Why You Should Have a Home Inspection on New Construction
When you’re buying a newly built home, you may wonder whether you need a home inspection before moving in. Ordering an inspection on new construction protects you and your family from construction-related defects.
Inspection on New Construction Will Document Any Mistakes
It’s important to request a professional home inspection on new construction before your final walkthrough with the builder. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with making repairs after you move into the home. Before closing, have the builder address any problems while it’s still their responsibility. Below are some issues that might be discovered during a home inspection.
- Mechanical spaces may be made too small, resulting in appliances not fitting. It’s inconvenient and troublesome to learn that your refrigerator or water heater won’t fit properly into the space designed for it.
- Roofs installed so poorly that repair or replacement is needed.
- Missing ventilation in crawl spaces or attics, resulting in water condensation (which can lead to water damage and/or mold growth).
- Basement walls improperly insulated or not insulated at all.
- Inadequate home insulation could mean you’ll need to rip out ceilings or walls to fix the problem.
- Recessed lighting with improper insulation can result in air leaks or heat loss.
- Structural problems may exist, such as incorrect floor framing or a damaged roof system.
Mistakes With New Construction
A house is a collection of many complex systems. Your builder will bring subcontractors to work on various components throughout construction. The subcontractors hired by the builder often subcontract their work out, so now you have several groups of workers building your family’s home. There will be teams to pour the foundation and a different group to frame the house. The build will be completed by plumbers, electricians, and roofers. With so many construction workers on the project, mistakes can be made.
New Homes Are Built to Code
New construction codes are designed to make sure homes are built to the most basic standards. Their inspection is a quick, overall look at the minimum requirements for a building to be habitable. The local code inspectors are also under time constraints. They don’t have time to spend at your site checking for any problems lurking behind the walls or on the roof.
You Have the Option of a Phase Inspection on New Construction
To make sure your new home is built well from the beginning, you can also order phase inspections. Your inspector will assess the home at different stages of the build. When the home inspector has the opportunity to examine the home throughout its construction, he or she can identify problems as they arise. This helps to prevent situations like a potential electrical issue being hidden behind the wall as the home is built.
A home inspection on new construction is important to make certain your new home is in excellent condition, is safe for your family, and to protect your investment.
Inspection Wizards offers new construction and phase inspections in the Atlanta area. If you’re building a new home, contact us to schedule an inspection.