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Does my new construction house need to be inspected?

By
Home Inspector with American Bulldog Home Inspection Inc.

Missing roof shingles;

Missing siding;

Leaking boiler;

A deck that is not flashed or bolted to the house;

A bathtub drain not hooked up;

Improperly wired breakers;

Improperly vented attic space;

Leaking dishwasher;

Leaking toilet;

Hole in the shower;

Broken windows and doors;

No water pressure in the tub/shower;

Non- functioning heating system;

What do all of these defects have in common?

They were all issues that were uncovered on brand new construction. There are still some people who recognize the need for a professional home inspection on new construction, and these are just a few of the items that I can remember from some of these inspections. The important thing to remember is, the general contractor, his employees and sub-contractors, and even the local code enforcement officials, are all human. As such, they are all capable of making mistakes, and mistakes do happen. It is good to have an extra set of eyes check things out for you, there may be some issues that your home inspector finds that the builder was not aware of. The builders should not be offended if something is discovered and addressed before closing, it is much easier and cheaper to fix the problems while his work crews are still on site than to have them come back later. As I see it, it is a positive for everyone involved. So next time you are thinking of forgoing an inspection on a new home because it is not necessary, I would ask you to think again.

 

Kevin Welch

American Bulldog Home Inspection

Watchdog for the American Dream

Comments (3)

Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Kevin,  I've sold  new construction and DID have an inspection done and several things were found there as well.  My client is living in the unit about 1.5 years now and is still having issues with the plumbing.  New doesn't mean problem free and some of those problems with inspections can be caught before they become big problems.

 

Mar 05, 2009 07:58 AM
Kim Brown
Keller Williams Realty - Keene, NH
Keene, NH - New England at its Best!

Kevin--Great advice!  I agree 100%.  Not only does an inspection help to uncover potential problems, but it can give the buyer valuable education and insight regarding the systems, etc. in the home they hope to purchase. New, antique or anything in between, inspections are a great opportunity for buyers to better understand what they will be dealing with as the owners of the property.

Mar 06, 2009 01:14 AM
Mark Cote
Mortgage Protection & Retirement Protection - Manchester, NH

I'll take that house!!  JK

Mar 10, 2009 12:34 PM