Do I need a home inspection on new construction?
The short answer is Yes, one possibly two. Most of us assume that a new home has been inspected by local building and codes inspectors. Well that is true, many do not have the time necessary to conduct an in-depth inspection. Also, some of the problems with the construction could be just that, problems with construction which are not necessarily code violations. Just ask a home inspector you know what if any problems they have found when checking new construction...you will be surprised.
Here are some pictures on the crawl space under a new home that my client purchased. See what you think?
The main support girders for the floor system are braced with 6x6 posts. A support
post under the master bath area is not centered under the triple girder. The girder should be ully supported in this area. The base of the post is damaged as well.
If you decide not to have a home inspection before you close on your new construction home we strongly suggest you have it inspected prior to the end of your one-year builder warranty period. During the 1-year warranty period the builder should repair any non-cosmetic faults that are discovered or occur. Most builders require that you provide a punch list of items, and most builers do not want you calling each week, but rather schedule out 1 time to fix all the issues.
We suggest that on month 10 of the 1-year warranty that you call a Licensed Home Inspector; have the home inspected and provide the inspection report to the builder as your punch-list. The report not only provides a written report, but pictures which will be helpful to your builder. Once the repairs are done, have the inspector check that they were done correctly.
A home is one of the biggest investments you will make. Make sure you are getting what you paid for.
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