New Construction Home Inspection: Read Before Buying
New Construction Home Inspection: Myth Buster
There is a big misconception among home buyers and first-time home buyers that when purchasing a new construction home it doesn’t need to be inspected. It could be tempting to think, “Everything is brand new, what could possibly be wrong?” Well, from our experience performing nearly a thousand home inspections and many of those for new construction homes, we can tell you there’s a lot to be found wrong with new construction builds.
We love builders who do a great job and pour their heart and soul into constructing beautiful homes for families. Sadly, not all builders are created equal and there are neglectful ones who cut corners and leave you questioning their ethics. This alone is a big reason to have an inspection done. Even if you trust your builder implicitly, humans are still flawed and make mistakes. There are even issues that arise outside of the builder’s control and/or knowledge, such as settling/erosion and defective materials.
It’s always a good idea to hire a qualified new construction home inspector to perform your inspection because there is always something to find. No home is perfect, even a new one. Hiring your own to conduct thorough pre-drywall inspections and follow-up visits can catch significant defects and ensure the quality of construction before it is concealed by drywall. A warranty typically is included with the purchase of a new build, so your builder should be able to correct their mistakes on their dime and not on yours. In order to maximize your warranty; however, you do need an excellent home inspector to find those items for you.
Why You Need A New Construction Home Inspection
A new construction home inspection is a crucial step in the homebuying process. It’s essential to protect your investment and ensure that the property is free from defects and potential issues. In this section, we’ll explore the importance of a home inspection and why it’s necessary for new construction homes.
Protect Your Investment
A new construction home inspection can help you protect your investment by identifying potential issues before they become major problems. A home inspector can detect defects, errors, or oversights that may not be immediately visible to an untrained eye. By catching these issues early, you can avoid costly repairs down the line and ensure that your new home is safe and secure.
Catch Mistakes Before They Turn Into Problems
Even in brand-new houses, there can be construction defects, errors, or oversights that a professional inspector can detect. By identifying these issues early, you can work with the builder to address them before finalizing the purchase. A new construction home inspection can help you catch mistakes before they turn into problems, giving you peace of mind and confidence in your new home.
Save On Costly Repairs
A home inspection can help you save on costly repairs by identifying potential issues before they become major problems. By catching these issues early, you can avoid costly repairs down the line and ensure that your new home is safe and secure. A simple $300-$500 investment in a home inspection can save homeowners tens of thousands of dollars in potential repair costs.
Ensure Quality Control and Compliance with Standards
A new construction home inspection can help ensure quality control and compliance with The International Residential Code® (IRC). A home inspector can examine the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems to ensure they are safe and compliant. By ensuring that the property meets certain standards, you can minimize potential legal and financial responsibilities. It’s important to note that as home inspectors we do not evaluate for local building codes, which is different from the IRC.
New Construction Home Inspection: Defect Detector
A thorough inspection is crucial to identify any existing issues or potential problems early in the home buying process, even concerning new construction homes. To give you an idea of what we might find in your new build, here are some examples of common defects we’ve detected.
Roof - Defects with the roof is a big one. We see all kinds of issues with newly installed roofs, such as damaged shingles (as pictured below), exposed nail heads and/or nail pops, improperly installed trusses, inadequate and/or improperly installed flashing, insufficient/improper guttering, and standing water, to name a few. Your roof is a large ticket item you certainly don’t want to get stuck fixing from your own pocket. It’s best to be proactive and take care of those items now, so hire a well-versed home inspector to help.
These are actual photos of roof defects pulled from a home inspection report we put together for a client buying a new build.
Plumbing System - Within the plumbing system, we look for defects related to the main shut off valve, water service pipes, drains/waste/vent lines, gas meter/pipes, and sump/ejector pump. We haven’t seen perfect plumbing yet and never intend to. We almost always find some concern with the plumbing in every home, including new builds. This is especially worrisome because bad plumbing can lead to major water intrusion and damage caused by leaky pipes due to poor installation and/or defective materials.
Electrical System - A properly operational and safe electrical system in your home is imperative. Proper wiring, correct voltage, and electrical panel/breaker condition are all common defects we inspect and identify during a home inspection. Like the roof defects, if there are issues that need to be rectified with your new build, it’s best to handle those items while the home is still under warranty. Better yet, resolve issues and ensure all necessary repairs are completed before closing day.
These are actual photos of electrical defects provided from a home inspection report we created for a client buying a new build.
Attic/Ventilation - The attic allows for proper moisture levels and airflow to circulate keeping your roof temperature regulated. Excess moisture and/or unregulated temperatures can create mold and mildew, which may contribute to rotting shingles and other unwanted, costly damage. A qualified home inspector will be able to spot improper ventilation, insufficient insulation, and other issues that may be potential problems down the road.
Foundation/Crawl Space/Basement - We perform a limited structural inspection looking for potential causes for concern, such as bowed walls and/or abnormal cracking. When we detect such items, the inspector will recommend you have further evaluation done by a qualified structural engineer. You may choose to utilize our trusted referrals or find your own.
Sewer Line - Many homebuyers forget or simply aren’t aware that as a homeowner they are responsible for the sewer line that connects the home to the city main. If there are any issues with that lateral line, the city will not bail you out. We’ve seen some crazy things happen to sewer lines during new construction, including our very own personal residence. Check out our blog post that saved one of our clients an estimated $25,000 because of our sewer line inspection service. The builder replaced the entire line on their tab, such a gift to our clients!
New Construction Home Inspection: Get A New Construction Inspection, period.
Whether you are working closely with a builder on a custom home or purchasing an existing new construction home, be sure get your final home inspection before closing day. We also recommend two other types of new construction home inspections. One is pre-drywall inspection and the other is a 11-month warranty inspection. Both are super important in their own right.
A pre-drywall inspection means you have an inspection completed by a third-party inspection team (like us!) to inspect the home before drywall goes up. This is a huge advantage for you because we will be able to identify issues that we typically aren’t privy to once construction is complete. Monitoring the construction process through inspections at critical stages helps detect issues early and allows for timely adjustments, ultimately leading to higher quality homes and reduced long-term costs. It’s being able to see behind the walls and that’s pretty cool. Even if you are purchasing a new house, inspections are critical for ensuring quality and safety.
Typically a builder offers a one year warranty on their homes. In this case, a warranty means that you will want an inspection done in the 11-month of ownership before your warranty expires. If there are defects identified that are covered under the warranty, you’ll want to be sure to take care of those on the builder’s tab and not on yours. Read more about an 11-month warranty inspection here.
The bottom line is that inspections for newly constructed homes can identify issues that builders might overlook, ensuring builders are held accountable for repairs before finalizing purchases.
If you decide that all 3 inspections are right for your new construction home, you can bundle your inspections and save money when partnering with us. Ask us how!
We wish you the very best with your new home! It’s an exciting time and we are here to make things more seamless in your home buying experience. We would love the opportunity to partner with you on your home inspection.
Check out our services & pricing or schedule here.
Now What?
We are consistently told that we are the best new construction home inspector in town. We’re excited to partner with you on your inspection! Connect with us by giving us a call or start the scheduling process with our online form. Our friendly and responsive admin team is available to help answer any questions you may have about our services.
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