Do I Need a Home Inspection with New Construction?

If you’re buying a new construction home, you might assume that a home inspection isn’t necessary. After all, you had the house built from scratch and customized to your exact needs and likings. No one else has ever lived there, and no time has passed for anything to break or go wrong. Wouldn’t a home inspection waste your limited time and money?

That depends on how you look at it. For many, a home inspection can provide valuable insights into their property’s construction, as well as the chance to prevent costly repairs on the home later on down the line. For others, a new home inspection may seem like just an extra cost in an already very expensive time.

What Is a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is a third-party evaluation of a home’s structure, systems, appliances and other important features. The inspector will evaluate your property, give you a report on all his or her findings, and you can then go to the seller (in this case the builder) to fix any desired issues before you close on the home.

In a nutshell, inspections can help ensure you’re getting a safe and hazard-free property, that you’re making a good investment, and that you won’t have tons of repairs to make before move-in (or worse, right after it).

Common Issues Found in New Homes

Though it would seem that new homes should be relatively error-free, according to many inspectors, they often have underlying issues at work.

According to National Property Inspections, some common issues found during new construction home inspections include:

• Structural defects, like foundation cracks, improper grading, and poor framing
• Drainage and grading issues, which could cause water and structural damage later on
• Window leaks
• HVAC issues, including malfunctioning thermostats and loose connections
• Electrical problems, such as improperly wired outlets, open grounds and missing switch plates
• Plumbing issues, including reversed hot/cold in faucets, improper piping, leaks, and more

Inspectors say they also often find incomplete projects. This could include insufficient insulation, half-installed handrails or fixtures, or missing pieces of hardware.

Read more at thebalance.com