Harrowgate is one of North Philadelphia’s most historic working neighborhoods — founded in 1784 as a medicinal-springs spa named for England’s Harrogate, then transformed by the textile boom into a dense company town where immigrant mill workers walked from their rowhouses to the factories. Today its tightly packed blocks (ZIP 19134, in the River Wards just northwest of Kensington) are overwhelmingly historic, with most homes built before 1939 — narrow two-bay brick rowhomes alongside re-sided homes, investor renovations, and brand-new infill construction. Each carries a very different structural story. ValueGuard’s ASHI-certified home inspectors in Harrowgate have been inspecting North Philadelphia since 1997, and we’ve built our home inspections in Harrowgate around exactly this range.
Inspections from $429 — condos and lofts from $329. Save with a package:
| Value Package · $829 · save $149 | Value + Sewer Scope · $1,108 · save $199 | Full Protection · $1,457 · save $249 |
See full pricing and packages →
i. Why this neighborhood is different
Four eras. One block.
Harrowgate’s rowhomes were built for mill workers more than a century ago, and the blocks have been patched, re-sided, flipped, and rebuilt ever since. A thorough home inspection in Harrowgate means reading whichever version you’re actually buying. Here’s what we focus on:
Historic Two-Bay Brick Worker Rowhomes
The original Harrowgate form is the narrow late-1800s brick worker rowhome — two windows wide, with a decorative bracketed cornice and arched brick lintels. We look closely at the brick masonry and pointing, the cornice and parapet, party-wall conditions, and the original floor framing behind those facades.
Century-Old Systems at End of Life
In an untouched Harrowgate rowhome you’ll often find knob-and-tube or early wiring, a fuse panel, galvanized supply lines, and an original-style heating system — most well past their service life. We flag what’s safe, what’s near the end, and what needs budgeting before you buy.
Re-Siding Over Original Brick
Many Harrowgate rowhomes have been wrapped in vinyl or aluminum siding over the original brick. It freshens the look, but it can also hide failing masonry, moisture, and old window conditions. We check what’s going on behind and beneath the siding, not just the surface.
Investor Flips
A lot of Harrowgate homes trade as renovated flips. Fresh paint, new flooring, and a staged kitchen can sit on top of deferred roof, structural, plumbing, and electrical issues — and on work done without permits. We inspect behind the cosmetics to tell you what was actually fixed and what was just covered.
New-Construction Infill
Modern three-story new builds are slotting onto Harrowgate’s historic blocks. New doesn’t mean flawless — pre-drywall, pre-close, and one-year warranty inspections catch framing, flashing, and mechanical defects while the builder is still on the hook to fix them.
Affordable, Fast-Changing Market
Harrowgate is one of Philadelphia’s most affordable and fastest-changing neighborhoods, which draws first-time buyers and investors alike. At any price point, an independent inspection is your best protection against inheriting someone else’s deferred maintenance — and your strongest leverage at the negotiating table.
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A note on Harrowgate’s range of homes
Few Philadelphia neighborhoods show as much variety on a single block as Harrowgate. An untouched 1890s mill-worker rowhome can sit between a vinyl-re-sided home, a quick investor flip, and a brand-new three-story build — and each one is a completely different inspection. A century-old original is about masonry and original systems; a flip is about what’s hidden behind new finishes; a new build is about workmanship and warranty windows. We tailor the inspection to the home in front of us, not a generic checklist.
From our recent caseload
Recently inspected in 19134.
Three homes from recent ValueGuard inspections in Harrowgate — a vinyl-re-sided rowhome over original brick, a three-story new-construction infill, and an original 1890s brick worker rowhome. Same neighborhood, three completely different eras of construction. Three inspections with almost nothing in common. Swipe or use the arrows to see all three.
No. 01
Vinyl-Sided Rowhome over Original Brick
A modest two-story rowhome wrapped in vinyl siding with a painted-brick lower level and a fan-light front door. The updates here are mostly skin-deep — so the real questions are about the original masonry, the roof, and the systems underneath.
No. 02
Three-Story New-Construction Infill
A contemporary new build slotted onto a historic block — dark brick with metal-panel cladding, large windows, and three full stories. A completely different inspection profile from its 1890s neighbors, and one where workmanship and warranty windows matter most.
No. 03
Original 1890s Brick Worker Rowhome
A classic late-1800s two-bay brick rowhome with a decorative bracketed cornice, arched brick lintels, and its original proportions intact. Harrowgate’s signature home, still wearing its history — and still, very likely, much of its original wiring and plumbing.
Photos from recent ValueGuard inspections in Harrowgate.
ii. The four services that matter most
What to inspect in 19134.
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 whatever you’re buying in Harrowgate, whether a 130-year-old original rowhome, a re-sided home, a flip, or a brand-new build.
Sewer Scope Inspection
Strongly worth it in Harrowgate, where the clay and cast-iron sewer laterals can be well over a century old. 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 in Harrowgate rowhomes with basements and below-grade living space. Our PA DEP-certified technicians use tamper-resistant electronic monitors with 48-hour turnaround. Mitigation, if needed, typically runs $800 to $2,500.
New-Construction & Renovation Inspections
Built for Harrowgate’s wave of new infill builds and investor flips. We handle pre-drywall, pre-close, and 11-month warranty inspections on new construction, and look hard at whether a flip’s recent work was done properly or just made to look finished.
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iii. Your local inspection team
Meet your inspectors.
When you book ValueGuard in Harrowgate, you get inspectors who have walked thousands of North Philadelphia rowhomes, renovations, and new-construction builds — 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
Harrowgate 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 Harrowgate?
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Do I need a home inspector in Harrowgate who knows the neighborhood?
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Should I get a sewer scope on a Harrowgate home?
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What should I watch for with a flipped or renovated Harrowgate home?
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What are the biggest issues in Harrowgate homes?
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Can I be present during the inspection?
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How quickly can I schedule in Harrowgate?
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vii. Serving all of Philadelphia
Also inspecting nearby neighborhoods.
Wherever you’re buying in Philadelphia, ValueGuard is your local inspector.
Ready when you are
Let’s take a closer look at your Harrowgate home.
Book online in under 3 minutes — or call (215) 860-3150. Seven days a week. Report in your inbox tomorrow. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
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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 Harrowgate · Serving Harrowgate (19134) and every Philadelphia neighborhood
