YES! A Newly Built Brand New Home still needs a Home Inspection!
Issues Commonly Found in New Homes…..
It would seem that new homes should be perfect, or close to it, but many say that they often have hidden issues. Let’s be realistic, home construction consists of the assembly of thousands of components built mostly onsite by various workers with all varied levels of experience in all sorts of weather. Many individuals are NOT actual employees of the builder but sub contractors or temporary help that can come and go. I’d be surprised if many of us would accept buying a new car from a car dealership with a small chip in the windshield. Why then buy a Newly Built Brand New Home without a home inspection to learn of areas still needing attention or finishing work?
Some common problems found during new construction home inspections include structural defects like foundation cracks, faulty grading, and poor finished wall framing.
Drainage and grading issues can be a problem because they can cause water damage later on. Windows might leak without good flashing details. There may be HVAC issues, including thermostats that don’t work or loose connections or duct work without good added mastic sealing.
Electrical problems, such as poorly wired outlets, open grounds, and missing switch plates, aren’t unheard of and unfinished electrical items. Some may be plumbing issues, such as reversed hot/cold in faucets, improper piping, leaks, and garbage disposals that are not plumbed fully on the day of a walk through.
I’ve also often found projects that weren’t completed. These might include lacking insulation, handrails, or fixtures that are only partly installed. It could include missing pieces of hardware or HVAC cold air returns that are not square on the wall and framed leaning sideways giving the illusion the wall and ceiling was framed out of square.
A well known and large Ada/Canyon County home builder appears to be miss directing uneducated homebuyers by openly offering to credit upfront the normal cost of a home inspection in the written acceptance of an offer to detour a home buyer from getting a second opinion of the homes actual real finished condition and thus fully documenting found issues that may or may not continue after you have acquired the home. Remember that a home builder is trying to limit any and all future costs prior to and or after closing and during any given warranty period. If you learn outright of areas for attention in your new home prior to closing you are likely to not be quite as pleased with your acquisition and continue to hold the builder accountable for the needed corrections. As with most buying situations, the saying “Buyer Beware” still applies. I’d encourage you to learn the most upfront about what may still need attention or finishing in your new home vs. perhaps discovering it later in the year or worse yet after a warranty period has expired. It’s also a great idea to get many smaller items that may come up addressed in the inspection prior to your closing and move in date preventing less hassle with scheduling contractor visits inside your newly occupied home after you’ve moved in.
