Fox Chase sits in the far Northeast, bounded roughly by Pennypack Park to the north, Algon Avenue to the east, Cottman Avenue to the south, and Fillmore Street to the west, in ZIP 19111. It takes its name from the Fox Chase Inn, opened in 1705 where the Oxford and Huntingdon pikes met, back when the area drew Philadelphia’s elite out to hunt fox and summer in the countryside. The railroad arrived in 1876 — the SEPTA Fox Chase Line still terminates at the 1878 Fox Chase station — and the neighborhood filled in as a leafy, middle-class suburb within the city. Today it’s known for tree-lined streets, well-kept lawns, and a mix of housing you don’t see in denser Philadelphia: Wissahickon-schist and brick twins and semis alongside detached single homes, much of it built between the 1920s and the 1960s, with Pennypack and Burholme parks and the historic Ryerss Mansion at its edges. ValueGuard’s ASHI-certified home inspectors in Fox Chase have been reading this neighborhood since 1997, and we’ve built our home inspections in Fox Chase around exactly these suburban-style, mid-century realities.
Inspections from $429 — condos and units from $329. Save with a package:
| Value Package · $829 · save $149 | Value + Sewer Scope · $1,108 · save $199 | Full Protection · $1,457 · save $249 |
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i. Why this neighborhood is different
City address, suburban bones.
Fox Chase is one of the greenest, most suburban-feeling corners of Philadelphia — tree-lined blocks of stone and brick twins, semis, and detached single homes, mostly built from the 1920s through the 1960s and generally well kept. A thorough home inspection in Fox Chase means understanding this mix of housing, how mature trees and park-edge lots interact with the home, and how solid mid-century stone-and-brick construction ages. Here’s what we focus on:
Stone & Brick Twins & Semis
The common Fox Chase home is a 1920s–1960s twin or semi-detached in Wissahickon schist and brick — often brick over a stone first floor, with bay windows and a gable roof. Party walls, original framing, stone-and-brick facades, and roofs all need careful evaluation. We know how these mid-century twins and semis were built, and how they age.
Detached Singles & Bigger Lots
More than most Philadelphia neighborhoods, Fox Chase has freestanding single homes and larger, greener lots. That means more roof, siding, and grading to evaluate, plus detached garages, sheds, decks, and driveways — all of which we inspect along with the house itself.
Mature Trees, Roots & Sewer Laterals
Fox Chase’s tree-lined, park-adjacent streets are a big part of its appeal — but mature trees send roots into clay and cast-iron sewer laterals and can lift walks, walls, and foundations. We pay close attention to settlement near large trees, and we strongly recommend a sewer scope here.
Schist & Brick Masonry
Those stone-and-brick facades need upkeep. After 60 to 100 years, mortar joints fail, stone spalls, steel lintels over windows rust and lift, and glass-block basement windows leak. We check masonry condition, repointing needs, lintel movement, and water entry behind the stone and brick.
Aging Mid-Century Systems
Most Fox Chase homes were built from the 1920s through the 1960s and can still carry original or early systems: 60-amp service or early panels, galvanized supply lines, clay and cast-iron sewer laterals, and heat converted over the years from oil to gas. We trace what’s original, what’s been updated, and what a lender or insurer is likely to flag.
Additions, Basements & Park-Edge Grading
Fox Chase homes are often expanded over the decades — rear additions, enclosed porches, finished basements — and lots near Pennypack and Burholme parks can sit on tricky grade. We check whether additions and finished spaces were permitted and built right, and how water is managed around the foundation.
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A note on Fox Chase’s trees, parks & grading
Part of what makes Fox Chase special — mature trees, big lots, and the green edges of Pennypack and Burholme parks — is also what makes a careful inspection worthwhile. Tree roots find clay and cast-iron sewer laterals; larger and park-edge lots can steer water toward the house; and decades of additions and finished basements aren’t always permitted or built right. A thorough inspection reads the sewer line, the grading and drainage, and the structure of any added space, so you know exactly what you’re buying before you close — not after.
From our recent caseload
Recently inspected in 19111.
Three homes from recent ValueGuard inspections in Fox Chase — a brick-and-stone twin with a Wissahickon-schist first floor, a stone-front twin with a wide picture window, and a vinyl-sided porch-front twin. Same leafy neighborhood, three different inspections. Swipe or use the arrows to see all three.
No. 01
Brick-and-Stone Twin
A handsome Fox Chase twin with a red-brick upper story over a Wissahickon-schist first floor, decorative dark header-brick accents, white-trimmed windows, and glass-block basement windows. The neighborhood’s signature mid-century twin, and one where the masonry, roof, and original systems all reward a careful look.
No. 02
Stone-Front Twin
A classic Fox Chase stone front in coursed Wissahickon schist, with a wide picture window, glass-block basement windows, and a tidy fenced side yard. Beautiful and durable, and a home where the stone masonry, window lintels, and basement moisture all deserve close attention.
No. 03
Porch-Front Twin with Vinyl Siding
A two-story twin wrapped in newer vinyl siding, with a covered front porch on iron posts, dark shutters, and a comfortable porch sitting area. Vinyl hides as much as it shows, so we look closely at what’s underneath, along with the porch structure, roof, windows, and systems.
Photos from recent ValueGuard inspections in Fox Chase.
ii. The four services that matter most
What to inspect in 19111.
Home Inspection
A complete evaluation of structure, roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and major systems — delivered as a photo-rich report the next business day. Tuned to the realities of Fox Chase’s mid-century stone and brick twins, semis, and detached single homes.
Sewer Scope Inspection
Especially important in Fox Chase, where mature street trees and clay or cast-iron laterals are a classic recipe for root intrusion — even on a well-kept home. Our camera travels the lateral from cleanout to main, documenting root intrusion, offsets, bellies, and collapse. A few hundred dollars now can save tens of thousands later.
Radon Testing
Radon appears in Philadelphia homes — including the stone and brick twins, semis, and single homes of Fox Chase with finished or below-grade basements. Our PA DEP-certified technicians use tamper-resistant electronic monitors with 48-hour turnaround. Mitigation, if needed, typically runs $800 to $2,500.
Termite / WDI Inspection
Fox Chase’s older homes — with wood porches, decks, framing, and below-grade spaces, often shaded by mature trees — are exactly where wood-destroying insects turn up. A licensed termite/WDI inspection is required by most lenders and protects you from costly hidden damage. Easy to bundle with your home inspection.
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iii. Your local inspection team
Meet your inspectors.
When you book ValueGuard in Fox Chase, you get inspectors who have walked thousands of Philadelphia twins, semis, and single homes — and know exactly what to look for in each. Swipe or use the arrows to meet all 9 inspectors serving Philadelphia.
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iv. Services & pricing
Fox Chase inspection pricing.
Starting prices shown. Final price confirmed at booking. See full pricing →
| Value Package · $829 · save $149 | Value + Sewer Scope · $1,108 · save $199 | Full Protection · $1,457 · save $249 |
See full pricing and packages →
v. What buyers say
From recent buyers.
★★★★★
James was incredibly knowledgeable and patient. He has a great attention to detail and excellent communication skills. Would highly recommend.
Lindsey Kuhl
Google · Inspector: James Royer
★★★★★
Buying our first home was a milestone for us, and having ValueGuard there made it that much easier. We’ll definitely recommend them.
Michael & Marissa R.
Google · Philadelphia, PA
★★★★★
Incredible experience working with Nick! He was so thorough and patient with all my questions. Would definitely recommend ValueGuard.
Anne Tran
Google · Inspector: Nick Ostrowski
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Read all 1,300+ Google reviews →·See our reviews page →
vi. Common questions
Frequently asked.
How much does a home inspection cost in Fox Chase?
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Do I need a home inspector in Fox Chase who knows the neighborhood?
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What’s different about Fox Chase homes?
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Should I get a sewer scope on a Fox Chase property?
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Do I really need an inspection on a well-kept Fox Chase home?
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What are the biggest issues in Fox Chase homes?
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vii. Serving all of Philadelphia
Also inspecting nearby neighborhoods.
Wherever you’re buying in Philadelphia, ValueGuard is your local inspector.
| BurholmeRhawnhurstBustletonSomertonLawndaleHolmesburgPennypackOxford CircleCastor GardensMayfairTaconyFrankfordAll Philadelphia Neighborhoods → |
Ready when you are
Let’s take a closer look at your Fox Chase home.
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100 E Penn Square, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19107 · (215) 860-3150
Inspections 7 days a week · Office hours Mon–Fri 8:30am–5pm, Sat 9am–4pm · ASHI-certified home inspectors in Fox Chase · Serving Fox Chase (19111) and every Philadelphia neighborhood
