New Build Inspections
Buying a brand new home? How exciting!
And exhausting, and scary, and time-consuming, and thrilling, and frustrating, and decision fatigue is real. Anyone who has had a home built can agree that you go through ALL. THE. EMOTIONS. But after all those decisions and delays, the builder let's you know that the time has come to close on the home and officially make it yours. That day is a dream come true! You have the option to hire a home inspector before closing, but should you? After all, most builder's offer a one-year warranty, where they will fix anything that messes up within the first year of you living there. That should cover any problems, right? Is it worth an extra $300+ to inspect a home that's brand new? Keep your dream home from turning into a nightmare! We are routinely hired to inspect new build homes, and every single time we find something that needs to be fixed before closing. And every time, our cost to inspect is less than what the buyer would have paid in repairs and frustration. Let's break down those questions from above: Should you hire an inspector? Yes! In theory, the builder has subcontractors who are all good at their jobs and thorough with their installations. But the reality is that things get missed, even with the best builders. We have found plumbing caps that were needed during construction, but someone forgot to remove, causing flooding when the sinks and showers were used. We have found outlets wired improperly, or not wired at all. We have found vents that were sheet rocked over, and insulation that was missed in the attic. While subcontractors are experts at their specific jobs, a home inspector takes a look at the house as a whole system. The inspection is your opportunity to trust but verify that all of the subcontractors did their jobs correctly and that everything is working together. You get an honest opinion from an objective third party, which can be used to your advantage when requesting changes and repairs before signing on the dotted line at closing. The one-year warranty will fix everything, right? No! Some issues will become apparent pretty quickly. Structural movement from improper soil work, laundry room doors that don't actually close when the washer and dryer have been installed, or a lemon of a dishwasher are all problems that pop up in the first year of living in a home. And most builders are true to their word, honor their guaranty, and fix the issue. But what about problems that might take years to notice? For example, missing attic insulation. Or an improper installation that technically works but isn't ideal? For example, electrical short cuts in a breaker box that could lead to a fire. Having an inspection gives you vital information about your home, and allows you and the builder to fix anything before it becomes a more expensive repair in the future. Plus, having the inspection before you move in means there are no questions about who is at fault. This can save you thousands in litigation fees and the headache of being in a he-said, she-said situation. Furthermore, the builder will only be correcting the construction issue, not the box of memorabilia that molded after getting wet when the shower backed up and flooded a closet. Is it worth the extra money? Yes! As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And even on the best built homes we find something that needs to be addressed. Even with the best builder (and we know some really fantastic ones) a problem or two is inevitable. It's just a part of the process. So protect yourself, and your dream home, and get an inspection!
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