Lehigh Valley, PA and Surrounding Areas
Hearthside Home Inspections:
Your Home inspector for Life

Meet Your Inspector
With over 25 years of experience in home and commercial inspections, James is a seasoned professional dedicated to helping clients make confident, informed decisions. In 2022, he launched Hearthside Home Inspections, a company built on trust, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. Since then, James has proudly served thousands of satisfied clients and real estate professionals across the region.
Beyond his expertise in inspections, James is a longtime volunteer firefighter, always ready to lend a hand and support his community. He loves spending time outdoors, exploring new places, and traveling with his wife of 43 years. James brings not only technical knowledge but also a personal touch to every inspection—because to him, it’s not just about homes, it’s about people.
Certifications acquired through home inspector training from InterNACHI
Lehigh Valley's Premier Inspection Services
Every inspection comes with FREE thermal imaging so we can detect hidden issues like moisture intrusion, insulation gaps, and electrical problems.
Buyers Inspections
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. Before you buy, you should have a home inspection to avoid potentially costly repairs that would otherwise go undetected until they become even more costly. This is our typical home inspection that catches common defects so you understand the investment you’re making.
Pre-Listing Inspections
Some homeowners want to make repairs to their house before they put it on the market and will make repairs using their inspection report as a baseline reference. Please understand that most buyers will still want to perform their own inspection even if the seller has already had an inspection done.
Radon Testing
Radon is colorless and odorless, and it is extremely carcinogenic. According to the EPA, radon is one of the leading contributors to the development of lung cancer, behind only smoking. For this reason, regular radon testing is key whether you’re a homeowner, or you’re interested in purchasing a home.
Thermal Imaging
The purpose of an infrared scan is to find issues that may not be visible to the naked eye and catch them before they become a major problem. With the use of our infrared camera, we can help identify moisture, insulation, electrical, HVAC issues, and more.
Wood Destroying Insect Inspection
Getting a wood destroying insect (WDI) inspection will help you determine if there are pests in your home, and what the next steps will be.
Well Inspections
We provide thorough well flow testing services to ensure your private well delivers a reliable water supply. Our expert inspectors measure the flow rate in gallons per minute, assess water pressure, and evaluate the well's sustainability over time. We also examine the condition of well equipment, including the pump, pressure tank, and piping. Our detailed reports help homeowners and buyers understand their water system's capacity and reliability, ensuring it meets their needs.
Water Quality Testing
Water quality testing involves analyzing a water sample to determine the presence and concentration of various chemical, physical, and biological characteristics. These characteristics can include things like pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and the presence of contaminants such as heavy metals or pathogens.
Mold Assessments & Testing
There are over 400,000 types of mold, and while there are only a few dozen that are toxic, exposure to many molds can lead to health problems. It can also cause structural damage to your house.
Septic Inspections
Having your septic tank inspected can save you thousands of dollars from major septic repairs if issues are not caught early on.
Stucco Evaluations and Testing
We assess the quality, durability, and performance of stucco materials and applications to ensure compliance with industry standards and prevent potential issues such as moisture intrusion or cracking.
Lead Paint Testing
Lead paint is no longer widely used in America, but older homes may still have used it, which can break down and cause lead poisoning and toxicity in both adults and children. If you are interested in purchasing a home that was built before the 1970's and you have reason to believe lead paint may be present, lead paint testing is an essential home inspection step.
Schedule Online
Whether you're a homeowner, real estate agent, or builder, trust Hearthside Home Inspections for reliable, top-notch inspection services tailored to your unique needs.
The Best Modern Report in the Industry
The Best Modern Report in the Industry

While Hearthside Home Inspections encourages our clients to walk through the home with us, we understand that you may be too busy, and may not have time to do so.
Regardless of whether or not you attend the inspection, we will compile a comprehensive Spectora report, which includes all of the information you need to determine the condition of the home.
We will deliver our report within 24 hours of the conclusion of your home inspection, so that you can quickly access a full overview of our findings – and discuss them with us and your agent.
Customer Reviews
Check Out Our Testimonials
bryan stone
Jim arrived early to the inspection and completed work ahead of the scheduled time. He proceeded to share with me... read moreJim arrived early to the inspection and completed work ahead of the scheduled time. He proceeded to share with me any findings and meticulously took me through my future home pointing out issues as well as how to properly maintain various items and what to keep an eye out for should issues arise. Jim gave me confidence in both identifying issues and as a homeowner to take better care of my future home. I highly recommend his services. read less - 4/22/2025Peter Mesias Males Cando
I’ve got the best inspection for the best inspector, thank you very much Jim Summers for your job, makes me... read moreI’ve got the best inspection for the best inspector, thank you very much Jim Summers for your job, makes me feel confident on my next step in my way as a first time home buyer. read less - 4/17/2025Daria
Jim was amazing to work with for our home inspection! He was very thorough and made the process so easy.... read moreJim was amazing to work with for our home inspection! He was very thorough and made the process so easy. He clearly explained any areas of concern to us and laid out the options we may have to fix them (which we really appreciated as first time homebuyers). We got our report back within a few days, as promised, which was easy to read and very detailed! Thank you Jim!! read less - 4/15/2025Ben Licona
Jim with Hearthside home inspections was incredible. He was able to get us a home inspection with very little notice... read moreJim with Hearthside home inspections was incredible. He was able to get us a home inspection with very little notice and went above and beyond with his report and inspections. Throughout the entire process he was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and walked us through all areas of concern. He is truly passionate about his profession and it shows with how much care and time he takes with not only the inspection itself but the thorough and clear report after. He uses pictures, drones, diagrams and a lot of other useful resources that really show you everything you need to know as well as additional information to research further. I would highly recommend hearthside home inspections. We will certainly only be using them moving forward. read less - 4/09/2025Miranda Romani
Loved working with Jim for my home inspection! He was very knowledgeable about everything, answered all my questions. He’s very... read moreLoved working with Jim for my home inspection! He was very knowledgeable about everything, answered all my questions. He’s very friendly. I feel that he went above and beyond for my inspection! read less - 4/02/2025Skippack Sweet Spot
Jim has been extremely responsive and incredibly thorough and helpful through my home inspection journey. I would and will highly... read moreJim has been extremely responsive and incredibly thorough and helpful through my home inspection journey. I would and will highly recommend him. read less - 3/19/2025Billy Edger
Jim was a pleasure to work with and was both diligent and thorough throughout the home and termite inspection process.... read moreJim was a pleasure to work with and was both diligent and thorough throughout the home and termite inspection process. As a first-time home buyer, it was extremely helpful to have Jim explain everything he was looking at, why he was looking at it, articulated succinctly his findings (which made it easy to understand!) and even showed my wife and I how certain things worked (boiler, hot water heater, etc.). Jim's report he sent us was extremely detailed with pictures to accompany his explanations. It is also worth noting that A) Jim showed up early for the inspection and patiently waited while we were simultaneously dealing with other inspectors that day; and B) the payment process was seamless which was appreciated given the number of vendors we have been working with aside from Jim. I would highly recommend Jim/Hearthside Home Inspections! read less - 3/09/2025Evan Baum
Jim was great to work with for our recent home inspection. He took the time to understand our areas of... read moreJim was great to work with for our recent home inspection. He took the time to understand our areas of concern and address our questions as we went throughout the property. His report comprehensively captured pictures and descriptions both of what was in need of being addressed, as well as what was found to be in good working order. We never felt rushed or felt like we had stupid question when working with Jim, which making the entire process very reassuring. read less - 3/09/2025kimberly wilson
Extremely knowledgeable, personable, honest, and thoroughly intelligent. James stopped by and inspected my house for safety and other inspections on... read moreExtremely knowledgeable, personable, honest, and thoroughly intelligent. James stopped by and inspected my house for safety and other inspections on the property that I had concerns about. He went above and beyond with the inspection of not only minor defects, material defects, major defects, but also other safety issues that I should keep in mind when selling the house. All inspection reports were made available to me through a secure website. I have now saved the report electronically, and have printed a physical copy. For those of you who have had to get a safety inspection would appreciate the level of service provided through a flat fee, and the convenience of getting your data. You would also appreciate the level of honesty and integrity provided. It's very difficult to find a company that is honest, thorough, and affordable at the same time. Lucky for me, these issues for the most part will be easy enough for me to resolve them by myself. I am now a permanent client of Hearthside Home Inspections. This is silly but even my cat approved of this gentleman and followed him around. THANKS JAMES!!! read less - 2/09/2025Abigail R. Brown
Jim was wonderful to work with for our home inspection! He took the time to explain everything to us step... read moreJim was wonderful to work with for our home inspection! He took the time to explain everything to us step by step, pausing for all of our questions or concerns, and all with a professional and friendly demeanor. He was prompt (if not early) for our inspection and timely is sending the final report. We would love to give him more business in the future! read less - 1/09/2025Alina Skrzat
Jim is a very knowledgeable inspector! He is quick to reply and very efficient at his job. He has been... read moreJim is a very knowledgeable inspector! He is quick to reply and very efficient at his job. He has been doing inspections for 24 years and you can tell he loves it! Would recommend him to everyone. read less - 1/09/2025nick frey
Jim is a great guy! Helped explain every detail about our home inspection! I would highly recommend! Tells you everything... read moreJim is a great guy! Helped explain every detail about our home inspection! I would highly recommend! Tells you everything you need to know! Is always asking if we have any questions about anything and is really outgoing! read less - 12/09/2024Lisa K
Jim is great! Jim inspected the first home I put an offer on and he made the process very easy.... read moreJim is great! Jim inspected the first home I put an offer on and he made the process very easy. Jim was very thorough and made sure that I understood every corner of the home. Being a first time home buyer is already overwhelming, but with Jim made the inspection process less overwhelming. Jim took the time to explain everything and gave valuable advice on how to maintain the home. I would highly recommend Jim! read less - 11/09/2024Jason Nguyen
Jim was great. Easy to schedule, on-time, and gave good insights. Let us know why something was good or bad,... read moreJim was great. Easy to schedule, on-time, and gave good insights. Let us know why something was good or bad, and even gave us comparisons to help us understand why something was good and bad. Helped give estimates on repairs too so we'd get an idea of what would be needed. The additional tips for home maintenance was greatly appreciated too. Worth the money. read less - 10/09/2024John Monfiletto
Jim is the best around! Had a great inspection with Jim, very thorough and explained everything exterior and interior about... read moreJim is the best around! Had a great inspection with Jim, very thorough and explained everything exterior and interior about the house to us. Great experience! 110% recommend!!! read less - 10/09/2024Patrick McCauley
Jim was very thorough and knowledgeable - he was patient in explaining everything related to the inspection. Overall, we are... read moreJim was very thorough and knowledgeable - he was patient in explaining everything related to the inspection. Overall, we are very happy with our experience read less - 10/09/2024Annaliese Allen
Fantastic experience and service. Jim is professional, prompt, and wildly helpful. He cares about his clients, and the work that... read moreFantastic experience and service. Jim is professional, prompt, and wildly helpful. He cares about his clients, and the work that he does, and it shows. The report received was comprehensive, and very thorough. I won't use any other home inspector! Thank you! read less - 9/09/2024Suzy Kennedy
Jim was superb! He was able to give us a timely and thorough inspection in this hot housing market. We... read moreJim was superb! He was able to give us a timely and thorough inspection in this hot housing market. We would absolutely use his services again should the need arise. read less - 9/09/2024Becka Mills
Jim came and did an inspection of a house we were interested in purchasing. His inspection report was so detailed... read moreJim came and did an inspection of a house we were interested in purchasing. His inspection report was so detailed and laid out everything including things we had no idea to look for! Two years later when we need a document for our insurance we contacted Jim and asked if he could provide us a document about our inspection and he got it to us within minutes! We will definitely use Hearthside Home Inspections, specifically Jim, for all our inspection needs! Highly recommend him! read less - 8/09/2024Claire McDonnell
Jim Summers is the most professional individual I've dealt with ever! I was suspicious that my apartment contained mold and... read moreJim Summers is the most professional individual I've dealt with ever! I was suspicious that my apartment contained mold and the management didn't agree. He immediately responded to my request for testing. His findings, report, and recommendations left them with no option but to gut my apartment and remediate the situation. As someone with a respiratory issue, I'm forever grateful. Thank you, Jim! read less - 8/09/2024Zach Rocchino
As a first time home buyer, Jim was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. He took his time... read moreAs a first time home buyer, Jim was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. He took his time explaining everything, what was normal, what needed attention, and how to maintain it for the long term. He’s a great guy and super professional. He went room by room and outdoors and explained everything thoroughly. I couldn’t be happier with his service and highly recommend him! read less - 8/09/2024Amanda Zanolini
Jim was so thorough and left no stone unturned! He was knowledgeable about each issue that he found and knew... read moreJim was so thorough and left no stone unturned! He was knowledgeable about each issue that he found and knew solutions for the minor ones that even a novice DIYer like me felt confident in completing. It's very clear that he loves his job and loves helping homeowners and future homeowners. I would recommend him a thousand times over! read less - 8/09/2024Mik Lyakhovolsky
Very efficient and a great guy, came in a timely manner and during the whole process he was very professional... read moreVery efficient and a great guy, came in a timely manner and during the whole process he was very professional and informative. I would 100% recommend this service to everyone who’s purchasing a home and needs a home inspection done. read less - 8/09/2024Peter Giorgio
Jim is very professional, thorough, and approachable. He answered all of my questions and found answers to many problems that... read moreJim is very professional, thorough, and approachable. He answered all of my questions and found answers to many problems that presented themselves. Thanks, Jim, for making me and my wife's first home a safe place for our family! read less - 8/09/2024Octavia Savage
I highly recommend Hearthside Home Inspection. Jim is very professional and even offered advice on how to maintain my new... read moreI highly recommend Hearthside Home Inspection. Jim is very professional and even offered advice on how to maintain my new home. Also, the inspection report turn around time was impressive. read less - 8/09/2024Jessica Musicus
WOW - we purchased our very first home this week and wanted to have an inspector come to check things... read moreWOW - we purchased our very first home this week and wanted to have an inspector come to check things out. I did my research, and found Jim off of an official government website that suggests vendors. Jim is great! He is incredibly responsive and knowledgeable. At the inspection, he definitely knew what he was doing. He was meticulous, looking at every single thing in the house, and gave us sooo many tips! You can tell he is passionate about his line of work and loves what he does. We will be using him for further inspections after moving in. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend!! read less - 7/09/2024Shannon Wasilewski
James was wonderful! He did a thorough job, took his time and answered all my questions during the home inspection!... read moreJames was wonderful! He did a thorough job, took his time and answered all my questions during the home inspection! I felt confident with the in-depth inspection he provided. read less - 7/09/2024Harrison Pizzi
I had an excellent experience with Jim at Hearthside Home Inspections. He was extremely knowledgeable and thorough in his inspection.... read moreI had an excellent experience with Jim at Hearthside Home Inspections. He was extremely knowledgeable and thorough in his inspection. He took the time to explain his findings in detail and answered all my questions. I highly recommend his services to anyone in need of a reliable home inspector! read less - 6/09/2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation. Home inspections are designed to protect the buyer, by revealing problems they might not have noticed otherwise.
How much does a home inspection cost?
Our home inspections start at $375. The cost will vary based on the square footage of the home, the age of the home, and location of the home. Call, text, or email us for a quote today!
How long does a home inspection take?
Home inspections generally take 2 to 4 hours to complete. The duration of a home inspection depends on many factors such as the size of the home, the condition of the home, and the ability to access certain areas of the home (roof, crawl space, attic, etc.).
Should I attend the inspection?
Although it is not necessary, we do recommend that you attend the inspection so you can ask questions and learn more about the home. You will learn a lot from the inspection report, but we always encourage you to attend!
What if the inspection report reveals problems?
It is important to note that no house is perfect. At the end of the home inspection process, we will provide a detailed report that describes the physical condition of the property, with images and videos highlighting what may need repair or replacement. The information provided is to allow a potential buyer to make an informed decision about moving forward with the transaction. It is not pass or fail.
What Else Can We Answer?
At Hearthside Home Inspections, our job isn’t complete until you feel comfortable and all of your questions and concerns are answered.