All posts by Eagle Home Inspection's team

Schedule Radon Testing with a Home Inspector in New Jersey During the Winter

Buying and Selling

Ever wondered about radon in your home? NJ’s best home inspectors are busy with radon testing throughout the year, but always like to inspect for radon during the winter months. What is radon, and why is winter the best time to test for it? Keep reading to find out!

Radon and Your Health? Home Inspectors in NJ Detect Leaks
Radon is a naturally occurring chemical element that comes from deep below the earth. But just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s safe! In fact, radon is radioactive, a byproduct of natural process, but any radioactive gas can cause problems. With radon, your biggest risk is lung cancer—resulting in about 20,000 deaths in the US, including many non-smokers. In fact radon is second only to smoking as a leading cause of lung cancer. But it’s preventable. When you hire a home inspector in NJ to test your home for radon, you can identify unhealthy levels of this gas and take steps to protect yourself.

Why Radon Testing in NJ is More Useful in Winter
The EPA recommends that every person hire a radon inspector to assess the level of radon in their home, and to take appropriate steps to combat these leaks if they occur. Testing in winter can produce more accurate and useful results, as the highest amount of radon gas tends to be in the air during the winter months. You probably aren’t opening windows that would let the gas out, and due to snow blocking the ground, differences in wind patterns, and the tendency for heat to rise (including geothermally warmed gas from underground), the highest levels of radon are usually leaking into your home during the winter. To get the best results and most information from your scheduled radon testing in NJ, schedule it in the winter months, when you’ve got the furnace on.
Ready to be informed about the radon levels in your home? Call a radon professional or qualified home inspector in NJ today to get tested.

Can A Home Inspector in New Jersey Tell Me if My House Is Worth Saving?

Buying and Selling, Home inspections, Smart Finance

Home inspectors in New Jersey play a lot of roles, from helping homeowners get the best sales price, to home buyers know the risks of their new home, to inspecting for specific conditions like radon intrusion. Most of the time, you have at least an idea of the condition of your home—but what if you don’t? If you rent your property out to tenants, if a relative has been living there for many years and out of contact, or if your property has simply sat vacant for many years, a home inspector in New Jersey can tell you something even more important: If your home or property is worth saving. Keep reading to see what a home inspector can do for you!

Why Would Someone Need A Home Inspector in NJ?
Homes that get neglected can be destroyed. For example, if your property has sat vacant through multiple NJ winters, it is likely that pipes have broken and caused leaks. If pests become out of control, especially pests like termites or rodent infestations, the flooring and structural support of the home could be compromised. If someone has conducted inappropriate activities in the house, such as producing illicit substances, hoarding to a dangerous level, or failing to secure the home from the elements, any number of crucial home elements may be damaged. A home inspector in NJ can help you understand this damage and what it means for your home.

Can a Home Inspector in NJ Tell Me If My House is Safe?
While a home inspector usually cannot make an official designation of a home’s safety or habitability (this usually falls to a county professional), they can tell you if it is safe in general, or if there are major damages that could threaten a person’s safety. For example, a home inspector can easily assess for major damage to the home’s structural walls, flooring, and roof, and is trained to look for damage to other elements like the plumbing, sewage, and other utilities.

NJ’s Home Inspectors Provide Valuable Referral Information
While the decision to repair or sell your property and any accompanying structures depends on various factors, a home inspector in New Jersey can and should be an important part of that decision. Based on the information your home inspector shares with you regarding damages, you can seek the advice of qualified contractors in the repair field, for example, plumbers, electricians, or general contractors. Having this information prepares you for the difficult decision of whether your property can, or should, be saved.
Dealing with home damage in New Jersey is never fun, but when you work with a professional home inspector, you can count on a fair an accurate inspection that will provide you with the information you need most.

Did You Know: A Home Inspection in New Jersey Can Help Offset Higher Mortgage Rates

Buying and Selling, DIY, Home inspections

If you’ve been checking the news lately, you’ve noticed high mortgage rates! Did you know that a home inspection in New Jersey can actually help offset some of these increased costs? It may seem counterintuitive, but paying for a home inspection can actually save you big money down the line. Keep reading to see some examples that our team at Eagle Home Inspections has discovered!

Costly Foundation Issues Avoided By Home Inspection in NJ
The foundation of a home is the structural support, and one of the most important features. If the home’s foundation is cracked, damaged, or leaking, a variety of problems could occur from radon gas leaks to sagging walls. When the home inspector visits a home with a damaged foundation, they always let the prospective buyer know. This has saved many homeowners from getting “stuck in a money pit” with a house that has expensive foundation issues. Let a home inspector in NJ check out your next property before you buy it and enjoy peace of mind.

A Home Inspector Identifies Problems Before You Buy
For some homeowners, problems are expected when they buy a new house, especially if the house is a “fixer-upper.” But how much “fixing-up” can you tolerate? When you hire a home inspector in New Jersey, you have a clear idea of what’s wrong and how much it may be to fix it before signing those final sales papers. Maybe you’re fine replacing major appliances and getting new windows, but don’t want to deal with clearing out asbestos or replacing a roof. Home inspection gives you the information you need to decide.

Reduce The Sales Price on Your NJ Home When Home Inspection Reveals Damage
Speaking of important home inspection information, you can sometimes get a lower price from the seller after home inspection. The seller is likely very motivated to sell their home, so if a home inspector reveals damage or repairs to be completed, that seller may be willing to work with you, such as reducing the sales price, or offering pre-paid gift cards or construction services.

A home is likely one of the biggest and most expensive purchases you’ll ever make. Make a smart choice when you hire a home inspector in New Jersey to check out the property before you buy it and you may save big!