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 New Jersey home inspection by a Certified
New Jersey home and home inspector. New Jersey, Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Morris County home inspection service.
"WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN
YOU LOOK AT HOMES"
The cost of the American dream has literally gone through the roof in recent years.
And whether mortgage rates are up or down, the purchase of a home still represents the largest
investment most families ever make in a lifetime.
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the international organization of
professional home inspectors, warns home buyers to fight the temptation to jump quickly at what may
first appear to be a good deal.
Most homes for sale today, old and new, have defects or repair needs, many of them
serious. In these cases, any savings achieved through lower mortgage rates or purchase prices can
easily get absorbed by unanticipated repair costs after the family moves in.
Defects often go unnoticed by the average person, but are quickly and accurately
identified by a qualified home inspector. The smart consumer, therefore, will take the time to call in
and accompany a professional home inspector for a thorough and impartial inspection of the condition
of the home before making a final decision.
Members of ASHI recommend that even before the official inspection, home buyers
can do some checking of their own that will tell them a great deal about the condition a home is in
when they first see it, and before they start falling in love with it.
OUTDOORS
Take note of the overall impression. Is the home well maintained? Are the exterior walls
straight or out of line? What is the condition of the paint, especially on the south and west
sides, where sun exposure is greatest? Is the ground sloped away from the home for adequate
drainage?
Observe the condition of the roof. Are composition shingles curling and lifting? Find out how
old the roof is, and you will have a pretty good idea of when you will have to replace it. A tar
and gravel roof should last up to 12 years, asphalt shingle 15 to 20, wood shingles 15 to 20,
and wood shakes about 20 to 25 years, in New Jersey.
Look closely at window and door frames. Is the glazing putty dried and shrunken, allowing
water and air to seep in? Is the wood decayed?
Check pavements, driveways and brick surfaces. Have all cracks been filled? Is there damage
from freezing? What is the condition of the mortar between bricks? Is any pavement buckling
from spreading underground tree roots?
INDOORS
Look for insulation in the attic and crawl space.
Is it complete? Does it cover the air vents, preventing circulation of air?
Test the plumbing. Turn on the upstairs shower and the bathroom sink faucet, then flush the
toilet. Does the flow from the shower lessen noticeably? Fill the sinks and bathtub with three
inches of water, then open the drains simultaneously. Do they empty easily without hesitation
or noises? Do faucets leak?
Look over the interior. Are there signs of leaks, such as water stains? Are walls and ceilings
straight and level? A newly painted interior may look nice, but it could be hiding something.
Do doors and windows open easily?
Open the cabinet door to the fuse boxes or circuit breakers, BUT DON'T REMOVE THE
PANEL COVER. The average home requires 100 amp service at both 110 and 220 volts.
Is it labeled as such? This is no guarantee of safety or adequacy, however, and is something
only a professional home inspector or licensed electrician can check.
Check the oil/gas/electric heating equipment. How old is it? Has it been maintained? Ask to
see the owner's heating bills from a previous year. This will give you some idea of the
efficiency of the system as well as the effectiveness of any insulation.
Look for evidence of termites on basement wood structure. Is there wood or paper debris? Do
you see termite tubes or tunnels?
These are only preliminary guidelines. If no major problems are apparent, the expert
eye of a professional inspector will yield a more accurate total picture.
Finding faults in a home doesn't necessarily mean one shouldn't buy it, only that the
consumer will know in advance the type of repair costs to anticipate. Often sellers will make
adjustments on the basis of major problems discovered in an inspection. If the inspector finds no need
for major repairs, then the peace of mind in making an informed purchasing decision can be just as
important as avoiding a potential nightmare.
ALL THE ABOVE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY ASHI, THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HOME INSPECTORS. THE NATIONS LARGEST, OLDEST
AND MOST REPUTABLE HOME INSPECTOR ORGANIZATION
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