About The Inspector:

James DeGraw

A man taking a selfie on a balcony with a city skyline, including a river and a bridge, in the background on a clear day.

My passion for the places we call home began early, growing up around rental properties in Athens, Ohio. Long before I could drive I was cleaning & painting apartments and learning how to manage rental properties. That foundation led me to Ohio State for a degree in Real Estate & Urban Analysis, followed by a career managing rental properties for 3 Columbus multifamily development & management firms.

I have seen—and remedied—more than my fair share of complex property issues (ask me for some crazy stories sometime!). Beyond management, I bring hands-on expertise, having personally completed over $750k in residential renovations ranging from cosmetic updates to full-scale remodels.

I founded Elevate Inspections to bring that depth of experience to anyone who needs it.

While concrete, wood, and copper are all critical parts of a building, the people inside are what make it a home. It is my honor to help you understand the complex components of your property so you can confidently turn your dreams into reality, and your house into a home.

Experience Makes All The Difference

    • New Orleans, LA - post-Katrina relief efforts in the lower 9th ward.

    • Athens, OH / 45701 - 16-unit apartment building unit turns, upgrades, & renovations including full-gut remodels, structural & MEP repairs and alterations, re-wiring, re-plumbing, and kitchen & bathroom construction.

    • Cranbrook Neighborhood / 43221 - Condo full interior renovation including kitchen gut/remodel.

    • Upper Arlington, OH / 43221 - Significant house renovation & addition. Major projects included multiple bedroom & bathroom additions, full plumbing supply & drain/sewer replacement, full electrical replacement (panel & replacement of antiquated ungrounded branch circuits), garage demolition and reconstruction, full HVAC & ductwork replacement, asbestos removal, roof replacement, window & door replacement, full kitchen reconfiguration & renovation, and plenty more.

    • Upper Arlington, OH / 43221 - Full bathroom remodel and full kitchen gut, reconfiguration, and renovation.

    • Upper Arlington, OH / 43221 - Enclosed an exterior breezeway into a full interior mudroom connecting the garage and house.

    • German Village Neighborhood / 43206 - Kitchen, bathroom, & interior remodel of historic home.

    • German Village Neighborhood / 43206 - Significant interior & exterior renovation of a triplex (3-unit) apartment building. Renovation included bedroom & bathroom additions, full kitchen & bathroom remodels, significant floor plan changes, electrical & plumbing upgrades, HVAC replacements, roof replacement, decking & stairwell replacement, full window & door replacement, and plenty more.

    • Athens, OH / 45701:

      • 80-unit apartment complex.

      • 16-unit apartment building.

    • Grove City, OH / 43123:

      • 82-unit apartment complex.

    • Lincoln Village Neighborhood / 43228:

      • 48-unit apartment complex.

    • Central OH:

      • Scattered-site portfolio of 44 single-family rental homes.

    • Salem Village Neighborhood / 43229:

      • 36-unit apartment complex.

    • Shepard Neighborhood / 43219:

      • 16-unit apartment complex.

    • Old Towne East Neighborhood / 43205:

      • 9-unit apartment building.

    • South Side Neighborhood / 43206:

      • 4-unit apartment building.

    • Driving Park Neighborhood / 43206:

      • 4-unit apartment building.

    • Westerville, OH / 43081:

      • 6-unit apartment building.

    • Schumacher Place Neighborhood / 43206:

      • Duplex (2-unit).

    • Southwest Columbus / 43223:

      • 118-unit apartment complex.

      • 20-unit apartment complex.

    • Brookshire Neighborhood / 43204:

      • 49-unit apartment complex.

      • 27-unit apartment complex.

    • Holly Hill Neighborhood / 43228

      • 12-unit scattered-site portfolio.

    • Blacklick Estates Neighborhood / 43232:

      • 4-unit apartment building.

    • Forest Park East Neighborhood / 43229:

      • 54-unit apartment building.

      • 72-unit apartment complex.

    • Forest Park West Neighborhood / 43229:

      • 52-unit scattered-site portfolio.

    • Devonshire Neighborhood / 43229:

      • 80-unit apartment complex.

    • Northland Neighborhood / 43224

      • 25-unit apartment building.

      • 96-unit apartment complex.

    • North Linden Neighborhood / 43224:

      • 66-unit apartment building.

      • 24-unit apartment complex.

      • 30-unit apartment building.

    • East Linden Neighborhood / 43224:

      • 24-unit apartment building.

    • Eastland Neighborhood / 43232:

      • 130-unit apartment complex.

      • 263-unit apartment complex.

      • 432-unit apartment complex.

      • 360-unit apartment complex.

      • 130-unit apartment complex.

    • Qualstan East Neighborhood / 43232:

      • 144 unit apartment complex.