PRE-DRYWALL INSPECTIONS. Serious Defect Discovered by Pre-Drywall Inspection.
Apparently this builder (I want to know who it is) believes that water from the stairwell isn't important and should just evaporate.
WAIT!! What happens when the water overflows under the basement door into the basement, and it will.
Advice to new owners - DO NOT finish or improve that basement. Pretty soon it's going to be a bog.
BTW, this is one reason I recommend a 3 step home inspection on new homes. This defect should have been caught BEFORE the slab was poured. Sadly, few buyers are willing to pay for this much inspection protection.
New home buyers are generally advised by the builders sales representative that they don't need a home inspection because the county does it for them. HA! The county inspects for code and safety, not for quality.
Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker/Agent, Homefinders.com, Serving home buyers in Loudoun County, VA.
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Via
Jay Markanich - Northern VA Home Inspector (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC):
In the past week we have had a lot of rain around here.
For some time I have had a pre-drywall inspection scheduled. The clients called to ask if we might want to reschedule it due to the rain.
Of course I said no, things are often revealed by the rains that we might not otherwise notice.
This is a very nice house, with very nice window wells, with their own very nice drainage, all connected to buried drain tile, bringing water from around the house to a very nice sump pump in the furnace room.
While not hooked up yet, I can see where the tubes enter the sump pump pit, but they are still capped, so no water is inside the pit yet.
Walking around back I noticed this stairwell full of water!
I said to my client that the drain lines are not functioning yet so this water is to be expected.
But, swishing my hand around in the water (which I really like doing) it was revealed that there is no drain installed!
And this stairwell is a good 30' of concrete basement slab from the sump pump!
Do you mean to say that nobody noticed the lack of drain before now?
REVEALED!
My recommendation: don't ever let a builder talk you out of a pre-drywall construction inspection with the statement that "we are here every day and our supervisor and the County conduct dozens of inspections." Don't buy it when the sales lady calls your home inspector a "placebo." And don't believe your builder when he says he won't do anything about what the home inspector notices unless the inspector includes the code along with it. Of course he will! It isn't the home inspector's job to quote codes! Get your own home inspector with his own set of eyes! And try to go just after a big rain storm! You never know what might be revealed!
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia
www.jaymarinspect.com
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11 Comments on PRE-DRYWALL INSPECTIONS. Defect REVEALED by Pre-Drywall Inspection.
Hi Lenn,
I had stopped by Jays Post and left a comment.
Very good post indeed.
You should check out Roy Kelly's post. He had a guest writer.
All about home inspections and why to get one.
Best, Clint McKie
I remember buying a new construction in MD about 20 years ago...no inspection, no nothing. Of course the builder rep never mentioned it and I was naive. Always, Always, Always......inspect!
Thanks for the reblog Lenn. This should help - this development is a little enclave on a road near the springs originating on the carlin property beside a little ballston.
And here's proving that I have enjoyed swishing my hand around in water since I was very young!
That's me getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner, November 1953.
Clint. I read that article and he is mistaken about a statement contained,
"Virginia and Maryland home inspectors can be licensed."
Maryland home inspectors are REQUIRED to be licensed by the state.
Virginia home inspectors may be "certified" but it is voluntary.
BIG DIFFERENCE.
Gary. Even 20 years ago, a few of my new home buyers would pay for a new home inspection. Worth the money.
Jay. All I want to know is the name of the builder.
Hi Lenn. The cost of a home inspection is cheap protection. Always have one.
I thought that was saying it without saying it. This help?
Yes, this is a big miss and will create a big mess. I hope they can find a solution somehow.
Conrad. I agree.
Debbie. Hard to believe isn't it?
Jay. That is a "niche" builder. I try my best not to deal with niche builders.
Buyers would too.
This house is 1 of 10 niches. For about $1.4...
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