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The Importance of Chimney Inspections in Real Estate Transactions
When buying or selling a home, ensuring the safety and condition of the property is crucial—and that includes the chimney. A professional chimney inspection is an essential step in any real estate transaction to protect both the buyer and seller. Here’s why:
Safety First: A chimney in disrepair or with hidden damage can pose serious safety risks, including the potential for chimney fires, carbon monoxide leaks, and dangerous structural issues. Buyers want peace of mind knowing that their new home is safe and that the chimney is in good working condition.
Unseen Issues: Chimneys often develop problems that are not immediately visible or noticeable, such as cracks in the flue, creosote buildup, or structural damage. A certified chimney inspector can identify these issues before they become costly repairs or safety hazards.
Negotiation Leverage: For sellers, getting a chimney inspection ahead of time can help address issues before they affect the sale. For buyers, an inspection can be used to negotiate repairs or adjustments in price. An accurate inspection report helps both parties make informed decisions.
Compliance with Local Codes: Many areas have strict building and safety codes for chimneys, fireplaces, and venting systems. A chimney inspection ensures that the system meets these regulations, avoiding potential fines or complications down the road.
Protecting Your Investment: Whether buying or selling, the chimney is a significant part of the home’s value. Ensuring it is in top condition can help avoid unexpected repair costs and maintain the overall integrity of the property.
For buyers and sellers alike, scheduling a chimney inspection is an important step in safeguarding both the property and the people who live in it. Let us help you ensure a smooth real estate transaction by providing thorough and reliable chimney inspections.
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Top Notch has gone well above and beyond the scope of what we could even ask or expect of a company. Calling them is the best decision you will make for your fireplace and chimney. They are truly the premier option in Southern Maryland. See more See less
Excellent Job Installing Chimney Liner and Cap , Professional, Great Communication , Highly Recomend For All Your Fireplace Needs .Fireplace Works Like A Champ and No More Leaks , Thanks See more See less
Super professional, thorough inspection, very knowledgeable and clear explanation/ education on the inner workings of my fireplace/chimney system. Highly recommend this company See more See less
Very very pleased with the work done on November 5, 2015. Chimney top repairs were made and new top/cap installed. Highly recommend them. See more See less
Top Notch was very professional, responsive and reasonably priced for their services. A great family owned company. See more See less
Friendly, and efficient. Excellent job on cleaning, down to literally every crack of the brick in front of the fireplace. Had dealt with, and knew the exact brand of fire place insert I had. Even had some tips on how to reduce a rattle that was inherent to the design of that unit from the factory. See more See less
Timely service and great results! Highly recommended. See more See less
Top Notch Chimney Services, Shawn and Max, did a great job inspecting and cleaning our wood stove and chimney. They are very professional and knowledgeable offering us suggestions on minimizing the buildup of creosote to keep our stove clean and safe. I feel 1000% more comfortable using the stove since they’ve checked everything out. I highly recommend them and will have them out, again, to make sure our wood stove is safe to use before each cold season. Great work Shawn and Max! See more See less
Good communication, great pricing, very professional and completed the chimney in a timely manner. No complaints and would highly recommend. See more See less
Definitely top-notch service. I really appreciate being able to find good service just a few miles for home. I was made to feel that they valued my business. I was able to ask questions before and after the chimney cleaning and got straight forward answers. The service provider was profession, respectful, and did the job well. I would definitely use them again. See more See less
I would recommend Top Notch Chimney for anyone looking to have chimney repairs and or looking to purchase. Shawn, Tommy, Matt and MiShawna thank you for an outstanding customer service! Everyone involved showed professional service and was very helpful. Thank you for job well done! Our family will enjoy our new purchase of the GCI60 pellet stove! See more See less
After an old and incorrecty installed pellet stove was removed from my home, a new firebox and 30 feet of venting was installed. The two-day install required technical expertise and precision, which Top Notch Chimney Services provided. The job was done perfectly! For ANY fireplace/chimney-related maintence, repair, or equipment refit, Top Notch is the company to call. Expertise, workmanshp, work ethic, dependability...Top Notch lives up to its name!!!! See more See less
I just hired Top Notch Chimney Services to re-line my chimney and fix the broken top. 5 stars isn't enough credit! Shawn and Max went above and beyond! Shawn ran into unexpected obstacles, stayed late into the night and made sure I was able to get my wood stove up and going for the harsh temperatures ahead. Shawn took the time when he was finished to go over everything and show me how to run the wood stove the most efficient way. He answered any questions and gave me his number to call if I ever had any questions. I highly recommend Top Notch! A great local family and business in our SOMD! I know who im calling every time! See more See less
Wow, wow, wow! My new Regency wood stove and the new chimney look amazing.When Shawn came with his helper Alex and told me they'll have the work done in one day , I didn't say anything but i said to myself : NO WAY! They proved me wrong. Shawn did an awesome job . He is extremely professional, knows what he is doing, nothing slows him down .He has a great knowledge about the business. I'm so happy I found him . I entrusted my home to him and he didn't disappoint. He took the time to explain everything to me, he was very patient with me ( I know nothing about chimneys and stoves). Shawn is very easy to talk to which made this whole experience that much more pleasant . what more can I say ? There was not a speck of dust left in the room after they were done!!! So, another top notch job done by the TopNotchChimneyServices. Definitely five star chimney service in the area. If you have any problems with your chimney, don't look any further. Just call TopNotchChimneyServices. Thanks again Shawn (and Alex) for a job well done!!!!! See more See less
We cannot say enough about the team at Top Notch Chimney Services. Top Notch is a fantastic local company with exceptional professionalism, unbelievable attention to detail, all wrapped up in customer service which can only be found in folks who are truly passionate about their field. Shawn, Gloria, and the team kept us informed during the entire process of replacing our wood stove, flue, and extensive repairs to our chimney. Today we have our new Regency stove rockin’ to cure the paint and get the stove ready for when the cold temps come our way. With every window and door open in the house with how much heat this amazing stove is kicking out, thank you Top Notch for an amazing experience, beautiful workmanship at a reasonable price, and always treating us like family. See more See less
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars – Highly Recommend Top Notch Chimney Services! February 5, 2026 Enviro | Meridian Pellet Stove Shawn Lotter is truly a pellet stove expert. He and his helper came out and did an excellent job in under two hours. I originally called them after dealing with SOMD Hearth, whose tech suggested I replace the combustion blower, ignitor, convection blower, auger motor, and control board—about $1,200 with installation. Turns out only one of them was needed. Auger motor had seen better days. Shawn immediately identified the real issues: the stove desperately needed a deep cleaning, and the exhaust fitting needed to be replaced. He took the time to clearly explain everything, showed me the optimal operating procedures, and walked me through the normal behaviors of the stove. As first-time pellet stove owners, this education alone was incredibly valuable. It’s clear the previous owners likely ran the stove for four years without a proper cleaning. We are blown away by the difference between the last burn and this one—it’s like a completely different stove. Honest, knowledgeable, efficient, and professional. We were satisfied with the invoice and he hooked us with a $50 discount! Check out the pictures—results speak for themselves! I can’t recommend Top Notch Chimney Services and Shawn Lotter highly enough. See more See less
Josh went above and beyond to ensure that our gas FP manufacturer honored the warranty for the burner. Josh is friendly, polite, neat, and prompt. Highly recommend Top Notch for all your FP needs See more See less
Friendly. Reliable. On time. Knowledgeable and thorough! Highly Recommend. See more See less
We have had them intall pur pellet stove and now fix pir chimneys and both times they have done amazing work. Very polite and very professional. Would recommend them to anyone who needs this type of work done to their homes. I will call them anytime I need work done. See more See less
Excellent, fast and friendly service. Fair prices. Obviously very skilled and experienced, takes pride in there work. Made me feel respected and heard. I'll definitely be using them again when the time comes. Thanks again! See more See less
Excellent customer service! Had vent pipe replaced to my furnace. A minor delay due to snow on the roof. Can't control the weather :). The guys who came out were a pleasure to meet. Very courteous and respectful. Very pleased with the work done. Would highly recommend and will use them again if the need arises. Thanks Shawn and company!! See more See less
What a great experience dealing with Top Notch Chimney. Shawn was professional and personable when he arrived to assess our needs. He provided pictures to show exactly what was wrong and explained in detail the cost and options involved to correct the issues. The crew of 3-4 cleaned up their materials leaving both inside and outside neat. I would highly recommend using Top Notch Chimney for your fireplace cleanings, repairs inserts. Absolutely wonderful!! See more See less
Excellent service. Very professional staff. Could not be happier with the service! See more See less
I absolutely Love my new fireplace insert!! They were easy to work with gave me a good deal and I can't be happier and would recomend them in a heartbeat!! See more See less
top notch chimney services is indeed top notch. i wish i would have known about them sooner. they were considerably cheaper than the place i was using and was more helpful & knowledgable in 1 visit vs the past few years of visits from who i used before. workmanship was excellent. if you are looking for chimney/pellet stove/fireplace services, do not hesitate to give them a call See more See less
I recently had the pleasure of working with Shawn and his team at Top Notch Chimney to replace our outdated pellet stove with a stunning new fireplace featuring a wood-burning insert. From start to finish, Shawn and his crew exceeded all expectations. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and dedication to transforming our space were truly remarkable. I can’t recommend Shawn and stop Notch Chimney highly enough for their exceptional service and craftsmanship! See more See less
I thoroughly researched chimney cleaning/inspection companies in the area before deciding to hire Top Notch Chimney Services for the inspection and cleaning of the chimneys and fireplaces in an older home. I'm extremely happy with my decision. Like their name states, they are "top notch!" Shawn and his crew are professional, friendly, polite, articulate, and most importantly, very knowledgeable about how chimneys should be constructed. Shawn used an expensive camera and high tech equipment to evaluate our chimneys, then thoroughly explained the construction defects and my options. He didn't try to sell me on expensive repairs. In the case of two poorly constructed chimneys, he said they could just be decorative if a heat source wasn't needed. Shawn was very knowledgeable about other options, such as gas and electric inserts and pellet stoves. He took his time to answer any questions I had and I never felt like he was rushing to move on to the next job. Shawn and his crew will be back to install chimney caps and repair missing and disintegrating bricks. Class act! Hire them. You won't be disappointed. See more See less
Top Notch Chimney Service did amazing work. My wife and I were very happy with the out come of the work they did. Really did a fantastic job and left absolutely no mess. We would recommend them. See more See less
Professional job lining our chimney, modifying fireplace, and installing our new woodstove. Shawn and Max were great, their customization skills and customer focus were outstanding. See more See less
Excellent work. Great company to work with! See more See less
Many thanks to Shawn and his team for their expert installation of our wood pellet stove. They were on time, on budget and went the extra mile to ensure our understanding of how the stove works. When they left, the only evidence that they were here was the stove itself -- a testament to their professionalism and respect for our home. Very much appreciated -- five stars! See more See less
Quality service and fairly priced See more See less
Great Company, Great Work, I highly Recommend See more See less
Very Professional and Outstanding Workmanship See more See less
These guys really live up to their name "Top Notch". They are reliable, prompt, courteous, reasonable and friendly. They did exactly what they said would be done in a timely manner. I would definitely recommend "Top Notch Chimney service" to anyone looking for Honest and Professional Chimney service. See more See less
Top Notch installed a woodstove in my home, very satisfied with their work. See more See less
All around an excellent service company. The team at Top Notch Chimney Services are 100% knowledgeable, professional, respectful of me and my property and determined to get a five star review for providing the best service in the area. They are seriously the very best in their field. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone including family and neighbors. Thank you! See more See less
From start to finish this company was amazing! I originally called to get an estimate They were extremely friendly to speak with on the phone and very informative. When they came out they were extremely respectful of my property and very well mannered. I hired them to do the job of installing my pellet stove and I can say that I am extremely happy with the installation time and the professionalism that was shown. The installation met my OCD requirements. I will definitely use again in the future if needed and I highly recommend this company for your service. See more See less
Shawn and Max came out today and swept my chimney and set up my new gas heating stove. They were very professional and did an awesome job. See more See less
Amazing work you all do a good job super professional if you are looking for any chimney work i recommend top notch See more See less
They were very professional and were able to answer all our questions. They did a fantastic job! See more See less
The work on the chimney was done on time. The house was kept cleaned inside and out. We were happy with the results. See more See less
Excellent work, and good customer service. I could not be more happy. I had a liner installed, a clean out and crown sealing done. Now my insert and chimney are up to code standards. See more See less
great people to work with - love the finished look See more See less
Top Notch has gone well above and beyond the scope of what we could even ask or expect of a company. Calling them is the best decision you will make for your fireplace and chimney. They are truly the premier option in Southern Maryland. See more See less
Wonderful service! They were very quick, professional, and very knowledgeable. Would absolutely use them again! See more See less
Super professional, thorough inspection, very knowledgeable and clear explanation/ education on the inner workings of my fireplace/chimney system. Highly recommend this company See more See less
Couldn't be happier with the service provided. On time and very thorough. Discussed all options and answered all questions. Will use again! See more See less
Shawn and team were able to meet our short time line to fix/repair our chimney in support of the sale of our old home. His services were "top notch" and a great value compared to some of the other quotes we received. If you need chimney work done, don't hesitate to give Shawn at Top Notch a call. I can't recommend highly enough. See more See less
This company goes above and beyond, I will be using them for any fireplace needs from here on out! Their communication is top tier, they work with you with expert knowledge, and are such a wonderful family owned company! Highly recommend! See more See less
Very pleased with our chimney repairs and new cap. Shawn and crew were great. Highly recommend and will definitely use again. Thanks so much. See more See less
Very helpful & i informative about what is needed for the chimney flue! See more See less
Fantastic service!! Came out quickly, kept everything clean, very thorough, very professional!! I will definitely use them exclusively for servicing the pellet stove in my living room! See more See less
Shawn has completed multiple jobs for us and always does a great job. Reliable, fairly priced, and very professional. I highly recommend Top Notch Chimney Services!! See more See less
A job well done. A good team. Will recommend them. Thank you. See more See less
Great professionalism, knowledgeable and timely. Pricing is very reasonable and great to work with. See more See less
What a wonderful job Shawn did for us on removal of the wood stove and repairs to the chimney! The wait was so worth it and I would recommend him to anyone, thank you 😊 See more See less
I highly recommend Shawn and his crew at Top Notch. I was looking for options for repairing and restoring functionality to my chimney and found Top Notch through word of mouth. They definitely live up to their stellar reputation. They’re professional, accommodating, timely, communicative, clean and tidy, and honest. I got a Regency GC160 pellet stove- love it! And a Warm & Glo I35 gas insert- in love with it as well! If I could give more stars I would! See more See less
Great company! Reasonably priced, great communication and very professional. They now have a customer for life! See more See less
Shawn showed his skills retrofitting this wood burner in our century old fire place. I highly recommend Top Notch Chimney Services. See more See less
Very pleased with Top Notch Chimney Services. I hired Shawn and team to repair my chimney and perform maintenance on my gas fireplace. Timeliness, communication, quality of work and overall customer experience were great. I would highly recommend them. See more See less
This company is awesome to work with! Very friendly! See more See less
Shawn was quick to respond and had excellent communication. He was quick and efficient cleaning the fireplace and addressing the issue with our pilot light. Shawn explained everything and had a reasonable cost associated with the work. Our fireplace hasn’t looked this great in years. Highly recommend this company & their excellent customer service! See more See less
We had Top Notch Chimney Service come out and clean our propane fireplace. He did an amazing job with the cleaning inside and the glass window. They do quality work. Will definitely be using them in the future and will recommend to others. See more See less
They came worked on both chimney’s and we were very pleased. I will recommend them to anyone that needs chimney work. See more See less
It’s been a little while since we got our chimney toppers and had them sealed, but I still look at them and think “dang they look good.” We had a wonderful experience with the chimney service and it was an emergency when we called because the chimney was leaking into the house. They came out and completely solved the issue. We are very pleased with what we got, and the price was fair. See more See less
Scheduling flexibility and communication were both fantastic! We took advantage an "off season" discount that made the cleaning very affordable. Our chimney and fireplace were both cleaned very well and also inspected. We also received a couple of estimates for some upgrades that were well received and didn't feel "pushy." We will continue to use TNCS for all our fireplace and chimney maintenance needs! See more See less
Top Notch Chimney Services came to the rescue! As a real estate agent, we needed a quick response and turn around to meet a settlement date. From the first phone call, Shawn jumped on it. He ended up giving our seller an alternative that saved her a lot of money as well as an option that was much more efficient for the new buyer. Shawn met every deadline and even went back to meet with the buyers to go over the new insert with them. The buyers were extremely happy with the finished product and the service that Top Notch provided. THANK YOU for making everyone happy and meeting a short deadline. See more See less
Top Notch Chimney Services provided a timely estimate with several options for work to be done. I decided on a complete chimney rebuild from the roof up. The workers arrived on time with all of the necessary supplies and tools. The crew was courteous and professional and completed the job in two days within the agreed budget. After finishing the job, the crew cleaned up and disposed of any trash leaving the area clean. Thanks to Shawn and crew for a job well done! See more See less
Top Notch was prompt, thorough, professional, and very affordable. Very happy with their service!! See more See less
Excellent work by Top Notch Chimney Service! They fulfilled our needs quickly and exceeded our expectations. Great work! See more See less
Fantastic experience! Knowledgeable and pricing is right on point. His team listened to my concerns and addressed them with the utmost professionalism. Will definitely rehire them for annual cleaning...thank you Shawn and crew, beautiful work! See more See less
My fireplace was not drawing air, my fires would just go out if I tried to switch to heat mode…and even with the door open, chimney vent open, it would go out if I didn’t add Small sticks with split wood. Sean arrived on time, covered all floors, pulled out the “honey come” to show me the main issue, and proceeded to clean everything from the bottom to the top, cleaned up leaving no trace. This is a local (St Mary’s county) gem. Price was fair, service was awesome, they have a customer for life. See more See less
Excellent Job Installing Chimney Liner and Cap , Professional, Great Communication , Highly Recomend For All Your Fireplace Needs .Fireplace Works Like A Champ and No More Leaks , Thanks See more See less
Had a great experience with this company from start to finish. Very thorough, professional, and pleasant. Nice to know who I’ll be calling from now on for our pellet stove cleaning and service. Highly recommend! See more See less
The whole staff was polite. The crew was clean and quick, never knew they was there. Would i recommend them absolutely. See more See less
I highly recommend that anybody needing chimney work get a quote from Top Notch Chimney Services. Their quote was the best by a very huge margin. The communication was excellent as was their work which involved a partial rebuild of the chimney that was damaged by a fallen tree. In my opinion Shawn deserves to get your business because he is trustworthy and an excellent craftsmen. See more See less
Shawn was quick to respond and had excellent communication. He was quick and efficient cleaning the fireplace and addressing the issue with our pilot light. Shawn explained everything and had a reasonable cost associated with the work. Our fireplace hasn’t looked this great in years. Highly recommend this company & their excellent customer service! See more See less
I had a bee-infested chimney that needed removal. Most companies wouldn't touch it. Top-Notch Chimney teamed up with a beekeeper and took on the challenge. It was their first job like this, so neither of us knew what to expect. It wasn't a "sting-free" (lol) experience, but Shawn and his crew stuck with it and got it done! Would definitely recommend them. See more See less
Shawn and Top Notch Chimney recently helped us install a pellet stove and wood stove into existing wood burning fireplace. Shawn was extremely helpful from start (inspecting chimney) to finish (install and setup) and very knowledgeable about the products and options for inserts. He was extremely accommodating and squeezed the project in so that my family could enjoy the stoves for the holidays. Would highly recommend Shawn and his team for any chimney or wood/pellet stove services. See more See less
Shawn and Jed did a phenomenal job installing my wood stove, from start to finish. They provided extra parts, and price was extremely reasonable. They also took their time to educate me on how to properly use a wood stove. Highly recommended. See more See less
We just had Shawn and his team out to fix our jammed pellet stove. Communication from time of scheduling the appointment to arrival was strong. Crew laid out floor covering & were careful to not leave a mess. They were done within a couple hours & our stove looks & works like new again. I was informed how to properly maintain the unit & when to call to have them back out. Highly recommend this professional, kind & qualified team. See more See less
Top Notch lives up to its name. The technicians are professional and kind and helped to educate me about what needed to be done after an inspection. The workmanship on the repairs and new wood stove installation was well done. Highly recommend. See more See less
Top Notch did such a great job!!! Highly recommend them!!! See more See less
Sincere Appreciation for Outstanding Service - Technician Joshua Kelly Dear Top Notch Chimney Service, I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding work done by Technician Joshua Kelly at my home today, May 28, 2025, during the service of my gas fireplace. My experience was incredibly positive, and I was particularly impressed by Mr. Kelly, his professionalism and thoroughness, his clear explanation of the process, how efficiently he completed the work". I am very happy to recommend his services to others without hesitation. Thank you again for providing such excellent service. Sincerely, Tony and Cheryl Van Horn See more See less
I highly recommend this company. They are very professional and completed the work in a timely manner. I had to get extensive work done to my chimney and Shawn and his crew did an excellent job. Very impressed and so happy to have a chimney company I can trust in! See more See less
Sean was able to come out immediately to put a cap on our chimney. We've had birds in the past and I wanted the cap before they came back. Very professional. Highly recommend! See more See less
Very honest, very nice people. Even though I didn't get the news I wanted, I was extremely grateful for the information they provided. Especially being a newer single homeowner. Also, the willingness to help with any future plans if I decide or any follow up questions. They are not pushy or trying to sell anything that was not warranted. Great customer service, and I will make sure to recommend them to family and friends. 🙂 See more See less
From front desk to on site service my wife and I experienced great customer service from Top Knotch Chimney services. Excited to use there services again! See more See less
Friendly. Reliable. On time. Knowledgeable and thorough! Highly Recommend. See more See less
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We usually respond via text within a few minutes.
We usually respond via text within a few minutes.
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