Notes from the Field

Notes from the field

Short, plain-spoken writeups from the job site. NJ lead law, the questions property managers actually ask, what we're seeing on inspections this month, and the occasional rant about lab turnaround times.

Written by Mike Bonadies (NJ Lead Inspector / Risk Assessor, EPA RRP-certified) and the Side by Side crew. No SEO filler. No "ultimate guides." Just what we'd tell a property manager over coffee.

What a lead paint inspection actually costs in NJ

NJ Lead Law

How much does a lead paint inspection actually cost in NJ in 2026?

Real market pricing, broken down by inspector type, lab fees, multi-unit pricing, and bulk portfolio discounts. The full picture before you call anyone.

6 min read · July 2026

NJ rental lead-safe certification checklist for property managers

Compliance

NJ rental lead-safe certification: the checklist no one gives property managers

What needs to be in place before your inspector arrives. What the inspector actually looks at. How to fix the four issues that fail most properties.

5 min read · July 2026

Lead safe vs lead free certification in New Jersey explained

Inspections

Lead Safe vs. Lead Free: which one are you actually getting?

The difference matters at sale, at re-inspection, and on your insurance. A clear explanation written by a certified NJ Lead Inspector.

4 min read · July 2026

Five things that slow down a rental unit turn in South Jersey

Property Management

The five things that actually slow down a unit turn in South Jersey

From a crew that has done more turns than we can count. What you can plan around and what you can't.

5 min read · July 2026

Five topics, no fluff

NJ lead law explainers. Plain-English reads of what the statute actually requires.

Compliance walkthroughs. Checklists, common-fail items, what to expect on inspection day.

Pricing transparency. Real numbers from the market, no hedging.

Field notes. What we're seeing this month across NJ rentals. Aggregate, no client identifiers.

Property management ops. Unit turns, punch lists, vendor management from a contractor's angle.

If you have a question you want answered as a post, send it our way. Good question = future post.

The first few posts

How much does a lead paint inspection actually cost in NJ in 2026?

NJ rental lead-safe certification: the checklist no one gives property managers

Lead Safe vs. Lead Free: which one are you actually getting?

The five things that actually slow down a unit turn in South Jersey

Five topics, no fluff

Start with the reference page