Home Inspection Preparation Without Radon Measurement
Snow Exception: If at the time of the inspection the ground and roof are snow-covered to the extent that these areas can not be visually inspected, because in my professional opinion it is unsafe and/or likely to be dangerous to me to do so due to snow and/or ice, then upon your request then I will make one return trip to the property without charge if the snow melts PRIOR to expiration of your home inspection contingency.
To avoid delays and additional fees, please be sure that you, all sale-related real estate agents, the owner and all occupants of the home agree and understand:
· The inspection will last several hours depending on the: size and age of the home, the complexity of the inspection, and the number of questions you wish to ask.
· The home inspector usually arrives early and walks around the home’s exterior (a drone may be used).
· All animals—even the cute friendly ones–must be removed from the premises or confined for the duration of the inspection.
These basic home inspection preparation tips will allow the inspection to proceed timely and completely. Failure to prepare accordingly may limit my ability to complete parts of the inspection.
1) All the utilities (electric, water, and gas) must be operational upon our arrival at the home. The inspector will NOT turn on any service person disconnect switches, utilities, valves, or circuit breakers. He will not light pilots or plug-in anything powered by electricity. There are no exceptions.
a. If the electricity is not on, I cannot test or operate the electrical system or any components powered by electricity.
b. If the water is not on, I cannot test or operate the plumbing system or any components or fixtures that use water.
c. If the gas is not on, I cannot test or operate the gas distribution system or any components powered by gas such as cooking, heating, and domestic hot water systems.
2) The electric panels must be accessible with clearance for me to stand in front of the panels and remove the covers. All GFCI electric receptacles must be accessible. Post-it notes should label any hard to find GFCI resets.
3) If the heating and or air conditioning systems do not respond to the thermostat on the day of the inspection, I cannot test or operate them.
a. If there is more than one thermostat in the home have post-it notes installed on each of the thermostats indicating what function each one serves and what areas of the home they service.
b. It is helpful to test the heating and/or air conditioning systems BEFORE the day of the home inspection as it can prevent unfortunate surprises. Home-buyers often grow anxious when critical systems like these do not function during the home inspection.
4) All areas of the home must be readily accessible without moving storage, furniture, personal property, and the like. All crawl spaces above and below the home must be readily accessible and safe to enter (if you won’t enter I won’t either) without moving storage, furniture, personal property, and the like. The inspector will remove unpainted screws only to access the space.
5) Notice must be posted on the operating controls or faucets indicating any known defects, such as defective components, leaking pipes, and fixtures, to avoid damage during the inspection. The inspector does not accept responsibility for damage caused by such defects.
6) If a camera inspection of the sanitary sewer main is being performed, the sanitary sewer cleanout must be readily accessible.
7) If an oil tank scan is being performed, the perimeter of the home and the driveway must be accessible and free of storage and vehicles.
8) The inspector will operate the dishwasher. If you do not want the contents of the dishwasher washed, please remove them from the dishwasher.
9) The inspector will operate the oven. If you do not want the contents of the oven heated, please remove them from the oven prior to the inspection.
If you have questions: Please call us at: (973) 812-5100 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. business days and till 6 p.m. other days. A trained, full-time professional will be available to answer your questions 7 days a week.
Home Inspection Preparation for a New Jersey Home Inspection without radon measurement protocols: Our home inspection company teaches New Jersey home buyers what steps are necessary to prepare the home they are purchasing for a proper and full home inspection.
Home Inspection Preparation with Radon Measurement