A lot of people do not realize that when anyone buys a home in New Jersey, the purchase contract will state that the property is being sold in "as-is" condition.  That does not mean that once the buyer enters into a contract to buy the home, they must purchase it regardless of what is found during title search, flood search, and home inspections.  The buyer is entitled to conduct, at their own cost, a number of types of home inspections.  These include structural, radon, wood destroying insect, lead paint and possibly others if they apply (like septic system or water).

The home inspection report is often the most misunderstood part of the entire purchasing process.  It is something that frequently, and many times unnecessarily, can de-rail an otherwise good deal.  The inspector's task is to review virtually every aspect of the home's structure and components.  These include the roof, electric, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, water heater, windows, doors, walkways and more.  Their goal should be to give the homeowner a report card on the condition of all those components.  If something is of a significant nature, that can affect the safety and/or habitability of the home, those items should be so noted.  Many times problems arise when a buyer interprets their inspection report as the list of all the things the seller is responsible to repair! 

The buyers attorney and their real estate professional should be consulted to interpret the report and then develop a course of action to deal with any major issues that are discovered during the inspection process.

Need help with real estate questions?  Call Larry Mraz at Prudential NJ Properties: 732-715-5849 (Cell)