My Job? To Protect My Client's A$$ets!

New construction inspections are always a challenge.  And for many reasons.  There is a lot of countervailing stuff going on. 

• The supervisor thinks he has built the perfect house.  Sometimes he tells me that. 
  
• The builder doesn't want me there.  Sometimes they tell me that. 
  
• The client has been upset many times by the time we do our inspection.  Sometimes they tell me that.
• And the client has been told that the house was already inspected numerous times by the County and that the supervisor was on site every day doing his routine inspections, so that superfluous home inspector isn't really necessary at all.  Sometimes they tell me that TOO!

Here are a few photographs from a recent new home inspection.  They will each become the subject of an individual post at some time.  I could include more!  This is the same house, "ready" for a "final inspection" before occupancy and ALREADY APPROVED by the County.  Oh, at the time of this inspection the wall ovens and dishwasher were yet to be installed.  They were going to get to it "tomorrow." 

How the County can sign off on the electrical without the electrical wall ovens or even their wiring being installed is beyond me, but that's where we were.

 

Broken furnace vent, exhausting moisture and carbon monoxide INTO the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An exposed opening where a poorly-cut drip edge did not extend to the end and roof sheathing is exposed.  That cut end of a shingle will not last very long either.  This was one of four, all done the same way.

 

 

 

 

No insulation in the attic!  None, not even a cotton ball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bent kitchen vent, right beside the garage door.  It is so bent, the flap does not open all the way.  And they didn't even paint it.

 

 

 

Perhaps hard to see, but the trim to the right of the small pediment detail is made up of two pieces, caulked in the middle with the nails showing.  They aren't even finish nails, and for all I know are bright nails, intended for interior applications!  The other side of the pediment had a single piece.

 

 

 

 

 

Faux stone improperly installed, with no casing bead, backer rod, and the mortar is touching wood (likely not primed or painted) all over the house.  Result?  Eventual rot all over and moisture penetration to the interior.

 

 

 

This is laughable.  Is anything level - trim at the top, shingles, roof, window?

This is one of four similar areas.  All are just as hideous.  If I had to drive up to my house every day and see this kind of thing I would cry.  My house would be a perpetual source of distaste for me.

My job is to protect my client's assets. When you are paying big money for a house, and my definition of "big money" is a $million or more, you deserve a proud, professionally-done, craftsman-like finished product!

I know builders don't like it when I show up.  Why would they?  There are more photos!  These are only a few!

I feel badly for what is happening to our trades.  They are being filled with people who have no idea what they are doing, and CANNOT read English.  My eighth-grade shop teacher would fail these jokers left and right.  He may have failed me for this, even though I was only in 8th grade! 

THIS IS POOR WORK DONE BY UNCARING PEOPLE.

Sorry to stand on my soap box and scream, but I am disgusted!!

My recommendation:  NEVER buy a new home without a home inspection.  Don't look for the cheapest inspector you can find.  Hire an experienced bull dog who knows what he is looking at and can explain it.  He is worth twice what you pay him, so pay him his fee and pick his brain!

 

 

 

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com