Home Inspections

A Home Inspection is a visual inspection of the home accompanied by a verbal explanation and written report describing the systems and components present and their condition. All H&J Freile inspectors are New Jersey licensed home inspectors and American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) certified inspectors or associates. Licensed home inspectors are governed by rules in the New Jersey Administrative Code and use the Standards of Practice defined by the code as a benchmark when performing an inspection. The primary goal of a home inspection is to identify major problems and to give the customer perspective on the home. The inspection will include the structure, electric, heating and cooling, plumbing, basement and crawlspaces, kitchen, interior and exterior.

Exposed structural elements will be visually inspected, such as, roof rafters and sheathing visible from the attic and foundation walls, sills, joists, and girders visible from basements and crawls. The inspector will also look for signs of significant or unusual distress, such as, sags in roof, leaning or bulging walls, and cracked or displaced foundation walls. The inspector will test electrical receptacles, switches and fixtures. He will remove the cover from the main electrical panel and any sub-panels. He will operate the heating and cooling system, weather permitting. All plumbing fixtures connected to a drain will be checked for hot and cold water, functional flow and drainage. Evidence of past water penetration and the likelihood of future water in basements and crawlspaces are of primary concern. All built-in kitchen appliances, as well as, refrigerator, washing machine, and clothes dryer will be checked and operated. Interior windows will be sampled, doors operated, and ceilings, walls and floors checked. The roof, siding, and the foundation grading are the primary elements inspected on the exterior.

It is important to note that even though an inspector may have a specialized or expert knowledge of a particular area, a home inspection covers many aspects of a home, such as, plumbing, electrical, roofing, etc. Home inspectors perform a home inspection at a generalist level. The home inspection is limited by time, accessibility, and money. The goal of a home inspection is to significantly reduce your risk of purchasing an unknown problem at a reasonable price. The only one who can determine how much risk is acceptable is you. Your home inspector and the inspection report can help you determine what areas warrant further investigation. A home inspection will not find every problem and is not a guarantee or warranty of the house. Be wary of someone who tells you otherwise.

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