I am a licensed Lead inspector in New Jersey for anyone who needs an inspection to get compliant with the new lead law in NJ. 

We are going to be self managing our properties from out of state, and need someone who can show prospective tenants property, allow maintenance workers/inspectors in, and to hold our key.

Recommend spending $400-500 to get the house inspected by the BEST inspector you can find.

I know that not everything an inspector points out, is in actual need of repair, but I haven't seen the report so I don't know.3.

Talk to the building inspector, they're the ones who handle egress for us and they are the ones who set the standard on what is a safe means of egress.

Even if you have enough for a down payment and closing costs, there is always a chance the furnace or AC goes out the first time you try to turn it on (typically this would be caught by an inspector), or some major damage happens that insurance doesn't cover.  

In my experience, inspections are typically about safety, not whether something is up to code (that's what the town building inspectors are for). 

@Dave Terbeek will you please share the lead inspector information Please.

When it began, the inspector asked me to show the condenser to ensure it was on a pad.

They want to do everything by the book, but don't understand the inspection process and don't want to invite an inspector to come over and throw the book at them.