I think the general consensus seems to be that all buyers should have a full home inspection.

But lately, I have heard that many builders (and even some agents - gasp!) have suggested to their clients that the Builder's Warranty is good enough and an inspection is overkill (or a waste of money).

Now, I will grant you that I am a bit biased, BUT....  There are SOOOOO many reasons why an inspection is critical, even for new construction.

• All Builders are not Created Equal - Some use better materials and methods than others.  Here, Pulte likes to use finger jointed lumber comprised of scrap lumber fitted and pressed together to make studs.  They also are the only local builder I know of that frames any walls with studs spaced further than 16 inches on center (this is allowed in certain walls).  They say they are being envornmentally conscious and saving lumber.  I find that most clients would prefer they start saving lumber with the house AFTER theirs.
• Builder's Warranties are NOT created equal - Some warranties I have reviewed for clients cover so little as to be laughable.  One small builder did not even cover cosmetic issues like nail pops.  Another builder refused to cover drainage concerns until the buyer's finished basement had 2 feet of water in it and lawyers became involved.
• Many warranties specifically EXCLUDE mold or radon - Read the Warranties carefully.  Mold found on studs in a pre-drywall inspection (we find a lot of this) can be easily remedied and is typically remedied by builders once it is pointed out.  But once it becomes enclosed behind drywall, it can continue to grow unchecked and the warranty may not cover it.  Many builders also refuse any responsibility for radon mitigation, while some provide free system installation or a credit (up to $500) for system installation.  (Incidenetally, builders who install a "radon system" that consists of just a PVC pipe that penerates neither the slab nor the roof, are not doing you any favors.  Most mitigation companies will not use these pipes as they do not want to take on the liability of penetrating your roof.)
• What you don't know CAN hurt you - We have found fire hazards, structural faults, electical hazards, improperly connected systems, and safety violations even after local code inspections had "passed" the home.  While some of these were relatively small concerns and easily remedied, some were potentially dangerous problems.

New construction inspections require an inspector who is experienced in construction methods and materials, and should be perofrmed in several stages (I like to do a foundation inspection, a pre-drywall inspection, a pre-closing inspection, and a follow-up inspection.)  Most people only think to get a pre-closing inspection, but there is a lot to be gained from having a sesoned pro review your foundation, structure, framing, and rough ins.  In fact, I think the pre-drywall inspection is the most beneficial stage to my clients.

But that's another blog for another day (What Makes a Good New construction Inspection).....