Prepare For Your New Brunswick Home Inspection, New Jersey

Few things can derail your plans to sell your New Brunswick home like failing a home inspection. Most states require that a home inspection be completed and turned over to the buyer before the contract is finalized.

To prepare for your New Brunswick home inspection, you’ll want to thoroughly clean your home. It’s also a good idea to examine all the appliances to make sure they're in good working condition.

What Will the Inspector Do?

You may be surprised to learn that the inspector will turn on the stove and test the dishwasher and garbage disposal. They'll make sure the furnace and air conditioning systems work. You’ll want to clear out the area around the furnace and hot water heater because the inspector will need a few feet of space to work in.

If you plan to leave the New Brunswick home before selling it, be sure to leave the pilot lights lit for the inspection. Some inspectors will not re-light pilot lights because of insurance regulations. This can delay the completion of the inspection and cause the loan process to take longer.

The inspector will test the water pressure by flushing the toilets and turning on all the faucets. This process can reveal leaks or clogs in the system.

It will be easier for the New Jersey inspector if you aren’t in the house at the time. Try to arrange to be out of the house for the inspection, and take your pets with you. Pets can be an unnecessary distraction to the inspector.

What's Next?

Hopefully your New Brunswick home passed inspection with no problem. If you get a repair request from the inspector, don’t worry. You aren’t obligated to make the repairs unless it’s stated in the contract. However, you run the risk of the contract being canceled if you refuse to make reasonable repairs.

A very good idea is to get your home pre-inspected, meaning get an inspection prior putting it on sale. That way you know if anything major needs to be fixed and you have much more time to act on it. Also it gives you the opportunity to work on the minor things at your pace. A bad inspection result can be a deal breaker, so why wait the last moment?

Also being able to market and advertize your home as already pre-inspected will provide potential buyers with a greater level of comfort. First time home buyers being the majority of buyers out there, that extra level of comfort might be the incentive that bring an offer on the table.

Cathy Chaudemanche