🏡 MYTH-BUSTING TUESDAY-New Construction Homes Don’t Need an Inspection?
A brand-new home should be perfect, right? Everything is new, the work has been permitted and the home has passed municipal inspections. What could possibly go wrong?
Quite a bit, actually.
THE MYTH
“New construction homes don’t need an inspection.”
THE REALITY
New homes are built by people, using hundreds of components installed by many different trades—and people occasionally make mistakes. Even an excellent builder can have a missed connection, an improperly installed component or work that simply needs correction.
Municipal inspections are important, but they are performed to determine whether work meets applicable building codes at specific stages. An independent home inspection serves a different purpose: It gives the buyer a broader evaluation of the home’s visible systems and components.
In fact, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission specifically advises that even buyers of newly constructed homes should have home inspections. In North Carolina, the individual performing a home inspection for compensation must be licensed.
MY TAKE
“Brand-new” should never be confused with “guaranteed flawless.” I encourage buyers to include independent inspections in their new-construction plans whenever their contract and the construction schedule permit. Depending on the stage of construction, that may include a pre-drywall inspection, a final inspection before closing and another review before the builder’s warranty period expires.
The goal is not to create an adversarial relationship with the builder. It is to identify concerns while they can be documented and addressed—and before they become the buyer’s surprise after closing.
“New is an age—not a guarantee.”
— Debe Maxwell
Have you heard a real estate “rule” you’ve always questioned? Share it below—it may become an upcoming Myth-Busting Tuesday!
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