Home Inspections 101.

Level 2 Chimney Inspection: What Home Buyers Need to Know Before Closing

A CSIA-certified inspector explains what a Level 2 chimney inspection finds inside the flue, and why buyers should book one before closing.

Buying a Home This Fall? The 5 Problems We Found Most in 451 Fall Inspections

Buying a home in the fall comes with a built-in deadline. You close, you move in, and within a few weeks the heat is running, the fireplace looks tempting, the...

Vermiculite Insulation: Asbestos Risk & What Buyers Should Do

The Short Answer Vermiculite insulation is a loose, pebble-like mineral insulation poured between attic joists in many homes built or insulated before about 1990. More than 70% of the vermiculite...

Termite Inspections in Philadelphia: What Homebuyers Need to Know Before Closing

By Tyler Gilger, Vice President, Field Operations · Updated September 24, 2026 · 11-minute read Reviewed by a ValueGuard Master Inspector · Based on 94,000+ inspections since 1997 · Add...

The 10 Most Common Home Inspection Problems in Philadelphia (From 1,999 Reports)

We went through 1,999 of our own home inspection reports. Missing smoke or CO detectors topped the list at 59.6% of homes. Here's the full top 10 and what each one means.

First-Time Home Buyer Anxiety: Why You Feel It, and How to Beat It

The Short Version First-time home buyer anxiety is a response to uncertainty, not evidence that the house is bad. Buying your first home means taking on a mortgage, taxes, insurance...

Why is that smoke detector yellow?

It's not dirt—it's a built-in expiration date! Bromine in the plastic signals it's 10+ years old and failing. Replace now to slash fire death risk by 60%. ValueGuard's guide has the fixes.

Waived the Home Inspection to Get the House? Get One Now

The Short Version A post-settlement home inspection is a full inspection performed after you already own the home. Buyers order one when they waived the inspection to win a competitive...

How to Read Your Home Inspection Report

The Short Version Read a home inspection report in this order: the severity badges first, the Limitations sections second, and the full narrative last. Sort every finding by badge rather...

AFCI vs. GFCI: A Homeowner’s Guide to the Outlets That Keep You Safe.

GFCIs stop shocks. AFCIs stop fires. Here's the plain-English difference between these two life-saving devices, how they work, and where your home needs them—no electrician's license required.

The Buyer’s Field Guide to Inspecting a Flip: What a Fresh Coat of Paint Can’t Hide

Fresh paint and a new kitchen can hide serious problems. See what a real flip house inspection uncovered—bowing wall, notched joists, uncapped gas line—and the red flags every buyer should check.

7 Mistakes You’re Making with Your Philadelphia Rowhouse Inspection (And How to Avoid Them)

From skipped sewer scopes to misread starbolts and city radon myths — the 7 costliest Philadelphia rowhouse inspection mistakes, what each one can cost you, and exactly how to avoid every single one.

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