Whether buying or selling a Maplewood home, a home inspection is an important piece of the puzzle.  For buyers, it helps identify potential problems that you may have overlooked on your initial visit to the property.  For sellers, a home inspection can point out areas that need to be addressed before you place your home on the market.  Since buyers tend to overestimate the actual cost to repair or replace large items in a home (such as carpeting, roofing, plumbing, etc) by as much as 100%, the amount they offer to purchase your property can be significantly smaller than it should be.  On the flip side, by fixing these problems before you sell your Maplewood home, you may actually get more than you thought for it.  It helps to know what you can expect in a home inspection and what isn’t covered.

A home inspector performs a visual inspection of your home’s physical structures as well as the systems inside your home.  This includes the roofing, attic (any visible insulation), chimney (if applicable), visble ventilation, electrical system, heating and air conditioning systems, interior plumbing, ceilings, walls, floors, windows, doors, basement, foundation and decks/porches.  Basically, whatever is visible and accessible to a home inspector will be looked at and evaluated in the home inspection report. 

Home inspectors are not legally bound to move any item in order to inspect whatever is behind it.  For example, if a homeowner decides to place a bookshelf in front of a stain on the wall to hide it, the inspector may not see it.  A home inspector will also not test for mold or pest/insect problems. An inspector may notate in their report that they have seen visible signs of mold or that there are signs of possible termites but they are not legally bound to.  Testing must be done through other sources.  You ask your REALTOR® for recommendations on who to use if you need to.  Additionally, a home inspection does not cover the septic system, burglar or fire alarms, sewer drain lines or phone/cable equipment.

Knowing what to expect and what not to expect in a home inspection can help you make an informed decision on whether to purchase the property and for what price (if you are a buyer) or what needs attention before you place your Maplewood home on the market (if you are a seller).  An informed client is a happy client.  Contact me if you have any questions.  Please remember that I am not a professional home inspector.  This post is meant for information purposes only.  For more indepth information, please contact the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Francine Lichtman, Real Estate Beyond Four Walls, New Jersey Homes