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ENTRANCE / AREAWAY LIGHT OR WINDOW WELL DRAINAGE / DOOR / STEPS AMISS / QUESTIONABLE:
 The entrance or areaway referred to here either leads down into the basement or is an opening that allows light to enter the basement. Usually this item refers to the exterior entrance but could mean an interior entrance. These entrances often have no method of drainage, or the drains are clogged with debris, creating a condition which could lead to basement flooding. Some entrances have hatch type doors over them to keep out rain, debris, and animals. Often these doors will be loose or damaged, have rusted hinges, or they may be installed in such a fashion that they may fall when opened, possibly onto the user. Use caution if the entrance hatch is held open with a prop. Steps leading into the basement should be kept clear and in good condition, especially free of wood rot. Keep areaways cleaned of all debris to prevent potential drain blockage and flooding. Entrances which have clogged drains obviously should be cleared. This may require the services of a Plumbing Contractor that can rod out the blockage. Entrances without drains may be susceptible to flooding. Installation of a small sump pump or sump catch basin (a sizable hole filled with rocks or gravel) in the areaway may be in order. Some people simply use a small portable pump when conditions call for its use. If you do this be sure to plug the pump into a GFCI outlet. The inspector will usually indicate the nature of the problem in the report. Repairs to damaged stairs, doors or hatches are ordinarily easy for property owners to accomplish but the services of a General Contractor may be necessary, depending on the situation. A Plumbing Contractor may be needed for repairs to areaway drains. 

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Exactly who works for you during a home purchase? Your New Jersey Real Estate Attorney will, as will a very carefully selected home inspector. A haphazardly selected inspector can be very hazardous to your wealth. Many home buyers are told by those who are only compensated if a sale goes through all licensed home inspectors are the same. Few things can be further from the truth. For example if you were going to a doctor would you prefer one who just got out of school last week, or one who taught in the school for a few years, who has been in practice since 1993, who had eight or so years experience in an affiliated industry and who has done the exact same thing more than 6,000 times for others. When selecting a doctor, New Jersey Real Estate Attorney or New Jersey Home Inspector do not let the minimum qualification of holding a license fool you. Go out of your way to select the best qualified and most experienced professional you can afford. Click for more information about New Jersey Real Estate Attorney, Real Estate Law or about Home Inspection Books -