| Within the real estate industry, there is some ongoing | | | | cupboards or closet doors. |
| debate about whether new homes should have | | | | If you look at this list, which is certainly not inclusive, |
| home inspections or not. This debate goes on in the | | | | most of the significant things found are still routine |
| minds of many buyers who want to save any cash | | | | and easy for the builder, or his crew with their tools, |
| they can. And the new home builder is, obviously, all | | | | to remedy. On the other side of the coin, if the |
| for waiving a home inspection. So, often, the decision | | | | average homeowner has to fix some of these issues |
| as to whether the house is inspected or not, comes | | | | after closing, it is a really big hassle that will require |
| down to what is recommended by the buyer's | | | | lots of elbow grease and needlessly spending dollars |
| realtor. As a realtor, who has found myself in that | | | | out of pocket. Since those buyers are my clients, and |
| position more than once, I am going to give you my | | | | I want them to be happy with their purchase and to |
| opinion on this matter. | | | | refer my name to their friends and family, it is my |
| It is my experience that, almost never, are issues | | | | goal to see to it that all of the significant problems |
| found at new homes that are "deal killers." However, | | | | have been discovered and resolved prior to closing. |
| that does not mean that numerous problems have | | | | Let's face it, it is only fair that all of the significant |
| not been found. Usually, the problems at newer | | | | costs should be paid by the builder -- whose role in |
| homes are of the punch list variety -- where the | | | | the transaction was to properly build a home and |
| home inspector's list is given to the builder and the | | | | supply my clients with a house that was ready to |
| crew or sub contractors complete their project. Here | | | | move into. |
| are examples of common new construction issues | | | | Sometimes, mistakenly so, a client who does not |
| found by home inspectors in my market: significant | | | | want to pay for an inspection, hopes that the |
| standing water in the crawl space because drainage | | | | municipal code inspectors have covered the bases. |
| concerns were not addressed; crawl space vents | | | | That is seldom the case because those components |
| that are below grade; concrete poured up over the | | | | and systems the code inspector looks for are basic |
| wood trim on the home; furnace ducts that are not | | | | and these people seldom actually get inside crawl |
| hooked into the system; condensate drains from the | | | | spaces, attics and areas a home inspector routinely |
| furnace and TPR drains from the water heater that | | | | views. I have written a previous article on this fallacy |
| are routed under the home; missing flashing or loose | | | | of the code inspector being a substitute for a home |
| and improperly nailed shingles; the pressure test cap | | | | inspection. |
| left on the main sewer vent; sinks or toilets with | | | | Another thought is that the builder's home warranty |
| drains that are not plumbed into the system; gutters | | | | can replace the need for a home inspection. In my |
| with inadequate slope; doors and windows that do | | | | experience that is a big risk, and not a wise gamble, |
| not operate; missing or unsafe handrails at steps and | | | | and I will be writing another article on that in the near |
| guardrails on high decks; appliances not wired or | | | | future. For now, it should be clear from my |
| plumbed in; propane appliances not converted to gas, | | | | comments here, that I always recommend that my |
| so they operate like flame throwers; gas fireplaces | | | | clients, whether they are buying a new or an old |
| not hooked to the gas; whirlpool tubs not wired into | | | | home, should pay a few extra dollars and have an |
| the system; dryer ducts that empty under the | | | | independent home inspection by a state licensed |
| home; missing or failed GFCI outlets, grounding | | | | structural pest inspector who is also a competent |
| problems and other electrical issues; missing door | | | | residential home inspector. |
| stops and out of adjustment interior doors, | | | | |