Home inspection, Lead Testing & Removal, Mold Testing & Remediation
About us
Our Mission Harvard Environmental Services is committed to providing the most thorough, prompt, and comprehensive inspection services available in Massachusetts. Harvard Environmental Services uses state-of-the-art assessment procedures and equipment for targeting environmental hazards to completely evaluate the concern in your home, school, workplace, residential, commercial, or industrial property. Services Include -Lead Paint Assessments -Mold Assessments - Water and Soil Testing - FHA Water Quality Protocol - Comprehensive Lead Risk Assessments - HUD Risk Assessment - SBA Risk Assessment - EMF Measurements -Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Testing - Toxic Material Surface Testing - Consulting Services-Training ONLINE Moderate Risk Deleading next classes: July/13/23. Registration is done through our web site www.Harvard-Env.com Payments: Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover. 10 % discount for Angie's list customers on Comprehensive Inspections
Business highlights
34 years of trusted experience
Services we offer
We perform lead paint inspections, monitoring for airborne hazards, dust testing, water testing, soil testing, radon & asbestos testing, mold testing, formaldehyde testing, lumber liquidators laminated flooring formaldehyde testing, and EMF testing. We also offer Online Moderate Risk Deleading classes and EPA RRP Lead courses on a monthly bases. Next Moderate Risk Deleading is online 9/29/21, 10/28/21
Description of Work: results were very confusing. Lots of detail -- but not much help in understanding it
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
3.0
professionalism
3.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
2.0
Response from Harvard Environmental Services
I have tried to contact you as we take our customers very seriously. We believe that you may have confused us with another company because we haven't worked with you for over a year, at which time you expressed that you were very happy with our service. Please call us when you can 781 329 0404
John W.
02/2013
5.0
Clear and professional.
Description of Work: Lead testing after abatement work had been done, including swabs for dust after abatement work.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$375
Response from Harvard Environmental Services
Thank you
Matt L.
07/2012
5.0
Gary was very professional in every way. He explained everything very well. His rates were reasonable based on my limited price shopping for the work performed. I would highly recommend him.
Description of Work: Inspection and re-inspection after the remediation work was done.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,000
Carolin B.
07/2012
3.0
I had asked for a lead inspection for an older house that I was purchasing and thought I was also getting an estimate on the costs of lead removals. The person doing the inspection was very uncommunicative and when I asked him questions he gave me snide remarks to where I just stopped asking questions. When I got his written report it was illegible and I could not decipher the report. I assume if I gave the report to someone that was going to do the deleading they might be able to read the report.All in all, I would not recommend this company just because the inspector was rather rude and for the price, which was probably reasonable for the time he spent, the information I got was not worth it.
Description of Work: The man did a lead inspection from top to bottom of house, including outside.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
3.0
professionalism
3.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
$350
Response from Harvard Environmental Services
We appreciate feedback from customers, as it provides an occasional, but sobering, head-slap. Our company has scrutinized this experience to try to understand what went wrong and how we can ensure that this will never happen again. In this case it appears that there was a disconnect between the client's expectation of outcome (deleading cost estimates) and our inspector's understanding of what was to be delivered (detailed inspection results). As is so often the case, gaps in communication seem to be the root cause of misunderstandings. Now we try to review our scope of work in a clearer way when inspections are scheduled, and reviewed again when the inspector arrives on-site. To help the client interpret test results, we now include a customized written explanation in plain language, to accompany each detailed inspection report. Although the Mass Health Dept requires inspectors to provide detailed inspection reports using a proscribed and sometimes hard-to-read format, there is no reason we can't explain it in a clearly worded attachment. And we try to do that with each report. At each inspection, it is now our company's policy for the inspector to explain the results to the client, if present, at the end of each inspection, and to answer each and every question as completely as possible. Although we won't be estimating what deleader contractors will charge for their services, we will describe the deleading process, including pros and cons for each deleading method. We also promptly provide the customer with PDF copies of all inspection documents, so the reports can easily be forwarded to multiple deleaders for bidding. .
michael C.
02/2012
5.0
Tim, the inspector came over at the agreed time. He was super-thorough, friendly and spend almost the entire day testing the house. I would definitely recommend Harvard to anyone looking to test for lead pain.
Description of Work: He tested our entire house for lead paint and provided a detailed report for abatement
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$350
Seth P.
02/2012
5.0
I spoke with Gary, who was a very nice guy. They didn't offer the service I was looking for. They do lead testing and I got the impression he was a very honest man because he didn't do abatement because of the conflict of interest. He referred me to someone else.
Description of Work: I was interested in getting some lead abatement.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro
Zachary B.
09/2011
5.0
The services were rendered in a professional manner. They remained responsive and solicitous of feedback.
Description of Work: Initial inspection and re-inspection of my home for lead paint.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$600
Rebecca L.
09/2011
5.0
Thorough, personable, got along with my German Shepherd, willing to explain things.
Description of Work: Lead inspection of my rental apartment. common area, and basement.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$395
Titus K.
06/2011
1.0
terrible
Description of Work: In Spring of 2010, there were heavy rains and many homes had flooding problems. Our was in our basement. We had to remove a full carpet and wanted mold testing out of concern for health of young children (one with asthma). We expressed this concern to Harvard Environmental at the time. Mold testing was done and we received a typed letter that I believe was a scare tactic. The letter stated that the mold levels were extremely high and they had never seen levels this high before, that it was dangerous. We were told it should be remediated immediately and were given names of a few contractors. These contractors came in and started talking about tens of thousands of dollars of work to fix, etc.. We took a moment, thankfully and re-thought the whole thing. We decided to seek a second opinion regarding the mold issue. We researched extensively, calling references, checking with BBB and more and found a mold testing organization that actually understands the science behind mold. The new mold testing company did the same testing, got the same results, but , and here is the BIG difference, said that of course the mold levels were high, we'd just had a flooding incident and within the first 24 hrs after a flooding incidentt, there will be mold. It is the norm and not somthing to be scared of. They recommended specifically what needed to be done and gave us three contractors to choose from. The work was under $5k and post remediation testing, the levels were back to normal. Harvard Environemental didn't understand the numbers behind the mold testing and when I asked questions, just kind of shrugged their shoulders (literally). They dind'nt understand mold and should not be in the business of mold testing. Scare tactics almost worked here.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
1.0
value
3.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
3.0
Response from Harvard Environmental Services
[Member Name Removed] I am so sorry to hear of your disappointing experience. We try to do our best to keep the customer satisfied. I hope that you would consider having us again to prove that this experience you had is not the norm and it is extremely rare that we have unsatisfied customers. Cathy
Ganesh R.
01/2011
5.0
Gary was punctual and professional. He went through the whole home and tested each room and provided me with information as I followed him around. He also provided a full report at the end. Very good experience.
Description of Work: Lead paint testing and complete report
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$350
Nikheel D.
10/2010
5.0
Went fine. He was thorough, punctual, and performed the work as described.
Description of Work: Performed a lead compliance testing after we had some work done to bring the house back into lead compliance.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$500
celine S.
04/2010
5.0
Garry was on time and professional and answered all my questions. His price was a lot lower than other inspectors I contacted.I would use him again.
Description of Work: Did a lead inspection on a condo in a 2 family house.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$325
Nami K.
07/2008
5.0
Gary Kellner was extremely responsive and gracious about answering my questions, both before and after the inspection. He went through all of our options for different types of testing, and was thorough and professional in his inspection. Couldn't have asked for better.
Description of Work: Lead inspection of 4500 sq. ft. house and air quality test for mold.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$600
PENNY M.
03/2006
5.0
home inspection
+ -1 more
The inspector arrived promptly and offered his identification and credentials. He began his work immediately and answered all of my questions regarding Massachusetts lead paint regulations in a concise and knowledgeable manner. He offered many helpful suggestions and clearly indicated where, within the house, you can and can't safely have lead paint in homes. At the conclusion of his work I was given a brief verbal synopsis of the current lead paint situation and was invited to call the office at any time with further questions. I would highly recommend Harvard Environmental Services. They provided me with a truly comprehensive service and took the mystery out of interpreting the Massachusetts Lead Laws. I would also like to add that Harvard Environmental are licensed inspectors and DO NOT do deleading. You will be getting honest, accurate, unbiased results!
Description of Work: Professional, quick, accurate and non-invasive x-ray fluorescence testing throughout the home without damaging any surfaces. Within a few days a comprehensive report (with clearly defined details and interpretation instructions) was delivered to my home via U.S. mail. Attached to this report was a summarization letter from the inspector, lead paint advisories and options for deleading along with a list of currently licensed deleaders and an invitation to call the office at any time with further questions.
All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.
*Contact business to see additional licenses.
Service Categories
Home inspection,
Lead Testing & Removal,
Mold Testing & Remediation
FAQ
Harvard Environmental Services is currently rated 4.9 overall out of 5.
Monday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Harvard Environmental Services accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,MasterCard,PayPal,Visa
No, Harvard Environmental Services does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Harvard Environmental Services does not offer a senior discount.
No, Harvard Environmental Services does not offer emergency services.
No, Harvard Environmental Services does not offer warranties.
Harvard Environmental Services offers the following services: We perform lead paint inspections, monitoring for airborne hazards, dust testing, water testing, soil testing, radon & asbestos testing, mold testing, formaldehyde testing, lumber liquidators laminated flooring formaldehyde testing, and EMF testing. We also offer Online Moderate Risk Deleading classes and EPA RRP Lead courses on a monthly bases. Next Moderate Risk Deleading is online 9/29/21, 10/28/21