Just because it’s a new house doesn’t mean it’s right. In a perfect world, every new construction home that gets built would be just that, perfect. No mistakes, defects, deficiencies, problems, or issues. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a perfect house. Even new houses have issues. 

And some of them have a lot of issues. 

Just recently one of our inspectors did a new construction inspection and found a variety of issues including improperly installed drip edge on the roof and gaps/openings in the soffit. 

Without a New Construction inspection, these issues would have likely gone unnoticed for months or years and could potentially cause lots of damage in the future long after the 1-year warranty from the builder had expired.

We have plenty of other stories as well. 

Like the time we tested a washing machine at a brand-new house. When the washer started to drain into the discharge tube, there was the sound of water in the basement splashing on the concrete. Turns out the drain pipe was never connected inside the wall.

We have found shingles improperly installed or completely missing, brand new outlets not wired properly, kitchen cabinets installed upside down, missing smoke detectors, two-year-old furnaces, and non-functioning sump pumps. Remember, these are brand-new houses. 

Let’s add to this list of deficiencies a few other New Construction Inspection issues we have found recently. In brand-new houses, we have seen missing insulation in the attic, leaking faucets, cracked windows, cracked bathtubs, cracked foundations, damaged appliances, damaged floors, missing trim, and doors that will not close or lock. 

I could continue, but I think you get the point. 

If you are going to build a new house, we highly recommend you have a new construction inspection done prior to closing. Our thorough New Construction Inspections focus on ensuring everything in your new home is properly installed and completed. The best time to get issues resolved is prior to closing while you still have the most leverage with the builder.

If you ask your builder if you need to have an inspection, they are likely to tell you it’s not necessary. They will tell you this is why they offer a one or two-year warranty, and that there are multiple city inspections throughout the building process. They will say they have a thorough checklist they go through prior to closing. 

Trust us, these are not valid reasons to skip a New Construction Inspection. The truth is, many builders don’t want you to have an inspection because they know it will discover issues that still need to be resolved and they would often rather just move on to the next house. 

However, the last thing you want to deal with after moving into your new house is a bunch of things that need to be fixed or finished. Most of the things we find during a new construction inspection are things that are not yet completed or have been improperly installed.

Remember, just because it’s a new house, doesn’t mean it’s right. 

A New Construction Inspection can’t give you a perfect house, but it certainly can save you a lot of headaches and frustration before moving in.

In addition to New Construction inspections, we also offer Pre-Drywall/Post-Insulation Inspections for new builds, the traditional Pre-Purchase Home Inspection, as well as Pre-Listing inspections (for sellers before they list the property for sale), and 1 Year Warranty Inspections. 

If you have any questions about any of these services, please give us a call (515.865.0346).