Arkansas Home Inspection Ethics Exam to become licensed as a Professional Home Inspector. As a result, each home inspector will have specific areas where they possess special expertise.
As a Civil Engineer, my particular areas of expertise are in the foundation, structural, and plumbing components of the structure. Typically, the fee for a comprehensive home inspection is less than 0.1% of the cost of purchasing a home. I invite and encourage all my clients to accompany me on my home inspections so they can ask questions and any findings can be explained firsthand during the inspection. I always advocate for a client to be informed and prepared.
But what if I'm buying a brand new home?
Yes, a home inspection is one of the most important factors of a home purchase. Even though a home is brand-new, that does not necessarily mean it is flawless. The very best home builders can sometimes overlook some details in completing a new home project. A home inspector can help the client to identify these details, so they can be corrected before the purchase process is completed. On the other hand, some homebuilders who primarily deal in constructing “spec” homes may intentionally try to cut corners that might compromise the quality of the home to increase their profit on the new home being purchased. A home inspector can help the client to identify these defects.
Is a pre-sale home inspection important for a seller?
It is very important. A pre-sale inspection can reveal to the seller conditions they can correct before listing the property, enhancing its value and appeal to a buyer and to expedite the sale. It can also reveal conditions that require attention, but might be better left for the buyer to decide how they want to make the correction. In this case, the seller can anticipate providing an allowance to a buyer. Finally, there may be some conditions the seller simply wants to sell “as is”.
I'm buying a condo or townhouse. Should I hire a home inspector?
Yes. A condominium is a special type of home where the owner owns the air space (interior) of the unit, but the building and grounds that make up the condominium development are owned by the condominium owners’ association. A professional home inspector can help the client identify what he is responsible for and what features are the responsibility of the condominium owners’ association.
In summary,
A Professional Home Inspector should never be viewed by a realtor, buyer, or seller as a “deal buster”. His responsibility is to simply apprise his client of the condition of the home or commercial building they are buying or selling on the day the inspection is made in accordance with the American Society of Home Inspectors Standard of Practice for Home Inspections and the Code of Ethics for the home inspection profession.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Structural Design and Analysis) – University of Missouri – Rolla
Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Sanitary / Public Works Mgt.) – University of Missouri – Rolla
(The University of Missouri – Rolla was re-named the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2008)
ABC Home Inspection Institute
Arkansas Real Estate School
Professional Licensure:
Arkansas Professional Engineer #4540
Arkansas Home Inspector #1959
FAA UAS Remote Pilot #4135798
Certified FHA 203(k) Consultant ID# - D1146
Professional Memberships:
American Society of Civil Engineers
Past President, Association of Conservation Engineers
American Society of Home Inspectors
Fairfield Bay Chamber of Commerce
Fairfield Bay Merchant's Association
Fairfield Bay Rotary Club - President Elect
Greers Ferry Chamber of Commerce
Volunteer Boat Captain, Greers Ferry Westside Eagles High School Fishing Team
Volunteer Boat Captain, Fishing With Heroes
