Step 8 - Schedule the Home Inspection

Once a contract has been submitted, it's crucial to schedule a home inspection as soon as possible. If necessary, it can always be canceled if the terms of the contract cannot be agreed upon.

Ideally, the inspection should take place within a day or 2 from the end of attorney review in New Jersey or within the next 2-3 days of signing a contract in Pennsylvania. However, during the busy summer months, inspectors may be booked out up to a week or more in advance. It's important for the home inspection to occur promptly, as the inspector often takes 1-2 days to write the report after the inspection. After the report is written, we still need some time to review it and request any necessary credits or repairs from the seller before the inspection contingency period ends, which typically spans 10-14 days.

It's advisable to plan to attend the inspection, which typically takes approximately 2-3 hours for a single-family home. Inspectors usually operate on weekdays and do not work evenings or weekends, so you may need to arrange to be off work for the inspection. It's recommended to wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty, as the inspector may want to show you something in the basement, on the roof, etc.

Legally, we are not authorized to schedule the home inspection for you, so this is something you will need to arrange. 

Once the inspection is scheduled, let us know so we can confirm that day and time will work with the seller’s REALTOR®. Plan to bring your checkbook or credit card to the inspection to pay the inspector.