HOME INSPECTION IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK
Buying a home is a major investment. A professional home inspection helps you understand the condition of the property before you make important decisions about the purchase.
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Advisory Home Inspection provides detailed residential home inspections throughout New Jersey and Southern New York, evaluating the home's readily accessible systems and components in accordance with the applicable state Standards of Practice.
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Our goal is simple: identify material defects, explain why they matter, and provide clear recommendations so you can make a more informed decision.
A Detailed Evaluation of the Home
A home inspection is a visual, functional and non-invasive evaluation of the readily accessible systems and components of the property.
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The inspection is designed to identify conditions that may affect the home's safety, function, habitability or value. In New Jersey, the state describes a home inspection as a visual, functional and non-invasive inspection of readily accessible residential components.
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During a typical inspection, we evaluate the home's major systems and components, including:
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Structure and foundation
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Exterior walls, siding and trim
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Roof coverings, flashing and drainage
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Plumbing system
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Electrical system
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Heating equipment
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Cooling equipment
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Interior walls, ceilings and floors
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Windows and doors
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Stairs and railings
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Attics and accessible crawlspaces
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Insulation and ventilation
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Fireplaces and solid-fuel-burning appliances
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Garages and attached components
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Visible drainage and grading conditions around the home
What We Look For
A home inspection goes beyond simply checking whether something turns on.
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We evaluate visible conditions that may indicate deterioration, improper installation, damage, deferred maintenance or conditions requiring further evaluation.
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Examples may include:
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Structure
Foundation cracking, settlement indicators, damaged framing, altered structural components and visible movement.
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Roofing
Worn roofing materials, damaged flashing, drainage deficiencies, penetrations, deterioration and evidence of leakage.
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Exterior
Damaged siding, deteriorated trim, grading and drainage concerns, unsafe stairs or railings, decks, balconies and other accessible exterior components.
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Plumbing
Leaks, functional drainage, supply piping, fixtures, water heaters, drainage systems, sump pumps and visible fuel-distribution components.
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Electrical
Service equipment, panels, branch wiring, grounding, receptacles, switches, GFCI protection and other readily accessible electrical components.
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Heating and Cooling
Heating and air-conditioning equipment, distribution systems, visible venting, controls and readily accessible components.
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Interior
Walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, stairs, railings and visible evidence of moisture or deterioration.
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Attic, Insulation and Ventilation
Accessible attic areas, insulation, ventilation, roof framing and visible moisture-related conditions
What We Look For
New Jersey home inspections are governed by the New Jersey Home Inspection Advisory Committee and the Standards of Practice contained in N.J.A.C. 13:40-15.16. The rules require licensed inspectors to evaluate designated systems and components and provide objective information regarding their condition at the time of inspection.
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The required inspection categories include:
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Structural components
Exterior components
Roofing system
Plumbing system
Electrical system
Heating system
Cooling system
Interior components
Insulation and ventilation
Fireplaces and solid-fuel-burning appliances
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New Jersey also specifies what the written inspection report should communicate. The report identifies inspected systems and components, material defects, the significance of findings and recommendations for repair, replacement, monitoring or further professional evaluation.
New York Home Inspections
New York home inspections are regulated by the New York State Department of State under Article 12-B of the Real Property Law and 19 NYCRR Part 197​
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The New York Standards of Practice address major property components including:
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Site conditions and drainage
Structural systems
Exterior components
Roof systems
Plumbing
Electrical
Heating
Air conditioning
Interior components
Insulation and ventilation
Fireplaces
Attics
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The New York SOP specifically includes observation of grading and drainage around the foundation, structural systems, readily accessible roofing components, electrical panels, plumbing systems and accessible attic conditions.
NJ vs. NY Home Inspection Standards
This section is worth keeping because very few competing inspection sites explain it.​
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Both states require a professional, non-invasive inspection of the home's accessible systems and components, but the regulations are organized differently.
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New Jersey
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New Jersey's SOP is organized primarily around the major systems and components of the residential building. It establishes required inspection categories and detailed reporting obligations regarding material defects and their significance
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New York
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New York's SOP separates the inspection into specific sections, including site conditions, structural systems, exterior, roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, interiors, insulation/ventilation, fireplaces and attics.
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New York expressly identifies grading and drainage immediately around the foundation as part of the site-condition inspection and separately identifies accessible attics as their own SOP category.
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What that means for the client
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The practical goal is the same:
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Provide an objective assessment of the readily accessible condition of the home at the time of inspection.
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Your inspection and report are prepared using the standards applicable to the state in which the property is located.
What a Home Inspection Does Not Include
A home inspection is not technically exhaustive and is not destructive.
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Inspectors do not open walls, remove finishes or dismantle building systems simply to determine what may be concealed behind them.
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Conditions may also be limited by:
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Furniture and personal belongings
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Finished walls and ceilings
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Stored materials
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Inaccessible crawlspaces
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Unsafe attic conditions
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Snow, ice or weather
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Locked rooms or panels
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Utilities that are shut off
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Components that cannot be safely operated
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New Jersey specifically does not require inspectors to identify concealed conditions or latent defects, predict future failures, determine code compliance, determine market value or determine whether a client should purchase the property.
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New York similarly excludes concealed or inaccessible items and does not require inspectors to move furniture, stored possessions, floor coverings or attached wall and ceiling coverings.​
Clear Inspection Reports — Not Just a List of Problems
An inspection is only useful if the report is easy to understand.
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Your report identifies observed conditions and explains:
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What was observed
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Why the condition matters
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What action should be considered
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Photos are included to help document significant findings and make conditions easier to understand after the inspection.
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The objective is not to overwhelm you with technical terminology. It is to give you useful information about the home.
More Than the Minimum
State Standards of Practice establish the required scope of a home inspection.​
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They should not be confused with the maximum amount an experienced inspector can observe.
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When accessible and appropriate, the inspection may also incorporate tools and techniques that assist in evaluating visible conditions, such as moisture meters, electrical testing equipment, infrared imaging and other inspection equipment.
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These tools supplement professional observation; they do not make concealed systems visible or turn the inspection into an invasive investigation.​
Common Conditions Found in NJ & NY Homes
Homes throughout New Jersey and New York vary enormously by age, construction and location.​
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An inspection may identify conditions associated with:
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Older housing stock
Aging electrical systems, older plumbing materials, masonry deterioration and decades of alterations.
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Basements and crawlspaces
Moisture intrusion, drainage concerns, sump systems, foundation cracking and elevated humidity.​
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Roof and exterior exposure
Aging roof coverings, flashing problems, deteriorated siding and drainage defects.
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Renovations and additions
Improper alterations, mixed building materials, electrical modifications and concealed construction history.
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Heating systems
Older boilers, furnaces, distribution piping and venting systems commonly found in northeastern homes.
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This is where experience with regional housing can make a substantial difference.
Additional Inspection Services
A home inspection can be combined with additional services when appropriate.​
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Measure radon concentrations using professional testing equipment.
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Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection
Evaluate visible and accessible areas for evidence of termites and other wood-destroying insects.​
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Screen accessible portions of the property for indications of a buried heating-oil tank.
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Evaluate visible conditions associated with moisture and suspected microbial growth, with sampling available when appropriate.​
Additional Inspection Services
New Jersey: Bergen County, Passaic County, Essex County, Morris County and surrounding areas.​
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New York: Rockland County, Westchester County and surrounding service areas.​
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For location-specific information, visit our county and community home-inspection pages.​
Frequently Asked Questions
​How long does a home inspection take?
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Inspection time varies based on the size, age, condition and complexity of the property. A larger or older home generally requires more time than a small condominium or newer property.
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Should I attend the inspection?
Whenever possible, yes. Attending gives you an opportunity to see important conditions firsthand and ask questions about the property.​
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Does a home inspection guarantee nothing will fail?
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No. A home inspection evaluates visible and readily accessible conditions present at the time of inspection. It cannot predict every future failure or reveal concealed defects.
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Do you inspect both New Jersey and New York homes?
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Yes. Home inspections are performed according to the Standards of Practice applicable to the state where the property is located.
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Are radon, termites, oil tanks and mold included?
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These are additional inspection or testing services and can be added where appropriate.
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Can an inspection find problems inside walls?
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Generally no. Home inspections are non-invasive. Concealed conditions behind finished walls, ceilings, floors and other inaccessible areas cannot normally be observed.
Know More About the Home Before You Buy
A home can look excellent during a showing while significant conditions remain unnoticed.​
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A detailed home inspection provides an independent evaluation of the property's readily accessible systems and components so you can move forward with better information.
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Don't be surprised, be advised.
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