Buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions most people make. The home inspection is your best opportunity to understand exactly what you are buying before you own it. This checklist helps you prepare — before the inspection, during it, and after you receive the report.
Before the Inspection
Schedule Early in Your Contingency Period
Most NJ real estate contracts provide a 10 to 14-day inspection contingency period. Schedule your inspection as early in that window as possible — you need time after the inspection to review the report with your attorney and respond before the deadline. Accurate Inspections typically confirms appointments within 24 to 48 hours.
Plan to Attend — Your Presence Is Required
Michael requires client attendance at every inspection. Clear your schedule for the full inspection day and plan for 2.5 to 4 hours minimum — longer for larger or older homes. Do not schedule important commitments immediately afterward in case the inspection runs long.
Prepare Your Questions
Review your notes from property showings. Make a list of anything that concerned you — a stain on the ceiling, a crack in the foundation, a room that felt damp, an appliance that seemed old. Bring that list to the inspection. Michael will address each item.
Know the Add-On Services Available
Standard home inspections do not include radon testing, WDI (termite) inspection, sewer scope, oil tank scan, septic inspection, or lead paint testing. Decide in advance which add-ons are appropriate for the property and confirm them when you schedule. Michael can coordinate all of these through the same appointment.
During the Inspection
Follow the Inspector Through the Home
Walk with Michael through every area of the home. See every finding firsthand. Ask questions as they occur to you — there is no such thing as a question that is too basic, and the answer you get standing next to the condition in question is far more useful than the answer you get by email three days later.
Areas Michael Will Examine
- Roof — shingles, flashings, gutters, downspouts, chimneys, penetrations
- Attic — insulation, ventilation, roof structure, evidence of water intrusion or pests
- Exterior — siding, foundation, grading, walkways, decks, garage
- Basement / Crawl Space — foundation walls, framing, sump pump, water intrusion evidence
- Electrical — service panel, wiring type, GFCI and AFCI protection, outlets and switches
- Plumbing — supply and drain piping, water heater, fixtures, water pressure
- Heating and Cooling — furnace or boiler, central air, ductwork, thermostats
- Kitchen — appliances, sink, GFCI, ventilation
- Bathrooms — fixtures, GFCI, ventilation, tile condition
- All Rooms — windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, outlets, smoke and CO detectors
Take Notes on the Most Important Findings
Everything will be in the written report — but making personal notes during the walkthrough helps you remember what you saw and what felt most significant. You will review the report with your attorney, and your firsthand observations will help you communicate what matters most.
Ask About the Systems
Beyond the defects, ask Michael to show you the main water shutoff, the electrical panel, the HVAC equipment, and any other systems you will need to locate and operate as a homeowner. This practical knowledge is one of the most valuable things you take away from attending the inspection.
After the Inspection
Read the Report Carefully
Michael delivers your report the same evening. Read it before you do anything else. Understand which findings are significant safety or structural concerns, which are deferred maintenance items, and which are informational observations about the age and condition of systems.
Review with Your Attorney Before the Contingency Expires
Share the report with your real estate attorney promptly. Your attorney advises you on what to request from the seller, how to frame repair requests, and whether any findings support renegotiation or withdrawal. Do not let the contingency period expire without this conversation.
Get Quotes Before the Contingency Expires
For any significant findings that will require repair, get at least one quote from a licensed contractor before the contingency expires. An inspection finding without a cost estimate is hard to negotiate with. A finding with a contractor’s written estimate is a specific, documentable basis for a repair request or credit.
Use the Pre-Closing Walkthrough Guide
Accurate Inspections reports include a Pre-Closing Walk-Through Guide. Use it at the final walkthrough before closing to verify that agreed repairs have been completed and that the home’s condition has not materially changed since the inspection.
Schedule Your NJ Home Inspection
Call (973) 812-5100 between 8 AM and 8 PM on business days, or 8 AM to 5 PM on weekends.
Accurate Inspections, Inc. | 56 Woodland Drive, Woodland Park, NJ 07424 | Inspecting NJ Homes Since 1993 | NJ Licensed Home Inspector GI0121
