About Tarkington Home Inspections
Professional, thorough, and reliable home inspection services since 2003
About Us
At Tarkington Home Inspections, we are dedicated to providing thorough quality inspections, excellent customer service, and clear reports. Our commitment to excellence has made us a trusted partner for homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals throughout the Bay Area.
We were trained through Building Specs, Inc. and believe in continuing education. By attending conferences, group inspections, and monthly seminars, we keep up with the latest changes in the building industry to provide you with the most current and comprehensive inspection services.
We are fully insured, carrying both Errors & Omissions and Liability insurance through InspectorPro, giving you peace of mind with every inspection.
Why Choose Us
- Bay Area specific inspection reports
- Professional ASHI member since 2007
- Digital narrative reports
- Reports available within 24-48 hours
- 7-day scheduling availability
- Fully insured
- Continuing education commitment
Our Services
Serving your residential real estate inspection needs in Alameda County and the greater Bay Area.
Standard Home Inspections
Our inspection report was designed and is used by numerous home inspectors in Alameda County. It addresses concerns specific to the Bay Area, not a national inspection checklist! From the 100-year-old Victorian with a brick foundation to today's synthetic siding – it's all in there and updated.
We provide valuable services for both home buyers and sellers. Whether you're concerned with repairs before listing your home or hidden conditions in your soon-to-be investment, we can help. Our reports are clearly organized, contain digital photos of inaccessible areas, and accessible from our website.
What We Inspect
Our inspection includes a visual examination of:
- Attic and roof structure
- Foundation and framing
- Exterior surfaces and siding
- Roofing materials
- Garage
- Chimney and fireplace
- Interior living areas
- Electrical systems
- Plumbing systems
- Heating and Air conditioning systems
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
- Water heaters
We operate inspected components and systems using normal controls, as conditions permit.
4-Point Insurance Inspections
Insurance-focused home inspections examine four critical systems that concern insurance companies: electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and roofing. The inspection takes approximately one hour for an average-sized house, and the resulting report follows a format compatible with State Farm's requirements used across different states.
This report is not a substitute for a home inspection report. For your convenience and savings, we can perform both inspections during the same visit at a discounted rate.
Pre-Offer Inspections
A pre-offer inspection provides buyers with a complete home evaluation at a reduced cost, since the written report is optional. This approach lets buyers thoroughly assess a property before making an offer, while only paying for the written report if their offer is accepted.
They simply pay the difference between the discounted and standard inspection fee to receive the report later. Since the client will receive detailed verbal findings during the inspection, we recommend taking notes to document important findings.
11-Month Warranty Inspections
An 11-month warranty inspection is a comprehensive home inspection scheduled just before your builder's one-year warranty expires. This professional inspection identifies any defects or issues that may have emerged after moving in but are still covered under warranty. It's your chance to maximize your warranty benefits and protect your investment.
Multi-Family Residential Inspections
We inspect multi-family residential units including duplexes, triplexes, four-plexes, and small apartment complexes. Our commercial inspections are limited to multi-family residential units; we do not inspect tilt-ups or retail spaces.
Consultation Services
Report Review ($200.00/hour)
The valuable opportunity to review our listing home inspection on-site with the inspector. During this time, I can either walk through the house covering the major findings from the report, or address specific client questions.
Walk and Talk Inspections ($200.00/hour)
For homes with an existing inspection report, we offer a second opinion service. The inspector can conduct either a focused review of specific concerns or a comprehensive examination of the property. We'll discuss our findings in detail, and follow up with a concise summary.
Verbal Consultation with Report ($250.00/hour)
We provide focused inspections of specific components or areas of a home. Common requests include foundation evaluations, roof assessments, opinions of conditions revealed after destructive investigation, and reviews of new water heater installations.
Service Area
We will inspect any residential property within an hour drive of Castro Valley. Inspections in cities more than 30 minutes drive from Castro Valley may be subject to a $65.00 travel surcharge.
Alameda County
Contra Costa County
* Travel Fee May Apply
Santa Clara County
* Travel Fee Applies
San Mateo County
* Travel Fee Applies
Other Counties
* Travel Fee Applies
Buyer and Seller Services
Buyers Services
Buying a home is one of life's biggest decisions-shouldn't you have all the facts before you sign? A professional pre-purchase inspection is your wisest investment in becoming truly informed about your future home's condition. The more you know about what you're buying, the more confident you'll feel about your decision and the better you'll sleep at night knowing you made the right choice.
Local expertise for local homes makes all the difference. Our inspection reports are specifically crafted by East Bay home inspectors who understand the unique characteristics, building styles, and common issues found in our local housing market. We provide clear, unbiased assessments written in plain language to help you understand your home's systems, identify maintenance priorities, and recognize potential upgrade opportunities. You'll receive detailed explanations, not just a checklist, so you truly comprehend what you're purchasing.
Peace of mind is priceless when it comes to your family's future. With our comprehensive inspection report in hand, you'll negotiate from a position of knowledge, plan for future maintenance with confidence, and move into your new home knowing exactly what to expect. No surprises, no sleepless nights wondering "what if"; just the solid assurance that comes from making a fully informed investment in your family's future.
Sellers Services
Knowledge is power when selling your home. With building codes changing every three years, virtually every house will have items that don't meet current standards or could benefit from upgrades. The question isn't if a buyer's inspector will find issues, but what they'll find and when you'll learn about it. Would you rather discover problems during stressful negotiations when your options are limited, or beforehand when you have full control?
A pre-listing inspection puts you in the driver's seat. Know exactly what buyer's inspectors will discover before they do, allowing you to make informed decisions about repairs, upgrades, or pricing strategies-all on your timeline. You can fix major items that might scare off buyers, leave minor issues and adjust your price accordingly, or prepare explanations for anything that can't be easily addressed. This transparency builds trust with buyers and typically leads to faster transactions with fewer surprises to derail closing timelines.
Don't let a buyer's inspector control your sale timeline. Properties with pre-listing inspections move through negotiations more smoothly because sellers enter with full knowledge of what to expect. Instead of scrambling to respond to inspection demands, you can negotiate from strength, having already decided which items you're willing to address and which you'll negotiate on price. Take charge with a pre-listing inspection and turn potential problems into your competitive advantage.
Standards & Ethics
Standards of Practice
Our inspections follow the ASHI Standards of Practice, ensuring comprehensive and consistent inspection services.
Code of Ethics
We adhere to the ASHI Code of Ethics, maintaining the highest professional standards in all our interactions.
Community Involvement
Community involvement is an important philosophy at our company. Following that belief, in the past few years we have:
Professional Organizations
- Web site committee member, Golden Gate ASHI chapter (2004-present)
- Pre-meeting Education Presentation Designer, Golden Gate ASHI chapter (2007-2010)
- Vice-President, East Bay CREIA / Golden Gate ASHI chapter (2007-2008)
- Ride-Along program coordinator, East Bay CREIA / Golden Gate ASHI chapter (2004)
Community Service
- Supported Georgie Porgie (A Bay East members fundraiser)
- Participated in Christmas in April
- Volunteered with Habitat For Humanity
Ready to Schedule Your Inspection?
Inspections can be scheduled 7 days a week to meet your real estate timeline needs.