Best house inspection articles
 

Welcome to our house inspection Archive!

 

Article #249: New Construction Inspections

(Browse for more articles)

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






1- A- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- 7- 8- 9- 10- 11- 12- 13- 14- 15- 16- 17- 18- 19- 20- 21- 22- 23- 24- 25- 26- 27- 28- 29- 30- 31- 32- 33- 34- 35- 36- 37- 38- 39- 40- 41- 42- 43- 44- 45- 46- 47- 48- 49- 50- 51- 52- 53- 54- 55- 56- 57-