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HOME INSPECTIONS
Questions/Answers
Q: What is a home inspection?
A: It is an evaluation of the visible and accessible systems and
components of a home (plumbing system, roof, etc.) and is intended
to give the client (usually a homebuyer) a better understanding of
their condition. It is also important to know what a home inspection
is not! It is not an appraisal of the property’s value; nor should you
expect it to address the cost of repairs. It does not guarantee that
the home complies with local building codes (which are subject to
periodic change) or protect you in the event an item inspected fails
in the future. [Note: Warranties can be purchased to cover many
items.] Nor should it be considered a “technically exhaustive”
evaluation, but rather an evaluation of the property on the day it is
inspected, taking into consideration normal wear and tear.
Q: Can anyone perform a home inspection?
A: No. Only persons licensed by the New Jersey Board of
Professional Engineers and Home Inspectors Advisory Committee
are permitted to perform home inspections for compensation. To
qualify for licensure, they must satisfy certain education and
experience requirements and pass a state licensing examination.
Their inspections must be conducted in accordance with the Board’
s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
Q: Why should I have the home inspected?
A: Most homebuyers lack the knowledge, skill and emotional
detachment needed to inspect homes themselves. By using the
services of a licensed Home Inspector, they can gain a better
understanding of the condition of the property, especially whether
any items do not “function as intended” or “adversely affect the
habitability of the dwelling” or “warrant further investigation” by a
person who specializes in the item in question.
Q: In my home purchase I have chosen to sign the standard
Offer to Purchase and Contract* form which many real estate
and legal professionals use. It states that I have the right to
have the home inspected and the right to request that the
seller repair identified problems with the home. Will the
home inspection identify all of these problems?
A: Yes and No. Home Inspectors typically evaluate structural
components (floors, walls, roofs, chimneys, foundations, etc.),
mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical, heating/air conditioning),
installed appliances and other major components.
For most persons, purchasing a home is the largest investment they
will ever make. It is no wonder then that many homebuyers employ
professionals to inspect the structural and mechanical systems of
the home and report to them on their condition. Sometimes sellers
also employ Home Inspectors to alert them to problems with their
homes which could arise later in the transaction. But normally Home
Inspectors are employed by buyers. For this reason, this brochure
is written from the viewpoint of the potential homebuyer. This
brochure is to give the home buyer a better understanding of the
inspection process. What a home inspection is, who can perform an
inspection and what to expect.
If you have further questions regarding home inspections and Home
Inspectors, you should contact the
New Jersey Home Inspection Advisory committee, attention Mr.
Arthur Russo, Executive Director, (973) 504-6460, Home Inspection
Advisory Committee, P.O. Box 45043, Newark, N.J. 07101
The Home Inspector Licensure Board’s Standards of Practice do
not require Home Inspectors to report on: wood-destroying insects,
environmental contamination, pools and spas, detached structures,
see New Jersey Administrative Code13:40 – 15.16 STANDARDS
OF PRACTICE, available on request. Always ask the Home
Inspector if he covers all the things which are important to you. If
not, it is your responsibility to arrange for an inspection of these
items by the appropriate professionals. For a description of the
services to be provided by the Home Inspector, you should read
carefully the written contract which the Home Inspector must give
you and which you must sign before the Home Inspection can be
performed.
Q: How do I request a home inspection, and who will pay for
it?
A: You can arrange for the home inspection or ask your real estate
agent to assist you.
Q: Should I be present when the home inspection is
performed?
A: Whenever possible, you should be present. The inspector can
review with you the results of the inspection and point out any
problems found. Usually the inspection of the home can be
completed in two to three hours (the time can vary depending upon
the size and age of the dwelling). The Home Inspector will give you
a written report of the home inspection within three business days
after the inspection is performed (unless otherwise stated in your
contract with the Home Inspector). The home inspection report is
your property. The Home Inspector may only give it to you and may
not share it with other persons without your permission.
Q: Are all inspection reports the same?
A: No. While the Home Inspector Licensure Board has established a
minimum requirement for report-writing, reports can vary greatly.
They can range from a “checklist” of the systems and components
to a full narrative evaluation or any combination of the two. Home
Inspectors are required to give you a written Summary” of their
inspection identifying any system or component that does not
function as intended, or adversely affects the habitability of the
dwelling, or appears to warrant further investigation by a specialist.
The summary does not necessarily include all items that have been
found to be defective or deficient. Therefore, do not read only the
summary. Carefully read and understand the entire home
inspection report.
Q: What should I do if I feel something has been missed on the
inspection?
A: Before any repairs are made (except emergency repairs), call the
inspector or inspection company to discuss the problem. Many
times a “trip charge” can be saved by explaining the problem to the
inspector who can answer the question over the telephone. This
also gives the inspector a chance to promptly handle any problems
that may have been overlooked in the inspection.
Q: If, following the home inspection, the seller repairs an item found
in the home inspection, may I have the Home Inspector perform a
“re-inspection”?
A: Yes. Some repairs may not be as straightforward as they might
seem. The inspector may be able to help you evaluate the repair,
but you should be aware that the reinspection is not a warranty of
the repairs that have been made. Some Home Inspectors charge a
fee for re-inspections.
Questions/Answers
Q: What is a home inspection?
A: It is an evaluation of the visible and accessible systems and
components of a home (plumbing system, roof, etc.) and is intended
to give the client (usually a homebuyer) a better understanding of
their condition. It is also important to know what a home inspection
is not! It is not an appraisal of the property’s value; nor should you
expect it to address the cost of repairs. It does not guarantee that
the home complies with local building codes (which are subject to
periodic change) or protect you in the event an item inspected fails
in the future. [Note: Warranties can be purchased to cover many
items.] Nor should it be considered a “technically exhaustive”
evaluation, but rather an evaluation of the property on the day it is
inspected, taking into consideration normal wear and tear.
Q: Can anyone perform a home inspection?
A: No. Only persons licensed by the New Jersey Board of
Professional Engineers and Home Inspectors Advisory Committee
are permitted to perform home inspections for compensation. To
qualify for licensure, they must satisfy certain education and
experience requirements and pass a state licensing examination.
Their inspections must be conducted in accordance with the Board’
s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
Q: Why should I have the home inspected?
A: Most homebuyers lack the knowledge, skill and emotional
detachment needed to inspect homes themselves. By using the
services of a licensed Home Inspector, they can gain a better
understanding of the condition of the property, especially whether
any items do not “function as intended” or “adversely affect the
habitability of the dwelling” or “warrant further investigation” by a
person who specializes in the item in question.
Q: In my home purchase I have chosen to sign the standard
Offer to Purchase and Contract* form which many real estate
and legal professionals use. It states that I have the right to
have the home inspected and the right to request that the
seller repair identified problems with the home. Will the
home inspection identify all of these problems?
A: Yes and No. Home Inspectors typically evaluate structural
components (floors, walls, roofs, chimneys, foundations, etc.),
mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical, heating/air conditioning),
installed appliances and other major components.
For most persons, purchasing a home is the largest investment they
will ever make. It is no wonder then that many homebuyers employ
professionals to inspect the structural and mechanical systems of
the home and report to them on their condition. Sometimes sellers
also employ Home Inspectors to alert them to problems with their
homes which could arise later in the transaction. But normally Home
Inspectors are employed by buyers. For this reason, this brochure
is written from the viewpoint of the potential homebuyer. This
brochure is to give the home buyer a better understanding of the
inspection process. What a home inspection is, who can perform an
inspection and what to expect.
If you have further questions regarding home inspections and Home
Inspectors, you should contact the
New Jersey Home Inspection Advisory committee, attention Mr.
Arthur Russo, Executive Director, (973) 504-6460, Home Inspection
Advisory Committee, P.O. Box 45043, Newark, N.J. 07101
The Home Inspector Licensure Board’s Standards of Practice do
not require Home Inspectors to report on: wood-destroying insects,
environmental contamination, pools and spas, detached structures,
see New Jersey Administrative Code13:40 – 15.16 STANDARDS
OF PRACTICE, available on request. Always ask the Home
Inspector if he covers all the things which are important to you. If
not, it is your responsibility to arrange for an inspection of these
items by the appropriate professionals. For a description of the
services to be provided by the Home Inspector, you should read
carefully the written contract which the Home Inspector must give
you and which you must sign before the Home Inspection can be
performed.
Q: How do I request a home inspection, and who will pay for
it?
A: You can arrange for the home inspection or ask your real estate
agent to assist you.
Q: Should I be present when the home inspection is
performed?
A: Whenever possible, you should be present. The inspector can
review with you the results of the inspection and point out any
problems found. Usually the inspection of the home can be
completed in two to three hours (the time can vary depending upon
the size and age of the dwelling). The Home Inspector will give you
a written report of the home inspection within three business days
after the inspection is performed (unless otherwise stated in your
contract with the Home Inspector). The home inspection report is
your property. The Home Inspector may only give it to you and may
not share it with other persons without your permission.
Q: Are all inspection reports the same?
A: No. While the Home Inspector Licensure Board has established a
minimum requirement for report-writing, reports can vary greatly.
They can range from a “checklist” of the systems and components
to a full narrative evaluation or any combination of the two. Home
Inspectors are required to give you a written Summary” of their
inspection identifying any system or component that does not
function as intended, or adversely affects the habitability of the
dwelling, or appears to warrant further investigation by a specialist.
The summary does not necessarily include all items that have been
found to be defective or deficient. Therefore, do not read only the
summary. Carefully read and understand the entire home
inspection report.
Q: What should I do if I feel something has been missed on the
inspection?
A: Before any repairs are made (except emergency repairs), call the
inspector or inspection company to discuss the problem. Many
times a “trip charge” can be saved by explaining the problem to the
inspector who can answer the question over the telephone. This
also gives the inspector a chance to promptly handle any problems
that may have been overlooked in the inspection.
Q: If, following the home inspection, the seller repairs an item found
in the home inspection, may I have the Home Inspector perform a
“re-inspection”?
A: Yes. Some repairs may not be as straightforward as they might
seem. The inspector may be able to help you evaluate the repair,
but you should be aware that the reinspection is not a warranty of
the repairs that have been made. Some Home Inspectors charge a
fee for re-inspections.
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