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Home Inspections Throughout Construction??

By
Mortgage and Lending with Oak Valley Mortgage-California Home Loans and Refinancing

Last year, we made a decision to purchase a new home. I firmly believe that it is the new construction of homes and the price builders are charging per square foot that really determines the strentgh and conditions of a local real estate market. Afterall, the opportunity cost of not having a brand new home with less hassles is that of an older home. If a newlywed couple could buy an older home or a brand new one with a much longer life expectancy...why wouldn't they choose the new home? More often than not, it's the lot size or older and more established neighborhood with mature landscaping that make the decsion difficult for peopl e.

For me, one of the best things about purchasing a new home was watching the ENTIRE building process of the home. I was able to see how everything was positioned before the plaster went up and I have a good image in the back of my mind to where things are. But more importantly, I was able to have a personal home inspector go through the home during the building process and look for errors and flaws. Why? In the end, a poorly constructed new home can give you far more headaches than that of an older, well built home if things aren't done right. Having the ability to document the home being built and taking pictures can be your best friend for many years to come in the event that something goes bad through the building phase of the home.

Scott Gormley
Broker/Owner
Oak Valley Mortgage
2006 Chico Assoc. of Realtors Affiliate Chairman
Direct: 530.592.8362
Fax: 530.267.5555
Website: http://www.CALoan.com

Blog: http://www.CARealEstateBlog.com

"You find the perfect home, we'll find the perfect loan!"

Comments (5)

Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services
Most builders in my area do not like to have independent inspections -- in fact, some just refuse to allow it.  In a couple of cases, where the builders were enlightened -- it really saved the builder's behind because there was a major structrual problem. 
Apr 05, 2007 02:33 AM
Stefan Scholl
Buyer's Broker of Northern Michigan, LLC - Petoskey, MI
Northern Michigan Real Estate

Scott,

Very good idea to keep close tabs on the construction process.  I have seen time and time again where defects or problems have been completely missed or ignored by municipal building inspectors.  An independent inspector can make sure these problems get corrected before they are covered up or too difficult to correct.

Apr 05, 2007 02:48 AM
Gregory Anderson
United Country - Fredericksburg, TX

Here in Texas, there is no enforcement in areas beyond the city limit signs.

Builders know this.

Many builders won't build inside the city limits because they know their work will be scrutinized.

Construction defect litigation is a booming field in Texas.

Apr 05, 2007 03:25 AM
Rick McCullough
Alert Home Services - Denver, CO
I am happy to read this and have a seperate opinion from someone other than an Inspector. He saved himself possible problems in the future by having a proffessional look than relying just on the builder. I have done many Construction Inspections and saved my clients some large and costly problem down the road in their NEW home.
Apr 05, 2007 04:16 AM
Eddy Martinez
Nationwide Funding Group - Highland Park, CA

I agree Scott unfortunately here in Los Angeles its next to impossible to build a brand new home from scratch.

You can tear your current house down and rebuild it but its just too overpopulated here in the city

Eddy

Apr 05, 2007 12:01 PM