Just Because its New Construction Doesn't Mean You Forgo the Home Inspection...

This is down right scary.  So did the buyer purchase the home?

Michael - I'm not an inspector or a contractor but even I can tell that there is something terribly wrong here. I'm with Tammie (#28), and would also like to know what the outcome of the inspection was. Did the buyer purchase the home?

Yep always recommend inspections on new construction. So I am hopeing the builder came and fixed that before closing. You have to wonder how the City Inspectors missed such obvious opps.

A home inspection with a new builder is either a time for that inspector to congratulate the soon to be owners that they made a GREAT choice (who doesn't want to hear that?), or the end of a deal. Either way, a good outcome for a new home buyer. I'd be wary immediately of any reluctance (aside from respecting the time needed for the superintendant to be present- those guys are busy) on the part of a home builder to discourage an inspection.

Michael- it looks like a handyman may have done that work.  One who was just learning.

Wow, that looks so beyond substandard it makes you wonder what lurks behind the closed up walls, which aren't accessible if one doesn't do a pre-drywall inspection.

Oh, Michael, I'm forwarding this to a dear client of mine who is Closing next week and signing off on the non-inspection disclosure for me because she doesn't think she needs one.  I've seen new construction inspection reports that are FAR longer than resales--to me, it's a MUST!

Thank YOU for posting this right now!

Just learned from another inspector on AR about the importance of a pre-drywall inspection as well as the final. It's nice to have posts like this one to support our advice to buyers.

One of my realtor friends is starting to educate me on the ins and outs of inspections.  I suspect she is either wanting me to become an agent or inspector, neither of which appeals to me at the moment.  But, she told me that she ALWAYS suggests a home inspection regardless of the construction status....because builders vary in quality of construction and something might have been missed.  And, she gives me chapter and verse on what she has seen gone wrong. 

Attention to detail is key.

Amazing some of the shortcuts you find. Scary.

Never Ever .... Never Ever... Never ever forego the home inspection. 

Always get a home inspection.  I got one on my new home.  Moved in and had no hot water...my home inspector forgot to check that.  After the plumber cut 3 large holes into the drywall he realized where the pipes were switched.  Walls were patched but I will always remember a long moving day and no hot shower at the end of it!

I'm with you on this one and I'm not even a home inpsector.  I trust builders about as much as I trust sellers.  Always get peace of mind with an inspection.

That is some pretty bad looking "support". Of course you're preaching to choir here Michael.

First off, with the pictures that are displayed in this post... why in the world would ANY buyer purchase a home from a builder whose construction practices appear so sloppy.  If these things that are plainly visible are present... what in the world would one find behind the walls or up in the crawl space above the ceilings.  Forget the inspection.  Find another house.

Hi there, I loved the post and the pictures were almost hair rising. I think they served the purpose of installing fear amongst the readers. I completely agree with your point that home buyers have the idea that if a home has been recently built, it won’t be having any deficiencies. Most buyers are eager to check out their chosen house by themselves, but sometimes shy away from hiring a home inspector, especially if the house is new. What they don’t realize is that a professional home inspector will bring to notice certain things that an untrained eye might miss. Spending few bucks on the hiring a home inspector now will prevent the buyers from getting disappointed and shelling out hordes of money later on.

That is some very sloppy work. Dangerous too. http://homeinspectorsaz.com

You are so right Michael.  I used to work for one of the builders that trades on the stock market back in the 80's.  The dumb things I saw them do to save a buck would fill a book.

New construction is even more reason to get a home inspection.