Inspection on a New Build?

So you're under contract to purchase a new home and you're waiting for the builder to finish construction. Expenses keep adding up so you think you may skip the home inspection. The builder knows what they doing, right? Of course they do, but the builder and his crew are human. Most builders welcome the home inspectors onsite and prefer to catch repairs prior to closing. We've even had some builders hire their own third party to inspect new construction homes before the buyers bring in a home inspector. The majority of the time, the builders take pride in having the home completely buttoned up prior to the new homeowner moving in. Collectively, no one involved wants missing items or incorrectly installed items in the home to delay the final Certificate of Occupancy or closing.

We highly recommend that you don't try to save the money. The savings is minor ($500-$800 depending on home size) and we don't want our clients to miss the opportunity to have repairs addressed prior to closing. Dealing with the various warranty companies after closing can be a huge headache.

There are 2 separate inspections we recommend on a new build:

  1. Pre Drywall inspection - to inspect the framing, foundation, electrical and plumbing. All the things you can't see once the sheetrock goes in.

  2. Pre Closing inspection - once the home is finished and fully functional with utilities on and all appliances installed.

Here are a few things we've seen on new construction home inspection reports (either pre-drywall or the week before closing)

  • Air vents covered up by drywall or carpet.

  • A wall missing to create a bedroom (structural change that was missed by the framing crew)

  • Natural gas water heater hooked up to propane tank - explosion risk

  • Entire walls and second floor ceiling missing insulation entirely

  • Appliances in kitchen not hooked up

  • Improper breaker sizing in electrical panel

  • HVAC equipment not installed properly & vendor couldn't access the unit for repairs

  • Inadequate venting for furnaces

  • Nails or screws through plumbing causing leaks in the wall

  • Broken windows

  • Garage doors off their track

 
 
Real EstateDede WarrenThe Dede & B.V. Team