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New Construction - To Inspect or Not To Inspect?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Properties, Inc.

I recently put a new construction home under contract and was asked by my client if they should have an independent professional inspection.  His thoughts were in line with many folks when he told me that since it was brand new he thought he might be able to skip the inspection. 

He asked, "Would you inspect new construction?"  My immediate answer was, "Of course!"  I feel that even though the home may have less problems than a 20-year old resale home, it is unlikely that the property will have NO problems at all.

Fast forward two weeks.  The inspection was today and overall went really well.  Were there any problems?  There were.  Within five minutes of starting the inspection, the kitchen floor was soaked by the dishwasher.  It can be fixed and I'll address it with the builder, so I'm not overly concerned. 

That said, I am quite relieved that we found this out during the inspection and not the day after my clients moved in! 

When asked if new construction should be inspected, just say YES!

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Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

For sure....I agree with you,   Better safe than sorry.  Good advice for any client or customer.

 

Patricia Aulson/SEACOAST REALTOR/NH & ME 

Mar 30, 2007 01:45 PM
Caryll Miller
Saprinc Corp - Mount Vernon, NY
I definitely believe in inspecting new properties because some builders do shabby work. So I say inspect every time
Mar 30, 2007 01:47 PM
Troy Chowanec
RE/MAX Realty 100 - Franklin, WI
ABR, GRI, CRS
I think it depends on the state.  In Wisconsin, the home does go through lots of inspections during the building process.  The home also has to meet certain criteria for occupancy.  Lastly, there is a 1 year builder warranty on new home construction in our state.  My feeling is to educate the buyer and let them make the decision they are most comfortable with.  
Mar 30, 2007 01:59 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Red Hook, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection
Yes new construction should be inspected, I learn the hard way.  I actually purchased new construction without an inspection, this was prior to my real estate career.
Mar 30, 2007 02:04 PM
Patrick Brady
The Danberry Co., Realtors - Sylvania, OH

The agent should always recommend that the home be inspected.  This is to protect the agent and the client.  It can never hurt to have a home inspected.  Things can happen during the construction process and it is best to have a professional take a look.

Mar 30, 2007 02:08 PM
Roger Stensland
Keller Williams Realty Puget Sound - Maple Valley, WA
Let's Move!
In the words of Floyd Wickman when asked if I thought they should get an inspection on new construction, "I would."
Mar 30, 2007 04:25 PM
Gerald Mori
Coldwell Banker 2M Realty - Whitby, ON
Realtor - Coldwell Banker, Oshawa
Michele - clients of mine just purchased a reasle home that is only a year and a half old. They asked me if they really needed to bother with a home inspection. I told them that I would certainly get one if I were buying the house. I explained to them that it really is cheap insurance. Better $300 now than potentially much more later on.

We're having the inspection done next Monday.

Good post. Thanks.

Jerry
Mar 30, 2007 04:38 PM
Harold Miller
Miller Home Inspection - Stanwood, WA
Certified Professional Home Inspector

As a home inspector, I regularly find deficiencies in new construction homes. Buyers that pass on the inspection, may find many of these problems after living in the home, and can have the builder return to repair the concern while still under warranty. No cost to the buyer, but it is an inconvience sometimes.

It is the problems that buyers would not come across in crawl space under homes or up in attics. Sometimes is just the kinds of things that a trained eye can catch, but not the average homeowner.

And some of theses defects can cause additional damage to other materials, when not addressed.

Consumer Reports did an article on this subject. Follow the link from my web page below.

http://millerhomeinspect.com/newhomes.aspx

Drainage Defects

Apr 12, 2007 03:33 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Great post!  Very relevant!  I would have new construction checked at every possible stage.  On an older home it easy to see what is going on, roof leaks, settling, drainage issues etc...  On a new home, you are about to embark on a whole new adventure.  Most resale homes that have issues when re-selling  - do so because they did not have one while new construction.

Apr 13, 2007 11:11 AM
Theresa Cavanaugh
Global Realty Marketing - Appleton, WI
Michele:  I agree.  I always recommend inspection.  GREAT POST!
Apr 13, 2007 12:24 PM
Kay Van Kampen
RE/MAX Broker, RE/MAX - Springfield, MO
Realtor®, Springfield Mo Real Estate
Always inspect!  I even found termites in new construction - always "Cover Your Assets"!
Apr 13, 2007 12:49 PM
Karen Radzinski
Keller Williams - Carlsbad, CA
Always, always, always!!!  It is money well spent!!
Apr 13, 2007 04:57 PM
Bruce Pinel
S & B Services LLC - North Kingstown, RI
I did a "consultation" inspection for a client during an open house on a new house priced at around $1mil in a median priced area of $420K. From the outside, it looked like a $1mil house especially with its view of the bay. As we walked through it though, well, "Home depot" looked like the supplier for the cabinets, no vent for the cooktop, standard builder quality fiberglass shower/tubs, entire HVAC system done with flexduct, some runs well over 25', pex plumbing run from fixture to fixture rather than using "homeruns", window/door casings already separating at joints, newel post not installed properly just to name a few. So it will help my client during their negotiations.
Apr 14, 2007 12:34 AM
J Perrin Cornell
Coldwell Banker Cascade Real Estate - Wenatchee, WA
Broker, ABR, VAMRES

Just finsihed an inspection on a new home.... 1) shingle fastners improperly applied, 2) reverse polarity on one outlet, 3) caulking missing on kitchen sink, 4) foundation footing not below the frost line and 50 guest toilet not hooked to sewer line and just empties into crawl space.

Don't ever assume!

Apr 14, 2007 01:38 AM