Home Inspection Tips for First-Time Home Buyers in Southern New Jersey

First-time buyer in Southern New Jersey and feeling overwhelmed? Need effective tips for buying your first home? Get a home inspection! With so much on the line, contracting with a certified home inspector should be among a South Jersey’s buyer’s first steps when buying a house.

Home inspectors in South Jersey, as elsewhere, work with first-time buyers to ensure they get all the relevant information they need.  The goal is to see potential purchasers have the knowledge required to make a fully-informed decision about a real-estate purchase. After all, buying a home is one of the most substantial investments many people ever make.

What to Expect When You’re Inspecting 

While home inspections are not mandatory, they really are a critical part of buying a home. It is the buyer’s responsibility to arrange for a home inspection. It’s a good idea for the potential homeowner to attend any inspection. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn a lot about any house under consideration. 

A home inspection analyzes and documents the house’s physical and mechanical systems to cover:

  • The condition of the exterior and overall structure
  • Any recommended repairs, replacements or improvements.
  • The condition of the interior which includes all the working elements:  
    • electrical 
    • heating 
    • cooling 
    • insulation
    • ventilation
    • plumbing
    • interior finishes

A home inspection usually takes a minimum of several hours to complete. Contrary to popular belief, a home doesn’t get a passing or failing grade. Instead, the inspector will issue a comprehensive report documenting their findings.  

Essentially the report will confirm if the home:

  • is in good condition
  • will require immediate significant maintenance 
  • will need major future upkeep 
  • will need substantial repairs or replacements. 

This detailed information can potentially save a first-time buyer thousands of dollars in pricey repairs. 

First-time buyers in South Jersey should also be aware of specific environmental hazards. Testing for these elements may incur nominal extra costs but the expense is well worth it. Testing should include:

  • Radon Tests – One in six New Jersey homes has elevated levels according to a 2017 New Jersey Department of Health release. Radon can cause serious adverse health effects but mitigation is relatively straightforward.
  • Oil Tank Sweep. Underground heating oil tanks were commonly used in New Jersey. If they leaked, the soil and groundwater may be contaminated. Testing older homes is particularly important.

The Case for Home Inspections

These new home buyer tips will maximize the benefit of a home inspection for first-time home buyers in South Jersey. 

  • Knowledge is always power! Collaborate with a licensed and insured home inspection company with a solid reputation in the communities they serve. Tap into their expertise.
  • Get the facts!  A home inspection is an inexpensive but highly effective way to determine the overall condition of a dwelling. Depending on what’s revealed, this information may assist when it comes time to negotiate the closing.  
  • Get ongoing support! Quality home inspection companies will go the extra mile for clients and answer any additional inspection-related questions for as long as the buyer owns the home.

Remember, buying a first home can be a stressful and overwhelming undertaking! A professional home inspection conducted by a licensed inspector gives buyers informed peace of mind if they choose to make an offer.  

How Can We Help

Andrews Property Inspection is an established residential and commercial inspection company located in Southern New Jersey. Richard Andrews is the highly-experienced owner/operator and a certified inspector. Richard delivers high-value commercial and residential inspections in Atlantic and Cape May counties.

Andrew’s Property Inspection partners with first-time home buyers throughout so as to simplify the purchase process. Andrews Property Inspection holds a well-earned spot among the best home inspectors in South Jersey. Richard is dedicated to serving as valued resource for his clients during and even after purchase.  Committed to exceeding client expectations, Andrews Property Inspection takes great pride in delivering a quality experience for South Jersey first time home buyers from start to finish and beyond.  

Andrews Property Inspections
Residential Inspections for Southern New Jersey

For a Buyer’s Home Inspection by a certified home inspector
contact Richard Andrews at Andrews Property Inspections.

See our full list of property inspections services.

Commercial Indoor Air Quality Testing (IAQ) For Better Health

Typical New Jersey office building, showing indoor view of rooms to be inspected. Indoor air quality assessment checklist includes offices, waiting room, conference room, elevators and reception.

When purchasing or maintaining a commercial property, building safety will clearly be the first priority. Managing safety involves balancing many diverse elements. These include ensuring the indoor air quality (IAQ) is healthy and free of harmful contaminants. 

Savvy buyers and current owners recognize that commercial indoor air quality testing allows them to be totally familiar with a critical aspect of a property. Air quality testing before purchase or during continued use helps maintain or increase the commercial property’s value.

How Indoor Air Quality Effects Health

For decades medical experts have sounded the alarm about how inferior indoor air quality (IAQ) can make you sick! How does air quality affect health? Studies reveal long-term exposure to polluted air is one of the most widespread negative exposures affecting employees. It’s been proven to cause a wide range of harmful outcomes, including:

  • Lung cancer
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Respiratory diseases such as emphysema and asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Environmental cancers (asbestos and radon can lead to cancer years after exposure)

Along with these undesirable conditions, poor air quality causes headaches. It is also linked to fatigue, impaired concentration, and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.

A substantial body of science-based research confirms that people generally function better in spaces with healthy IAQ. These are owners, operators, employees, clients, customers and tenants. Several of the key benefits include:

  • Improved productivity
  • Fewer adverse health issues
  • Reduced health care costs
  • Less absenteeism and lower turnover rates
  • Increased comfort and motivation

Addressing Poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Many factors can impact IAQ, and there’s rarely a quick fix. In a best-case scenario, commercial facility owners and management would draft a mitigation plan that will:

  • Detect potential contaminants impacting the IAQ in a facility or property
  • Identify methods to remediate and remove harmful substances
  • Outline methods for preventing future issues, such as scheduling routine IAQ testing to maintain safe levels.

The logical first step to beginning this comprehensive process is to contract an indoor air quality testing company. They should be experienced in delivering indoor air quality testing services for commercial properties. A licensed professional will undertake specific air contamination testing to determine which IAQ issues a commercial property may have.

A certified air quality inspector tests for specific airborne contaminants using indoor air quality samplings. These samplings are sent to a lab for analysis. The results will determine how safe the air is in a given facility. The results also detail which noxious substances are present in the indoor environment.

New Jersey is one of only two states that regulate standards for indoor air quality in existing buildings. These are buildings occupied by public employees during their regular working hours. And, falls under the New Jersey Indoor Air Quality standard, NJAC 12:100-13 (2007). Indoor air quality testing is generally focused on detecting:

  • mold
  • motor oil
  • chemicals
  • environmental issues including radon and asbestos

An air quality inspection will reveal conditions that are negatively impacting the IAQ. And, by extension, the health of those using the building regularity. Then, steps can be taken to remediate.

An improved IAQ means a safer, healthier indoor environment in a business setting, office building, or rental property. Commercial properties that would potentially benefit from Indoor Air Quality testing services include:

  • medical buildings
  • office buildings
  • mixed-use buildings
  • campgrounds
  • storefronts
  • strip malls
  • warehouses and factories 

How we can help

Andrews Property Inspection is a recognized industry leader in air quality testing services in Southern New Jersey. They provide commercial and residential inspections in Atlantic and Cape May counties. Andrews Property Inspection takes justifiable pride in its professionalism and has a well-earned reputation for honesty and thoroughness.

Tap into Richard’s in-depth knowledge. For example, he can discover potential environmental conditions that can negatively impact a commercial property or a residence.

Andrews Property Inspection will partner with owners and management to provide air contamination testing. See your commercial property or home on the path towards a cleaner, healthier indoor environment. And then everyone can breathe easier.

Andrews Property Inspections
Commercial Building Inspections for New Jersey

For professional air quality testing by a certified indoor air quality inspector 
contact Richard Andrews at Andrews Property Inspections.

See our full list of property inspections services.

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