NJ Home Inspection Checklist for Buyers

If you’re about to buy a home in New Jersey, this home inspection checklist will help you understand what a home inspector is looking for during the inspection.

Included are some basic things we look at while inspecting a property. Use this home inspection checklist as your guide:

• Attic: Adequate ventilation, water leaks from roof.

• Basement: Water leakage, musty smell.

• Ceilings, walls, and moldings: Loose pieces, drywall that is pulling away

• Doors and Windows: Loose or tight fits, condition of locks, condition of weather-stripping

• Driveways/Sidewalks: Cracks, heaving pavement, crumbling near edges, stains

• Electrical: Condition of fuse box/circuit breakers, number of outlets in each room.

• Exterior Brick: Cracked bricks or mortar pulling away from bricks

• Foundations: Cracks or water seepage

• Furnace/Air Conditioning: Look for age, energy rating; Furnaces are rated by annual fuel utilization efficiency; the higher the rating, the lower your fuel costs.

• Garage: Exterior in good repair; condition of floor—cracks, stains, etc.; condition of door mechanism.

• Insulation: Adequate rating for the climate

• Plumbing: Poor water pressure, banging pipes, rust spots or corrosion that indicate leaks, sufficient insulation.

• Porch/Deck: Loose railings or step, rot.

• Roof: Age, conditions of flashing, pooling water, buckled shingles, or loose gutters and downspouts

• Siding: Dents or buckling

• Water Heater: Look for age, size adequate for house, speed of recovery, energy rating.

*Important: Using a checklist is not a suggestion for you NOT to hire an experienced and certified home inspector. You should always hire a licensed and professional NJ home inspector to conduct your property inspection.

At Villa Home Inspections, it’s our goal to provide your with the most comprehensive inspection.