Akron, OH Home Inspections for Older Homes
634+ Akron inspections · 1,300+ Google reviews, rated 5.0
Ohio-licensed home inspectors · ASHI & InterNACHI Certified · Serving Akron from Medina, OH 44256
Inspecting Akron’s 1920s rubber-boom homes
Akron is Ohio’s fifth-largest city, with 190,469 residents in the 2020 Census. Much of that housing went up during the rubber boom of the 1910s and 1920s, and it shows in our records: the median year built among the Akron homes we’ve inspected (NOPI’s inspection records) is 1925, and 81% were built before 1960. Citywide, the Census counts 93,741 housing units in Akron, with a median year built of 1954; 34% were built before 1940 and 60% before 1960 (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034 and B25035).
We inspect throughout the city, from Highland Square, West Hill and Fairlawn Heights to North Hill, Goodyear Heights, Firestone Park, Kenmore, Ellet and the Merriman Valley. Many of these neighborhoods are full of tall frame colonials, bungalows and doubles that have been updated piece by piece for a century, so we look closely at what is original and how the updates tie in.
Akron is also in the middle of a long-term sewer overhaul (the city’s Akron Waterways Renewed! combined-sewer program), a reminder that the private sewer lateral between your house and the street is the owner’s responsibility, and in homes this old it is often original clay or cast iron.
Homes like these have predictable weak spots, and we check every one of them:
- Knob-and-tube wiring: original knob-and-tube can still be live in walls and attics, often spliced into newer circuits. We note visible knob-and-tube, ungrounded outlets, missing GFCIs and amateur splices; insurers often ask about it.
- Clay and cast-iron sewer lines: century-old laterals crack, separate at joints and take on roots. A separate sewer camera inspection is worth adding on most Akron homes this age.
- Basements and foundations: stone, brick and early block foundations with mortar loss, cracks, bowing walls, efflorescence and past water entry.
- Old plumbing: galvanized supply piping, cast-iron drain stacks and possible lead service lines; we check flow, leaks and corrosion.
- Chimneys and heating: deteriorated masonry, missing liners, abandoned flues and aging furnaces or boilers.
- Lead-based paint: likely in homes built before 1978; we flag deteriorating paint, and lead testing is a separate service.
- Radon and termites: 13% of our Akron clients add a radon test and 16% add a termite (WDI) inspection; Ohio homes should be tested for radon.
These are general considerations for homes of this era, not a summary of inspection findings.
What we see in Akron homes
1925median year built among the Akron homes we’ve inspected
81% built before 1960 · 19% built 1960 or later
Source: North Ohio Property Inspection’s own Spectora job records for Akron, OH (homes we’ve inspected; aggregate counts only, as of Nov 1, 2026). 49 Akron jobs have no services listed, so add-on rates may run low.
Akron housing market snapshot
Source: Redfin, Akron, OH housing market page, three months ending September 2026 (homes sold is Redfin’s September 2026 figure), viewed Nov 1, 2026: https://www.redfin.com/city/244/OH/Akron/housing-market. Based on Redfin calculations of MLS and/or public records data.
Price ranges
| Inspection | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Home inspection (single-family) | Typically $325–$575, depending on size and age |
| Condo inspection (interior of unit) | Typically $275–$450 |
| Very large or multi-unit homes | Call for a quote |
Pricing depends on the home’s size, age and the services you choose.
Add-on services
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Radon test | Typically $149–$235 |
| Termite / WDI inspection | Typically $90–$160 |
| Mold / air quality test | Typically $225–$350 |
| Sewer scope, water testing & other services | Call for a quote |
Call or text 216-343-7151 for an exact quote, or book online to see your price.
What clients say
A++++…recommended….did great job on our future house…Maja Veselinovic, Akron
Extremely thorough and professional. The inspection report was detailed, clear, and included helpful photos of major structural, electrical, and plumbing items. It gave me the exact information I needed to negotiate properly.Michael Juarez, 9/24/2026
This was an incredibly easy process. Mark was phenomenal and explained everything in terms I could understand!Brian Marsh, 9/28/2026
Akron home inspection FAQ
How much is a home inspection in Akron?
Typically $325–$575, depending on the home’s size, age and the services you add. Call or text 216-343-7151 for an exact quote.
Do Akron homes still have knob-and-tube wiring?
Many older ones do. With a median build year of 1925 among the Akron homes we’ve inspected, original knob-and-tube can still be in use behind walls or in attics. We note any we can see and recommend an electrician evaluate it.
Is a sewer scope worth it on an Akron home?
Usually, yes. Laterals this old are often clay or cast iron and can crack, sag or fill with roots, and repairs on the owner’s side of the line are the owner’s cost. A sewer camera inspection is a separate add-on; call or text 216-343-7151 for a quote.
What basement problems do you see in older Akron homes?
Stone and block walls with mortar loss, cracking or bowing, efflorescence, past water entry, and old floor drains. We check grading, downspouts and sump systems too.
Should I test for radon in Akron?
Yes. In Ohio Department of Health radon test data for Summit County, 28.2% of 31,984 tests came in at or above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, and 13% of our Akron clients add a radon test. A radon test typically runs $149–$235, lower when added to a home inspection. Call or text 216-343-7151 for an exact quote.
Can I attend the inspection?
Absolutely. Tag along and ask questions; your agent is welcome too.
How do I book?
Book online any time, or call or text 216-343-7151.
Also serving near Akron
Cuyahoga Falls · Stow · Barberton · Fairlawn · Tallmadge · Canton · Massillon
North Ohio Property Inspection · Call or Text 216-343-7151 · Ohio home inspector licenses: OHI.2019005432, OHI.2024002540, OHI.2025003412, OHI.2026003607