Some Disagree on The Need to Inspect New Construction- Real Estate Portsmouth New Hampshire

Having been on Active Rain for two years now I’ve both read and written blog posts about the importance of a home inspection, and I’m surprised that some disagree on the need to inspect new construction. A recent blog post by Zeta Cross, a real estate agent in Philadelphia, asks the question, “Should you get a home inspection with new construction?”

 

I commented on the post and answered, “Absolutely yes.” And I briefly explained my reasoning. However, as comments on the blog appeared, I noticed that not all agreed with my position, so I thought I would outline in detail why ALL NEW HOMES SHOULD BE INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL HOME INSPECTOR.

 

The main argument offered in opposition seemed to be that new home builders offer a 1 year warranty and have a punch-list procedure for handling call-backs. In response to that argument I would answer:

 

● Why have the hassle of a builder call-back if the problem can be resolved before move-in? Most are aware that repairs after closing are time-consuming, frustrating, and often fail to meet the customer’s expectations.

● Regarding the builder’s warranty, I would say that standards vary widely from one builder to another; and unless the customer fully understands the builder’s obligations per his warranty, I would be concerned that significant differences in standards and expectations might exist.

● Additionally, what if the builder goes out of business or simply refuses to comply with warranty requests? Is it worth the expense, time, and frustration of having to pursue a builder through the legal system?

● Remember, ALL builders will provide a much better response to issues before the closing than they will after the money changes hands.

 

An argument offered by some is that the home will be inspected by the local authorities for compliance with local and national building codes; and that’s certainly true. But having been a builder and having seen dozens of code inspectors in action, I’ve seen firsthand that such inspections often miss important issues. Code inspectors spend only a few minutes in each home as they often have multiple inspections per day, while a professional home inspector may spend 3 hours or more in a single home. It’s impossible to do a thorough inspection in only a few minutes.

For additional information I would recommend the following articles:

Walk-Through Tips

Builders and Customer Service

Always-Always Hire a Home Inspector

For the views of a professional home inspector, see the blog of Jay Markanich

 

I base my opinion of having spent 4 decades in the home building business, during which time I built and sold hundreds of homes. And while I was committed to building with quality and spent hours in each of my homes doing my own inspecting, I knew that I could and would overlook potential problems. I recommended that my customers hire an inspector.

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