INSPECTING NEW CONSTRUCTION
When we want to buy an older home, we rely on the home inspection to alert us to any problems, flaws, defects, and potential worries. If we buy a brand new home, is a home inspection necessary? Can we save up to $400 by passing on the inspection? What could possibly be amiss in a brand new construction?
In fact, any home, regardless of its age, should be inspected as a condition of the sale, whether an inspection
is required or not. New homes have defects, and a home inspector experienced in new homes can spot potential problems
that may not present themselves for several years. Defects discovered in the inspection can be corrected by the
builder prior to the closing.
In most areas, a city building inspector will approve a newly built home, but this approval doesn't mean that all
is well, or that things have been done correctly. Sadly, a disreputable builder may know how to hide a flaw from
an inspector. City inspectors are, like everyone else, capable of a mistake or oversight, too.
A home that's purchased before completion can be inspected periodically as the construction advances. Ask the builder
for permission for a knowledgeable person to check in on the house several times while it's being built. It's a
good idea to have a look once the foundation is in place, again when framing is complete, then after electrical,
plumbing, and heating and central air systems are installed, and again during the final finishing. Ask for a written
report following each stage of inspection. A photographic record is a good idea, too, and will be extremely helpful
if you decide to sell.
Ask the builder for copies of the building plans, any laboratory testing, soil reports and engineering reports,
and any related documents. It's a good idea to include this request in writing as a condition of the purchase.
If you don't understand these reports yourself, hire a pro to review and interpret them for you. Questions regarding
any of the reports can be directed to the person who issued the report.
Once construction is complete, and before you move in, engage the services of an experienced home inspector. The
time and expense of this final inspection will save you money and heartache in the future, and give you peace of
mind that is simply priceless.