I recently sold a home inspected by Tom Harding and was appalled at the lack of critical training and professionalism displayed by this man. Home inspectors are not licensed or regulated and can take online courses to get their training. We will be checking his accreditation. An inspector is to remain neutral and unbiased and is to point out possible problems and also any upgrades that may affect the overall property as far as safety and value. This man took the new buyers, a young couple, around the house pointing out perceived defects and stating that many issues he noted must be inspected by a licensed electrician, plumber, HVAC, roofer, etc. My question to all of you is why are you hiring someone who can't give you a specific assessment about a perceived problem and an estimate to repair, IF indeed a repair is necessary. The terms he uses are inflammatory and slanted towards "finding problems". For example, in my 25+ yr old home he found "water damage" in many locations of the house. While over the years there had been leaks, those leaks had been repaired. What he found was rather signs of water intrusion rather than "water damage". A big difference! How do I know this? I am a licensed engineer and building inspector myself. Whereas he sees a water stain on the plywood sheathing in the garage and calls it "water damage", I see where water came in, plywood got wet, roof was fixed and plywood dried out and is structurally fine. So what is his damage that needs to be repaired? We had a painter come by to give us an estimate to paint the inside of the house. He tried several similar colors on the den room ceiling and left it to dry. Inspector Harding on his tour of the house showed the young couple these "indicators of water damage" that took a "trained eye" to spot! What didn't he put in his report? He mentioned nothing about his finding no wet spots associated with any water intrusion right after three long weeks of storms! All sellers must disclose any possible problems to the seller in written form which I did and so informed them that I had a major roof underlayment replacement in about 2009. In his report, Harding refers to my resent (Yes, that is how this officially trained inspector spells the word recent!) work. Did he notice all the blue tarps on roofs all around my home but not needed on mine? So how much should all this "water damage" amount to? He doesn't tell them. They should hire a roofer. How much damage should be charged to install a missing knockout in the electrical service box - that should be investigated by a licensed electrician? He doesn't provide the buyers with any specifics. (By the way, it is a 5 minute job and a fifty cent item to fix the missing knockout - talk about blowing something WAY out of proportion!) So what was the result of his inspection? He gave the buyers a 50+ page report where he made no recommendations but to hire someone else who is licensed in each area and that many things could not be observed because of homeowners possessions blocking his view (note the house was almost completely vacant - nothing blocking his view!) The young couple, dollar signs in their eyes, asked for a large sum of money for taking care of "repairs" through their agent. I responded with 'what repairs'? I wanted specific dollar cost per item that actually needed repair. Well they just spent three to four hundred dollars on a home inspection that basically told them nothing. I fixed the "electrical issues" myself in five minutes and told them I wasn't paying anything for non-existent repairs. This almost caused the buyers to back out of the sale. I invited them, through my agent, to have any truly licensed inspector such as from the City come take a look but they never took up my offer. The sale finally went through and this couple got a very nice home in great condition and I had previously given them a substantial credit for painting, carpet and any minor repairs. Had the sale fallen through, Mr. Harding would be in court right now. As it is we will be making a complaint against his accreditors and petitioning Consumer Affairs to actually license home inspectors. read more

Recently my family and I started our search for a new home. So, having a father that is a general contractor and a mother that is a realtor I knew that attaining a quality home inspector was key in finding our perfect home. After scouring the internet and reading multiple reviews and company backgrounds, it was clear to me that TH Inspection Services was the company to hire for our inspection. Upon contacting Tom about inspecting a property he was quick to respond and cordate with us, and our realtor about a time that would work for all of us. The day of the inspection, he arrived early and was just coming down from inspecting the roof when we arrived. After introductions, Tom informed us as to what he would be inspecting on the property and that we should follow him around so that he could point out the problem areas and answer any question you may have during the inspection process. Through, meticulous, and attention to detail are just a few things on a long list of complements that would describe Toms inspection practices. The inspection lasted more than three hours and I felt that I knew all the ins and outs of the home once we were finished. I was wrong, because afterword he then puts together a report that once again is extremely detailed after reviewing the 63 page report I than new all the ins and outs to the home.(Note: I passed this report around to friends and family and everyone that viewed it was in awe. The report was truly a piece of art, again the complements from all that view the report all centered around the word through.) After the inspection and the review of his report I than took his advice and had the appropriate trade professionals inspect the property. Thanks to his expertize I avoided a true nightmare. Soon after dogging that bullet, we found another home and of course, I contacted TH Inspection Services for our home inspection. Tom was kind enough to give us a discount on the second properties inspection and of course, he did not disappoint with the inspection. Tom thank you for your help in finding our dream home, and to everyone else reading this when it comes to a home inspection, hire TH Inspection Services they will not disappoint and if you do not use them you are truly missing out on top notch service. read more

OMG!!! What GREAT service Tom provides. While inquiring about a home inspection, Tom responded back quick and let me know what information he needed to provide me with a quote. After receiving my quote he was able to schedule me in with an appointment for the following day. He gave me a 10 am appointment, he was there before 9:45 am. He explained everything he was going to do and told me that he recommends I follow him throughout the inspection except for on the roof and in the attic. Needless to say I just met Tom and he made me feel at ease from the initial greeting to make me feel like I've been knowing him for years. I signed the contract and Tom was on his way. After he came from the roof, I thought an inspector would basically tell me to stay away and let him do his job, NOOOOOOO!!! Tom was like lets start here and so on and so on. We went from how to identify my property line to knowing where my gas shutoff, water shutoff, utility lines and breakers were located. We explored the whole exterior of the house and he kept asking me if I had any questions along the way. He definitely wanted to make sure I was familiar with the home I was purchasing and what to do to make sure it last. We went inside the house and he tested just about everything that could possibly be tested in the house. Every single appliance in the house he tested and made sure it was in working condition and up to specs. As he continued with the inspection, he offered plenty of tidbits to do so you can make sure your property and items will last. Tom also took pictures of just about everything. All safety hazards, gas shutoff, water shutoff and your drains. He did a complete and thorough inspection in about 2.5 hours. After he finished the inspection, he said that he normally completes his report in about 48 hours, but he would have my report ready first thing the next morning. Needless to say he was so amazing that he completed it the same day. Today was my inspection and my report is in hand right now. His report is very thorough with all the pictures to show what he noted during the inspection. If you or anyone you know needs a home inspection, PLEASE contact Tom, you definitely won't be disappointed! Thanks again Tom!!! read more

I'm a first time home buyer so the whole purchasing process is new to me. When it came to the part of the escrow process where we needed to get our home inspection done I started to get nervous by what I found. A cursory search about home inspectors reveals that there's no state rules, regulations or licenses required for home inspectors. Anybody with a flashlight, clipboard and a business card can call themselves an inspector even if they have no experience with construction or home building. That's why I'm glad I found Tom Harding with the help of Yelp reviews. He's a licensed contractor, he's had decades of experience in construction and it really shows when he's inspecting a home. He encouraged my fiance and I to tag along with him as he inspected every inch of our potential home. He called out things as he went and explained the significance of what he saw as well as how they might be likely to be fixed. He took the time to answer any seemingly dumb questions that first time home buyers like ourselves have when going through this for the first time. We got our report in less than 24 hours and it was incredibly detailed. He mentioned every little thing that he saw both big and small. He put a condensed list of safety and more severe issues that need to be fixed immediately in red lettering at the beginning of the report to easily know what to concentrate on in negotiations with our seller. The report went into detail to let us know what types of contractors might be referenced to help remedy different issues (plumbing, HVAC, electricians, etc) as well. The bottom line is that Tom Harding is a true professional who is up front about everything with his clients. He's friendly, easy to talk to and very thorough. Hiring a home inspector is one of the most important things you'll do on your way to making one of the largest financial investments of your life, don't go with the lowest bidder or the first person you find. If you're looking for a great professional home inspector in the Antelope Valley area, be sure to give Mr. Harding a call! read more

I have had two home inspections; both of them were performed recently. Tom did the first one, on a single-family home in Bakersfield. The second one was on a single-story condo unit (about the same size as Bakersfield house) in Fresno, which is outside Tom's service area. I was quite pleased at the thoroughness of Tom's inspection at the time he did it, but I am now even more impressed after having gone through a second-rate inspection. In a nutshell, Tom was far more thorough in his inspection when compared to the other guy. First of all, Tom arrived well before the scheduled appointment time and inspected the roof and took numerous pictures. He also took many more pictures throughout the house than the other guy did. Tom also, for example, checked all the electric outlets to see if they were functioning properly. The other guy spent half an hour fumbling with central air & heating controls, trying to figure it out, even though I told him that I considered that to be a minor detail and he should do it last. I walked around with Tom during the inspection, and he was very forthcoming with information about the house. When the other guy finally finished playing with the air conditioner, he went up onto the flat roof and told me there were a lot of pine needles that needed to be cleaned off, and he couldn't tell me the condition of the roof because of them. When I was waiting for him to go around the house with me to check the electric outlets, the windows, and so forth (like Tom did), he said he was finished! Tom's report was wonderfully detailed, but the other guy's report mostly said this "appears serviceable," and that "appears serviceable." I am confident you will be quite pleased with Tom. read more

We were extremely please with the services of Tom Harding, with TH Inspections. He was referred to us by our realtor, Tammie. She dubbed him the "Deal Breaker!" LOL! She said, "If there's anything wrong to be found with the home, Tom will find it." That's EXACTLY what we wanted to hear, so we contacted him and was able to get an appointment that same week. When we arrived for the, Tom was already set up and ready to go. He recommended that my husband accompany him during the inspection. He explained exactly what he was doing, took lots of pictures, and made recommendations for maintenance, replacements, etc. based on his findings. It was a long process, and this guy was extremely detailed, to my great appreciation. Within 48 hours we had Tom's report with everything he had pointed out, complete with accompanying color photos. Tom's service is beyond what we ever imagined. He remained very professional during the inspection. His expertise, his knowledge and the professional manner in which he dealt with us was very impressive. We walked away feeling very confident about the home we were purchasing. If you are buying home I HIGHLY recommend using Tom, with TH Inspections, for your home inspection. If you are selling a home and want to find out if there are any issues you should give attention to before listing your home, give Tom a call. You will not be disappointed. Here is a link to his Yelp page: read more

After searching yelp for a home inspector in the Antelope Valley, TH Inspection Services was at the top of the list and that is for a very good reason. I messaged Tom on yelp and let him know that we are first time buyers. He responded very quickly and we were pleased to hear that he specializes in first time buyers. I provided the information he requested and he quickly came back with an extremely reasonable quote. Tom was more than happy to perform the home inspection on a Saturday morning. He even sent a courtesy text the day before to remind us of the inspection. The inspection took about 2 1/2 hours for a single story 1,600 sq. ft. home and Tom was extremely thorough (as every inspector should be). He not only found things that we didn't think to look for but also told us how to go about repairing these issues. After the inspection was done we received an extremely detailed and very professional 55-page report with photos and all health/safety issues/concerns marked in red all within 24 hours of the inspection. He even went ahead and sent the report to our Realtor. Tom was very professional throughout the entire process and did not miss a beat. I could not be more happy with not only the price but the incredible work performed on this inspection. Highly recommended and will most definitely be looking forward to using TH Inspection Services in the future! read more

I am a mega picky/technical/micro-detail/perfectionist and home buying was one of the most nerve wrecking experiences as there are so many unknowns. Tom Harding is the best inspector in the Antelope Valley Area 1. He saved me over 10k in buyer credits for repairs 2. His inspection of one of my first home choices showed structural adjustments that Sellers did not disclosed, I would have bought the home and never known!! 3. His reports are extremely detailed and literally give you all the information you need to take care of your home, negotiate in the buying process, and repair even after the closing date 4. Tom guided a me (First time home buyer) through what to look for in a house that are red flags, huge experience with building codes and requirements, and not to mention the good things with the house such as a top of the line upgrade a seller made to the home 5. His prices are great and i had him inspect 2 of the homes I was bidding for and did not need to hesitate in calling him first! I also had a 7 day inspection contingency he not only inspected the house in a day but also gave me the full report the next morning!!!! with full accuracy as my current contractors repeated everything he said in his report As a CFO of a mid-sized company, quality like this is hard to come by and when I have future inspections or referrals Tom is at the top of my list! read more

What Can I say About Tom other then He was at the house before my wife Barbara and I . He was already on the roof doing what he does best. Tom Came down after he was done inspecting the roof, and came inside the house and explained to us in detail what he was going to do. My wife and I followed him where ever he went starting with the front yard and worked our way to the back yard and then proceeded to the inside of the house. The Inspection took about 2hours and 45 minutes. Tom pointed out everything to us as what needed repair or attention; such as exposed wires near the pool and faulty GFI outlets through out the house. Trip area out side and balance of temperature for A/C and Heating. He also mentioned to us about the fire place had never ever been used. We are very satisfied of what we paid for as to it gave us a understanding of what we needed to be aware of thru out the Home Barbara and I were purchasing. We Highly Recommend his services to any one that is ready to buy a home. He was very thorough and explanative of all questions asked of him. TH Inspection Services Are what you want when you need to know what your Buying. Tom Thank You so Very Much!!! SSG Jesse J. Equihua U.S. Army Retired read more

I am a realtor in Washington State and I was helping my Aunt and Uncle with referrals to buy a property in the greater Palmdale area. I was given two inspector's names to call and I interviewed both of them on behalf of my family. I spoke to the first one and I wasn't very impressed with his answers. When I called Tom Harding to interview him for the job, he gave me complete answers, told me what his service covers for the price he was charging and told me his process when going through a home on the inspection. He also included a RecallCheck with his service on the appliances (which I use an inspector here in Washington that does the same thing) and I was impressed with Toms answers. He was THOROUGH in his inspection (to the dismay of the buyer's agent) and his report was clean, easy to read and understand by my family. My family was THRILLED with the job Tom Harding did on the inspection of the home they are buying. I would HIGHLY recommend Tom to anyone to do their home inspection, after all, you are buying a HUGE investment and you want to make sure your investment won't crumble after you buy it or be a money pit!!! Use Tom and you'll have an informed report of the home you are purchasing!!! Yvonne Nystrom Your Choice Real Estate NW Orting, Washington read more

Tom was very generous and inviting. For starters, he was early. He was waiting on me, something that grabbed my attention. He made me feel comfortable from the beginning and thorughly explained the process to me. You can immediately sense the pride he has in his job and that he wants to do the inspection the right way. He started right away and pointed out the smallest things. His attention to detail put me at ease. I knew that if there was a cause for concern, it would get pointed out. As we went through, he explained what he was looking at, took pictures of them and explained how they could be fixed or replaced if necessary. He also explained why certain things were placed the way they were. For example, some plug sockets are upside down because they are wired to the switch on the wall. He did this for every single item he looked at. As a first time homebuyer, I would recommend his service to anyone that simply wants a piece of mind about the quality of their home. I would highly recommend him to anyone who wants to spot a problem and know how to fix it. He did an amazing job. He assured me that I was getting a good home, and made sure that I could be able to not only find problems, but fix them. IF YOU NEED AN INSPECTION DONE...CHOOSE THIS MAN!! read more

I've nothing but good things to say about TH Inspection Services. The TH Inspection Services website provides a great example of the product he delivers. Communication and coordination with Tom was both prompt and professional. He provided multiple means of contact, which made coordination easy, despite us being on a tight timeline. Upon our arrival at the property being inspected, we found Tom had already shown up and completed his inspection of the roof. After greetings and introductions, Tom conducted a thorough inspection with us present. This allowed to him explain his findings and answer any and all questions we may have as well as provide tips and instructions on how to use and maintain many of the features of the house we may not be familiar with. Tom's approach to home inspection was deliberate and well planned out. He took the time necessary to check every possible item. When he did find an issue, he explained the the severity and corrective actions clearly. Tom's inspection report was as thorough and professional as his inspection process was. He provides clear pictures and notes on every aspect of the inspection. I have the utmost confidence in Tom's inspection, and would highly recommend him. read more

Tom has been the home inspector for three of my clients. Each time, Tom arrived early. I have never had to wait for Tom to arrive at the home. Tom's work product is thorough, but you also have to understand what the scope of service is (in response to Samantha's review). Tom is meticulous in leaving the property the way it was found. He restores the settings on the air conditioner/heat control to the way it was found, so the homeowner does not have to reset them. He encourages questions, and will take the time to explain what and why he is doing what he is doing. He makes recommendations, as he should, so the potential homebuyers are aware and knows what they are in for, good or bad. He offers his clients Recall Check services, which is a nice touch. He is professional, prompt and courteous. As a Realtor®, the turnaround time for his report is quick. He says to allow 48 hours for the report, but my experience has been less than 24 hours. In the real estate world, "time is of the essence" so this is greatly appreciative. I can honestly say that in the future if I'm in need of a home inspection, I would use TH Inspection Services myself. Karen T. Brown HomeBased Realty read more

I found Tom on YELP! I read all of the reviews and I decided to contact him for my home inspection. All the reviews on YELP were very positive. I contacted Tom to do my new home inspection for 2/16/17. I'm so glad I did. When I arrived Tom was already there and had already inspected the roof and took pictures of his findings. The money spent was well worth it. I had my home inspection the day before my walk through with my builder. So, I was aware of the minor problems and was able to point things out to my builder during my walkthrough. Tom found out that my HVAC wasn't working properly. Although I have a 2 year warranty from the builder, it was good to know up front that it wasn't working properly and now I can be on the lookout for any other problems that may occur. Tom was very thorough in his report and the turn around was 24 hours for me. I was able to email the builder a copy of the 44 page report complete with pictures before I had my walkthrough with them. So, he was already aware of the existing problems. I definitely recommend Tom if you need a home inspector. He's awesome! I will be passing his name on to people I know. Thank you so much Tom!!!!!!!! read more

After a lot of research we chose to use tom as our home inspector. We were extremely pleased with what we got for the price we paid. He is extremely thorough, and quite friendly, explained everything verbally and in writing in a manner that was easy to understand. Even my agent was extremely pleased with the inspection, and said she would recommend him to her other clients. The inspection itself took 3 hours, our home is 2000 sq feet. Being that the sellers were still living in it some things couldn't be checked, but walking into the home we feel good knowing its state. I left the inspection feeling I had all the knowledge I needed to relay the state of the house to my husband and when the report came he was able to understand it easily. We received our final report very quick and though the size of the document felt intimidating at first, going through it was educating. He said his report would read like a manual of the house and he was I correct. It is a document we will keep for as long as we have the house. We feel quite equipped to maintain the home & its upkeep. If/when we decide to buy another home we will definitely be calling Tom to inspect it. read more

I am assisting my mother-in-law purchase a home in a mobile home park. I called Tom to do a full inspection of the mobile home. Tom's inspection covered pretty much darn near everything from the roof to the crawl space and everything in between. During the inspection Tom took his time and fully documented and explained in detail all the issues that were visible to him. He also has a wealth of info regarding the current building codes and such. I received Tom's written report the day following the inspection. The report was extremely detailed and thorough, in our case weighing in at 45 pages long. Tom also fully annotates the report with plenty of helpful pictures. On top of that he also checks to see if any of the installed appliances, heaters and the like have any recalls in place. In order for Tom to do his full inspection be sure to have all electric, water, gas and pilot lights lit so he can fully test everything in the home. Tom's fee is well worth it, that's for sure! read more

I hired Tom because he is highly rated on Yelp and it turned out that the reviews are exactly right. Tom is very meticulous and extremely knowledgeable, he knows about all the trades of the construction industry and that's why he is able to inspect every aspect of the house from a builder's perspective. Although I followed Tom around during the inspection but I didn't need to because he inspects everything in detail for its structure and function and safety and takes pictures for the record. The report he gave me is very detailed and accurate along with pictures. I wish if they can hire more people like him in the government, it will perform a lot more effectively than it does now. My review sounds like an AD for him but this is all true and I am his real customer. He is really good, I recommend you can hire him and I can assure you, you will be happy with his work too. read more