New Homes – Do you still need thorough inspections?

Published by cravat | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Miscellaneous

It is a common belief that new homes are fault free, worry and problem free. The truth of the matter is that all types of new construction should have a third party inspections performed to ensure that your home is being built with quality standards that would last from generation to generation.

Most major cities in the United States enforce a required number of inspections at different stages of the process. Many builders of residential real estate will cite these inspections as being the reason why inspections are not necessary. Time and time again, regardless of the number of city inspections, real estate consumers purchasing new construction commonly find problems after moving into their homes within five years. Many times, these problems can be attributed to a defect during the building process of their home.

Unfortunately, consumers are forced to depend on the warranties provided by their builder. This home warranty process has been known to be time consuming and stressful.

Think about what can you do when buying a new construction home? Most important is to get your own inspection to conduct a rigid inspection. Inspections can be performed in two key areas during the construction of your home; pre-drywall and final walkthrough.

Pre-Drywall Inspection

Before the drywall has been installed in your home, ask your property consultant or real estate agent about performing an inspection. At this stage of your construction, main load bearing studs, wiring and plumbing can be easily seen by an inspector. Builder sales counselors will usually recommend that you perform your inspection prior to your pre-drywall walkthrough so that all items found on your inspection report can be addressed with your builder’s supervisor (the person managing the build out of your home).

Pre-Walkthrough Inspection

If you performed a pre-drywall inspection, this follow up visit by your inspector will simply be an assurance that all items requiring repair were repaired or all items that needs replacement were replaced. This inspection will also verify that appliances, fixtures and building code violations are reported and given to you to provide to your builder.

A lot of new construction builders or contractors of residential properties will not bring up your options to an outside inspection for your new home. Performing one, however, is highly recommend and can provide a significant and valuable piece of mind to you and your family well into the future.