Our Inspection Packages

We offer three exclusive Home Inspection Packages that allow you to select the range of services you prefer, so you can have peace of mind about buying the home you love. Your report is printed and delivered at the time of the inspection, so there’s no waiting for results. You’ll also have online access to your report anytime.

A professional NJ home inspection and evaluation of all major items inside and outside the home is the core of the Pillar To Post inspection. Our NJ Home inspectors conduct a visual inspection as described by the Standards of Practice of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI®) and in accordance with the New Jersey Administrative Code contained at N.J.A.C. 13:40-15.

• Structure and Foundation
• Electrical Systems
• Plumbing Systems
• Roofs and Attics
• Basements and Crawl Spaces
• Gutters and Drainage
• Walls, Floors and Ceilings
• Porches and Decks
• Property and Site

We also inspect and operate:

• Furnaces in Heating Season
• Air Conditioning in Cooling Season
• Plumbing Fixtures in Kitchens and Baths
• Water Heaters
• A Representative Sampling of Lights and Receptacles
• A Representative Sampling of Windows and Doors
• Built-in Appliances

All Pillar To Post inspectors are members of regional, state, national associations across the United States.

Added Services

Asbestos Sampling

Asbestos fibers cannot be seen without a special microscope and testing. Analysis by an accredited testing laboratory is the only way to know for certain whether a material contains asbestos. If requested we may sample suspected asbestos containing materials for professional analysis.

The following list does not include every product/material that may contain asbestos. It is intended as a general guide to show which types of materials may contain asbestos.

Carpenter Ant Inspections

Nests can be found in either moist or dry wood. However, carpenter ants prefer to nest in moist wood with moisture content over 15 percent, often caused by rain, leaks, condensation, etc. Structural timber is about 12 to 15 percent moisture. Our New Jersey home inspectors use moisture meters that can find wet spots to pinpoint possible nest locations. Sometimes, nests are found in dry environments, such as hollow veneer doors, curtain rods, small void areas between the door casing and ceiling, false beams, or under insulation in attics.

We will inspect for damaged timbers, swarmers in spider webs, wood piles indoors, piles of wood debris ejected from the colony (pencil sharpener shaving-like), “windows” or small opening to a nest, etc. We will check your prospective property for such evidence of infestation and recommend the appropriate treatment and repairs.

Warranties are available from 3 months to 1 year. The warranty covers treatment only; it does not cover previous damage or concealed damages.

Chimney Inspections

Chimney inspections are classified as Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3. Each level of inspection covers specific items depending on the individual appliance and venting system.

• Level 1 Inspections – If your appliance or your venting system has not changed and you plan to use your system as you have in the past, then a Level 1 inspection is a minimum requirement and is included as part of our routine home inspection. A Level 1 inspection is recommended for a chimney under continued service, under the same conditions, and with the continued use of the same appliance. In a Level 1 inspection, your inspector will examine the readily accessible portions of the chimney exterior, interior and accessible portions of the appliance and the chimney connection. Your inspector will be looking for the basic soundness of the chimney structure and flue as well as the basic appliance installation and connections. The home inspector will also verify the chimney is free of obstruction and combustible deposits in readily accessible portion of the chimney / flue system.

Carbon Monoxide Testing

Carbon monoxide (CO) should be a concern for all homeowners. The government estimates that 300 people are killed by CO in their homes each year. CO is called a silent killer because it has no taste, color or odor. Almost all CO problems are caused by poor maintenance or improper use of fuel-burning equipment. We use digital testing devices to measure CO from appliances. Should elevated levels be detected corrective action will be recommended.

Digital Radon Testing

We employ the latest digital radon testing devices commonly referred to continuous radon monitors. The digital radon detector is sensitive enough to print out accurate results on an hourly basis and is tamper proof.

Professional radon test equipment will come into secular equilibrium within 2 to 4 hours. This is necessary because most real estate radon inspections only last for 2-5 days. Results can be returned in as little as 24 hours.

General Pest Inspections

Many pests are found in the urban environment that are a nuisance or pose a potential health risk. The following list does not include every pest found in our area. It is intended as a general guide to show which types of pests are typically noted during one of our inspections.

Hayman Residential Foundation Inspections

Pillar To Post and Hayman Residential Engineering Services has launched a strategic alliance to meets the growing demand for foundation inspections of manufactured homes to expedite Real Estate and mortgage transactions for the sale of manufactured homes. All foundation systems, new and existing, must meet the guidelines published in the Permanent Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing, dated September 1996. A certification attesting to compliance with this handbook must be obtained from a licensed professional engineer and included in the insuring file. It is applicable for all re-sales. The PFGMH must be followed in order to receive a federally guaranteed loan.

Lead Paint Testing

Under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Program Section 1018 of Title X, federal law requires disclosure of information on lead-based paint hazards present before the sale or lease of most housing built before 1978. The rule would ensure that purchasers and renters of housing built before 1978 receive the information necessary to protect themselves and their families from lead-based paint hazards. Unfortunately many homes have never been tested for the presence of Lead paint. So many disclosures simply state that “may be” lead based paint present if the home was built prior to 1978. If you would like to have your home tested for the presence or absence of lead-based paint, please call our office to schedule this service.

Moisture Detection & Sampling

Moisture detection is an important part of a complete home inspection. Areas suspected of elevated moisture are tested with digital testing devices to confirm or deny the presence of moisture. Corrective action based on our finding are detailed in the inspection report.

Mold Sampling

A professional inspection is not costly, and gives you access to a much more thorough inspection that you would not be able to undertake yourself. Our inspectors will visually inspect the structure(s) for water penetration, moisture sources or visible mold. Air samples are obtained from the interior and the exterior of the home. Any visible mold is tested using a swab. The samples are sent to an accredited laboratory. The resulting report lists the type and amount of mold and if any action is necessary.

Neighborhood Environmental Data Report

Starting immediately, home buyers and sellers in the U.S. who use Pillar To Post professionals for their home inspections will have access to a Neighborhood Environmental Report, which provides important information on known and potential contamination that exists on or in the vicinity of a property. Reports can be ordered at any time. Please contact our office to order a report or to see a sample.

Oil Tank Searches

If you are buying a home or building and the home or building was built prior to 1970 or there are visible pipes sticking up from the ground near the home, building, yard or driveway or there are evidence of extra fuel lines entering the basement from the outside or there is an aboveground heating oil tank used to heat the home or building there may still be a buried oil tank on the property. Many times sellers will not have any knowledge of buried tanks, because they were left abandoned by previous owners. You can protect yourself by ordering a search the premises for any undisclosed abandoned underground storage tanks.

We will contract with outside vendors which will send highly trained technicians that carry special inductive & conductive locators (sophisticated metal detectors) and probes that can identify underground tanks buried underground or underneath driveways. If a tank is discovered, you will receive a written report detailing the location of the tank at the property. In addition, the report will recommend the steps you should follow to avoid inheriting a potential environmental problem. If they cannot locate a tank, you will receive a written report stating there are no underground storage tanks on the property.

Radon Testing

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of naturally occurring uranium in soil and rock. It is invisible, odorless and tasteless, and can only be detected by specialized tests. Radon enters homes through openings that are in contact with the ground, such as cracks in the foundation, small openings around pipes, and sump pits.

Radon, like other radioactive materials, undergoes radioactive decay that forms decay products. Radon and its decay products release radioactive energy that can damage lung tissue in a way that causes the beginning of lung cancer.

The more radon you are exposed to, and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk of eventually developing lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, resulting in 15,000 to 22,000 deaths per year.

Testing your home for radon is easy and homes with high levels of radon can be fixed (mitigated). The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recommends that all homes be tested for radon.

Septic Inspections

When buying a property that is served by a septic system the NJDEP recommends that all interested purchasers secure a septic system inspection to ward off any costly repairs or liabilities following a real estate transaction. New Jersey has established an inspection protocol, so it is encouraged to review the protocol before inspecting. This guidance titled, “Technical Guidance for Inspections of Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems” is a key document in the Onsite Wastewater Management Program.

Inspections are important because they determine that a system is currently functioning properly and can help to determine if the system will suit long term needs, such as future additions, plans for decks, swimming areas and other construction projects. Also people planning pre-purchase home construction and are unsure of their septic system location and its condition, should consider securing an inspection before proceeding, because heavy machinery and certain construction materials such as paint and solvents can inadvertently damage a septic system or alter its performance.

Lastly, all homeowners thinking about buying a septic system should know that proper care begins setting up a maintenance schedule (such as with any home utility, like a furnace) and knowing what can and cannot be discharged into the system, which is then recharged into the groundwater.

If you would like a copy of the “Technical Guidance for Inspections of Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems”, contact our office for a free copy. We can contract with a qualified septic inspection company to conduct a thorough septic inspection the day of your home inspection.

Termite Inspe tion & Warranties

A termite inspection is a visual inspection of the readily accessible areas of a home for evidence of the wood-destroying insect. The home inspector will visually inspect the entire interior of a home (including accessing and entering any sub-space such as basements and crawlspaces). After the inspection has been performed, the findings are reported on the applicable / appropriate form.

Warranties are available from 6 months to 1 year. The warranty covers treatment only; it does not cover previous damage or concealed damages.

Well Water Testing

The Private Well Testing Act, N.J.S.A. 58:12A-26 et seq. (PWTA) has specific requirements. The Act requires that, when property with certain types of drinking water wells is sold or leased, the well water must be tested for contaminants. The results of the water testing must be reviewed by both the buyer and seller, or in the case of a leased property, by the lessee.

To schedule a well water test please contact our office. We can contract with a qualified well water testing company to conduct the specific tests required the day of your home inspection.