If you’re building a new home, you expect everything to be in great condition. No previous owner has used the appliances, hammered nails into the walls, or damaged the flooring. You’re looking forward to living in a place that is yours. A home inspection on new construction may seem unnecessary, but don’t be tempted to skip this important assessment. Here are a few reasons why it’s smart to have a professional inspect your new house.
Home Inspection on New Construction May Reveal Defects
You may wonder what could be wrong with a brand new house. The following lists some of the common problems found when new construction is inspected.
- Foundation cracks
- Poorly framed homes
- Grading and drainage issues
- Heating and air conditioning ducts that don’t connect
- Malfunctioning thermostats
- Window leaks
- Missing or damage shingles
- Bent garage doors or tracks
- Electrical outlets incorrectly wired
- Open grounds
- Piping installed incorrectly
- Hot and cold faucets reversed
Home repairs can be expensive and inconvenient. Hire an inspector to discover problems so your builder can make the repairs before closing.
Mistakes Can Happen
Like any smart homebuyer, you did your homework and chose a reputable builder. The builder hired subcontractors to tackle many parts of the process, and those subcontractors also had their own crews of hired help. Mistakes can happen and because the building site is busy, problems may be overlooked.
Even a builder that does everything in their power to make certain each system was installed correctly can miss a mistake made by another contractor’s workers.
Phase Inspections are an Option on New Construction
If you’re building a new home, you might hire an inspector for phase inspections to ensure that the house is built correctly all the way through the construction process.
The first inspection usually happens before the foundation is poured. This is called a pre-pour inspection. It allows your inspector to make sure the grading and drainage were handled correctly. If any issues are found, these problems can be fixed before they pour the concrete.
The next inspection, to examine the wiring, plumbing, door frames, windows, etc., is called the pre-drywall inspection. Have the home inspected after the roof, framing, and windows are in, but before the workers install the drywall.
The last inspection is the full inspection of your entire home after the build has been completed and before your final walk-through with the builder.
Doesn’t the City Complete the Home Inspection on New Construction?
A city or county official will visit and inspect the home to verify that minimum building codes are met. They do not perform a thorough inspection. To know that your home was well-built, and not just to minimum municipal standards, hire a professional inspector.
Pro Home Inspection Services offers inspection on new construction to the eastern part of South Carolina. Contact us to schedule an appointment.