Optimal Home Inspections

Most Recommended Home Inspector in NJ

Marshal

Structure

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When conducting the inspection of the structural components, the home inspector shall:

Inspect Structure

  • Foundation;
  • Floors;
  • Walls;
  • Ceilings; and
  • Roof;
  • Probe structural components where deterioration is suspected unless such probing would damage any finished surface.

Describe Structure

  • Foundation construction type and material;
  • Floor construction type and material;
  • Wall construction type and material;
  • Ceiling construction type and material; and
  • Roof construction type and material;
  • Methods used to inspect under-floor crawl spaces and attics.

Cooling

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When inspecting the cooling system, a home inspector shall:

Inspect Cooling System

  • Central cooling system, excluding electronic air filters and excluding determination of cooling supply adequacy or distribution balance and without operating central cooling equipment when weather conditions or other circumstances may cause damage to the cooling equipment;
  • Permanently installed hard-wired, through-wall individual cooling systems;
  • Energy sources;

Describe Cooling System

  • Cooling equipment and distribution type; and
  • Energy sources.

Plumbing

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When inspecting the plumbing system, a home inspector shall:

Inspect Plumbing

  • Interior water supply and distribution systems including functional water flow and functional drainage, excluding wells, well pumps, well water sampling or water storage related equipment, determination of water supply quantity or quality and water conditioning systems and lawn irrigation systems;
  • All interior fixtures and faucets, excluding shut off valves, wells, well pumps, well water sampling and water storage related equipment;
  • Drain, waste and vent systems;
  • Domestic water heating systems, without operating safety valves or automatic safety controls, and excluding solar water heating systems;
  • Combustion vent systems excluding interiors of flues and chimneys;
    Fuel distribution systems; and
  • Drainage sumps, sump pumps and related piping.

Describe Plumbing

  • Predominant interior water supply and distribution piping materials;
  • Predominant drain, waste and vent piping materials; and
  • Water heating equipment including energy sources.

Exterior

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When inspecting the exterior components, a home inspector shall:

Inspect Exterior

  • Exterior surfaces, excluding shutters, and screening, awnings, and other similar seasonal accessories;
  • Exterior doors excluding storm doors or safety glazing;
  • Windows excluding storm windows and safety glazing;
  • Attached or adjacent decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches, and their railings;
  • Vegetation, grading, drainage, and retaining walls with respect to their immediate detrimental effect on the condition of the residential building, excluding fences, geological and/or soil conditions, sea walls, break-walls, bulkheads and docks, or erosion control and earth stabilization;
  • Attached or adjacent walkways, patios, and driveways; and
  • Garage doors including automatic door openers and entrapment protection mechanisms, excluding remote control devices.

Describe Exterior

Describe exterior wall surface type and material.

Roofing

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When inspecting the roof of a residential building, the home inspector shall:

Inspect Roofing

  • Roofing surface, excluding antennae and other installed accessories such as solar heating systems, lightning arresters, and satellite dishes;
  • Roof drainage systems; Flashing; Skylights; and
  • Exterior of chimneys.

Describe Roofing

  • Roof surface;
  • Roof drainage systems;
  • Flashing; Skylights; and
  • Chimneys.

Safety

  • Employ reasonable, practicable and safe methods to inspect the roof such as:
    • Walking on the roof;
    • Observation from a ladder at roof level; or
    • Visual examination with binoculars from ground level; and
    • Describe the methods used to inspect the roof.

Fireplaces and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances

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Fireplaces traditionally make a house a home for many people. In the past they were essential to heat our homes and cook our meals, today they are more decorative than essential. There have been innovations to make fireplaces more efficient and wood or pellet burning stoves can be a very efficient way to heat a home.

In your home inspection we are concerned about safety and we will inspect:

  • Fireplaces and solid fuel burning appliances;
  • Chimneys and combustion vents.

Insulation

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Insulation helps make homes comfortable and fuel efficient places to live. Older homes have less insulation than newer homes today and have different strategies to deal with moisture movement and ventilation.

Our home inspection will look at the following:

  • Insulation in unfinished spaces;
  • Ventilation of attics and crawlspaces;
  • Mechanical ventilation systems;

Interior

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The interior of a home is where people spend most of the time and without a doubt the most important aspect of any home decision. When inspecting we’re looking for clues to any underlying structural issues. The interior finishes themselves reflect the overall building quality, and their condition often indicates the level of home maintenance.

Each room should have an adequate heat supply and sufficient electrical outlets. Doors and windows should operate properly. Steps, railings and passageways should be safe. We focus on function rather than appearance, and emphasis is placed on whether the room will work as it was intended.

The interior inspection focuses on:

  • Walls, ceilings, and floors;
  • Steps, stairways, and railings;
  • Installed kitchen wall cabinets to determine if secure;
  • Interior passage doors and windows;
  • Permanently installed kitchen appliances.

Cooling

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There are many types of air conditioning systems, but they all work on the same principle. They take heat from the house air and transfer it to the exterior. The most common type of air conditioning found in New Jersey is Central Air; this system works with a furnace. The ductwork that is used for heat in the winter is used for cool air in the summer. A less common type is the Independent system that doesn’t use a furnaces ductwork – they can be ductless or have their own ductwork. No matter what type of system the house has, we inspect them. We inspect all permanently installed hard-wired cooling systems.

Heating System

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The heating systems job is to generate and distribute heat throughout the home. The heat is usually generated centrally, then distributed by air through ducts or by water in pipes. When the heat is distributed through ducts the system is called a furnace; if the heat is distributed in pipes the system is called a boiler. The most common fuels used to heat the air or water are gas, oil, or electricity. Heat can also be generated in each room like a fireplace, wood stove or electric baseboard heat.

We inspect:

  • Installed heating equipment and energy sources;
  • Combustion vent systems and chimneys;
  • Fuel storage tanks;
  • Visible and accessible portions of the heat exchanger.