Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and one of the oldest in the United States. It’s where the Declaration of Independence was signed and has a rich American history. If you’re planning to move to Philadelphia, you’ll find famous landmarks, great restaurants, exciting nightlife, high-end arts and culture, and plenty of nice neighborhoods to choose from.
When you’ve found that perfect home in Philadelphia, you’ll want to choose the right home inspector to make sure no unwanted surprises pop up after you’ve purchased the home. The best home inspectors in Philadelphia give you a qualified report on the home’s condition, from the roof to the plumbing to the appliances. This guide to the top home inspection companies in Philadelphia will give you confidence in hiring the best Philadelphia home inspector.
How to Find a Home Inspector in Philadelphia – Tips & What to Look for
General home inspections are part of the buying process in Pennsylvania, but not all inspectors are created equally. It is important to choose the right Philadelphia licensed home inspector because you are trusting them to uncover issues and find any potentially costly deal-breakers.
Here are some things you’ll want to look for when choosing a Philadelphia home inspector:
- Check their qualifications
A home inspector in Pennsylvania does not need to be licensed, but they are required to be insured and must be a member in good standing of a national home inspection association. Organizations, such as ASHI or InterNACHI, offer training, certification, and free continuing education for home inspectors. When you hire a Pennsylvania ASHI or InterNACHI certified inspector, you can rest assured that you are getting a qualified professional who meets the highest standards.
- Check their trade organization memberships
Those doing Philadelphia Pennsylvania home inspections should be members of a nationally recognized organization, such as InterNACHI or ASHI, that will conduct inspections in compliance with Pennsylvania state requirements and follow the home inspector’s Code of Ethics.
- Check their experience
Experienced Philadelphia home inspectors will have encountered a wide range of issues, having inspected many types of homes in all kinds of conditions. They may be better able to catch problems that a less experienced inspector might miss.
- Check for advanced certifications, training, or education
If you are buying a home with unique features, or an older home, you may want to ask about any additional certifications, training, or credentials. Things to look for include a home engineer’s license or a chimney inspector certification. Previous construction experience can give a home inspector a better understanding of shoddy repairs or other structural issues.
Once you’ve narrowed the field of home inspectors based on qualifications, here are some other things to look for:
- Find out what is included in the inspection
Does the inspector use thermal imaging to find hidden leaks or drones to check the condition of the roof? Are these services included or available for an additional cost? A good way to find out is to ask for a sample report. You can then see how detailed the report is.
- Look at customer reviews
Reviews from past clients on sites such as Google and Yelp can give you valuable insight into the quality of work a home inspector does.
- Be leery of your agent’s recommendation
Your realtor may recommend a home inspector to you, but this may present a conflict of interest. The home inspector wants to continue getting referrals from the realtor, so they might intentionally “miss” some issues to give a more favorable report.
- Be careful of a home inspector who offers renovation or repair services
This is another potential conflict of interest as the home inspector may “find” things that need repair, so they can get more business and charge you more money.
What does a Philadelphia home inspection cover?
A complete inspection includes a visual examination of the building from top to bottom. The inspector evaluates and reports the condition of the structure, roof, foundation, drainage, plumbing, heating system, central air-conditioning system, visible insulation, walls, windows, and doors.
Here’s what to expect during a Philly home inspection:
A professional home inspector in Pennsylvania will look at the interior and exterior of the home, checking the foundation, structural components, roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, basement, and windows and doors. You should be present during the inspection process.
Eagle Inspections | Certified Philadelphia Home Inspectors
Eagle Inspections has provided top-quality, full-service home inspections for 15 years. Their service includes residential electrical inspections, residential plumbing inspections, residential radon inspections, residential roofing inspections, and more.
Eagle Inspections has an impressive 4.9-star rating on Google with nearly 800 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on Yelp. They are certified, locally-owned property in Philadelphia, and strive to give their customers the best service possible.
Address: 6233 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19135
Phone number: (215) 398-4331
Core Inspection Group | Philly ASHI Inspection Standards & Expert Roof Inspection
Core Inspection Group provides its customers with peace of mind with a thorough inspection of the foundation, roof, flue lines, and other common areas where defects occur. Core Inspection Group’s skilled and seasoned property inspectors will make sure you’re purchasing your dream home, not a money pit.
Every Core Inspection Group inspection strictly adheres to ASHI standards, and their reports are detailed and easy to read. Inspections cover all mechanical and structural systems, appliances, floors, bath components, doors, fireplaces, foundation, plumbing, heating & air conditioning, electrical, porches, siding, drainage, roofing, and much more.
With over 1,200 reviews on google and a 4.9-star rating, it’s clear that the core inspection group does quality work.
Phone number: (215) 987-7547
ValueGuard Home Inspections | Affordable Pennsylvania Home Inspection
For more than 25 years, ValueGuard Home inspections has served the Philadelphia area with licensed, experienced, and trusted inspectors. With over 80,000 inspections in greater Philadelphia, over 1,000 5-Star Google, Yelp, Angie’s List & Facebook reviews, and over 200 years of combined home inspection experience, it’s no wonder why 99% of their clients refer them to family & friends.
ValueGuard inspects everything from the driveway, roof, structure, walls, ceilings, floors, stairways, windows, doors, garage doors, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, all major appliances, and more.
Address: 600 Chestnut St #675, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone number: (215) 860-3150
US Inspect | Best Philly On-Site Home Inspection Experience
US Inspect offers convenient scheduling, the best on-site experience, and digital delivery of the industry’s finest reports. Their inspectors are licensed, giving you confidence that they will inform and educate you about the house and property in a professional and factual manner.
Their home inspections provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the condition of the property. They check the exterior, roof, structure, water control systems, insulation and ventilation, interior, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, fuel services, appliances, and environmental systems. You can view a sample report here.
US Inspect has earned a 4.9-star rating on Google with over 200 reviews.
Phone number: (215) 309-6816
Philly Inspect Home Inspections | Philly Home & Termite Inspection Experts
Jason Liszkiewicz at Philly Inspect Home Inspections is a certified home inspector with a perfect 5-star rating on Google. He provides the highest quality inspections as well as add-ons like wood-destroying insect inspections and radon testing. The inspection report includes digital photos and other helpful info. You can see a sample of his reports, using industry-leading Spectora software.
Jason is a member of ASHI and conducts all his inspections using the ASHI Code of Ethics (integrity, honesty, objectivity), which are well above the minimum requirements for a home inspection.
Inspections cover roofs; chimneys; exterior doors, windows, porches, and more; basements, foundations, structure, electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, interior, garage, and attic. He uses a thermal/infrared camera as part of his inspections.
Phone number: (267) 432-1776
Cost of inspection: Price starts at $385 (Condos start at $285)
Apex Inspections | Full-Service Home and Pest Inspection in Philadelphia
Servicing the Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey Community, Apex Inspections is a full-service, licensed inspection company specializing in high-quality inspection services. They also offer radon and termite inspections. All of their home inspectors are ASHI certified and committed to excellence, providing a detailed, step-by-step inspection for every customer.
Apex uses the latest technology, digital photographs, and provides comprehensive reports, detailing all aspects of your property’s major systems, components, appliances, and life expectancies. They provide cost projections for all issues they uncover.
With a 5-star rating on Google and a 4.6-star Angi rating, you can rest assured that you’ll get the best service in Philadelphia from ApexInspections.
Address: 1011 S 24th St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Phone number: (888) 927-3944
Map of Home Inspectors in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Home Inspection FAQs
How much does a home inspection cost in Philadelphia, PA?
The price range for a home inspection in Philadelphia is between $336 and $410.
What does a home inspector do?
A home inspector conducts a comprehensive overview of all the major mechanical and structural systems of the home, including plumbing, foundation, roof, attic, fireplaces, air conditioning, and appliances, as well as inspecting the interior and exterior of the home.
What does a Philadelphia home inspector look for?
A home inspector looks for any issues with the home, including plumbing, electrical, roof, and structure of the home. When you choose the right home inspector in Philadelphia, you have the confidence that your home purchase will be a good one.
If you’ve found your new home in Philadelphia, give Suburban Solutions Moving a call today at 610-314-6868 for a free moving quote. With our excellent service and years of experience, we’ll make moving into your new home in Philadelphia stress-free!
