Always get a home inspection!

Make sure your inspector is NJ Certified Professional Inspector® and certified by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors® (InterNACHI®)

Also check New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and also their License Verification System

Google searches and online reviews can be helpful but make sure they are licensed and insured. Whether you’re considering buying a new construction home or a fixer-upper, it’s important to find out the condition of the house you want to purchase. This is where a home inspection comes in. Home inspections can save you thousands of dollars in future repair costs and uncover problems that aren’t apparent to an untrained observer. While home inspections are optional, they are an important part of buying a home.

Here’s what you need to know about a home inspection in New Jersey.

What is a home inspection?

A home inspection is a visual examination of the structural and mechanical systems in a home, including the heating and air-conditioning systems, plumbing, walls, ceiling and foundation. A home inspection typically takes several hours to complete. A house does not pass or fail a home inspection; within a few days, the inspector will produce a report that includes latent defects.  According to InterNACHI's Standards of Practice for Performing a General Home Inspection, inspectors are required to identify and report material defects of the visible and accessible structure, systems, and components of a residential property.  At the outset, it's worth noting that some inspectors are confused by the meaning of "material." In this use, "material" is an adjective that refers to something of significant importance, rather than a tangible part of the home.

How much does a NJ home inspection cost?

A typical home inspection in New Jersey can cost $350 to $600 or more, depending on the location and size of the home, and scope of what's included. In Edison, for example, the average price is $420, according to HomeAdvisor. Who pays for a home inspection?  It is the buyer’s responsibility to hire and pay for a home inspector. While you are not required to attend the inspection, being there will allow you to ask questions and learn more about the home you wish to buy. We recommend that you be there...you will have questions. Some sellers choose to have their homes inspected before they list them. This is known as a pre-inspection. If certain types of defects are uncovered during the pre-inspection, sellers may be legally required to disclose them. However, buyers should still have a home inspection done and get their own report, whether or not there was a pre-inspection.

Look out for "Hero" Inspectors

Although rare, we have personally seen unscrupulous inspectors prey on a would be home buyer's inexperience and use scare tactics to "save them" from making a terrible purchase, only to have them use that inspector a second time for their next home inspection. Pay attention, if your inspector finds an overwhelming amount of issues and compiles a report large enough to scare old scrooge, it just may be a red flag. Opinions should be absent from reports in favor of facts. Have a look at this page of what inspectors cannot do. Here is a funny video that comes to mind when we think of bad home inspectors- its outrageous, but that's the point.

Finding a qualified licensed and insured home inspector who is thorough, as well as honest and ethical, should not be a challenge. It's not easy to become a Licensed Home inspector in NJ so there are plenty of great inspectors that will be able to help you confidently navigate the inspection process without worry. We are happy to provide references as well and encourage you to explore some of the other ways we suggested in the beginning of this article.

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