Home inspections in Baltimore City.
Baltimore City is a rowhouse market, and rowhouses inspect differently than anything else in the region — older systems, shared walls, flat roofs, and a lot of renovation history to read through.
Communities we serve here.
What we see in Baltimore City homes
Most of Baltimore’s housing is attached masonry rowhouse construction, much of it built between the 1880s and 1930s. Two to four stories, narrow frontage, basement or cellar below, flat or low-slope roof above, and party walls shared with the neighbors on both sides. A large share has been renovated, sometimes repeatedly, and often without complete permit records.
Knob-and-tube and layered electrical work
Original wiring still turns up in Baltimore rowhouses, sometimes live and spliced into later work. Undersized panels are also common. This is one of the most frequent significant findings in the city.
Galvanized supply and cast iron waste
Standard for the construction era. Galvanized corrodes internally and restricts flow; cast iron cracks and separates over time.
Flat roof condition
Rowhouse roofs are flat or low-slope with shorter service lives than pitched roofs, and they’re difficult to assess without getting above them. Our drone scan is included on every inspection and makes a real difference here.
Formstone and masonry facades
Formstone — the mid-century stucco veneer made to imitate stone, and something of a Baltimore signature — can trap moisture against the brick behind it and hide deterioration. Tuckpointing needs on exposed brick are also common.
Basement and cellar moisture
Below-grade space in century-old masonry rarely stays completely dry. We distinguish between routine seasonal dampness and active water intrusion or structural concerns.
Rehab and flip quality
Baltimore has a large rehab market. Cosmetically complete work over unaddressed mechanical, structural, or moisture problems is a pattern worth inspecting for specifically.
Lead paint in pre-1978 housing
Applies to the overwhelming majority of Baltimore rowhouses, and Maryland has specific rental registration requirements for affected properties.
Drone and thermal imaging, included.
Baltimore City is at the outer edge of our standard radius but well within the areas we regularly serve.
Roof scans from the air
Included at no extra cost on every inspection — a clear view of roof and chimney conditions that aren’t visible from a ladder.
Thermal imaging
Included at no extra cost. Infrared scanning catches moisture, insulation gaps, and overheating electrical connections behind finished surfaces.
Same-day report
Your full digital report the same day, written in plain language — so a tight contract timeline never waits on us.
Common questions for this area.
Do you inspect rowhouses specifically?
Yes — rowhouse construction is a significant part of what we inspect across Baltimore and DC.
Should I get a sewer scope on a Baltimore rowhouse?
It’s one of the more valuable add-ons in this market. Laterals are often original, and root intrusion and pipe failure are common findings.
Can you inspect a property I’m buying to rehab?
Yes. A pre-purchase inspection on a rehab candidate is about understanding scope and cost, and we’ll be direct about what we can and can’t see in a vacant or gutted property.
Buying in Baltimore City?
See your exact price in about a minute, or call and we’ll talk it through.