Do you need a home inspection on a freshly-built new home? The simple answer is: “Yes, you absolutely do.”
It’s easy to assume that, when dealing with new construction, everything is turn-key ready and absolutely up to par when you start living in your new home. That is, unfortunately, not always the case. While it is less likely that “major” issues will be found during an inspection on a new home - which is not to say that it never happens - there may be a number of “minor” issues found, and the cost of fixing these can really add up. A home inspection is a few hundred dollars; your new home is going to cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Isn’t it worth your peace of mind to ensure that your investment works exactly the way you expect it to?
Local government building inspectors will not catch every little thing the way that a licensed, experienced home inspector will. You might think to yourself: “But surely the permits inspector has checked on things every step of the way!” It’s a nice thought, but the truth is that state and local governments don’t have enough money to adequately pay inspectors enough to be white-glove thorough in their inspections. The mistakes that they might miss could end up costing you thousands of dollars in repairs and later fixes - the very thing that most people hope to avoid by purchasing new construction.
It’s been said that, in a new four bedroom / three bathroom new house, there will be an average of 26 items that will come up in a home inspection. Don’t think that you are immune, or that your builder is somehow better than those who get caught making mistakes! While many of those items are minor or cosmetic, there is generally at least one moderate-to-major problem that could turn into a major headache down the road.
Small mistakes can add up. Water in your crawl space(s) can add up to thousands of dollars in repairs down the road. A vent cap plumbed in the wrong direction can cause premature rusting, leaving your new home unsightly. The roof metal drip edge might be missing, eventually leading to soffit damage and rot. These are all small things, but they would be caught easily with a qualified inspector on your side.
Keep in mind that, while the builder’s name is on the contract you sign when you purchase a new house, it is not “the builder” who has put their hands on your house and physically built it. Your home is the product of dozens of pairs of hands working on your home section by section, and not always communicating with one another. It doesn’t mean that your builder is bad, or has malicious or negligent intentions; it’s just a side effect of the way business runs. Still think you’re saving money by skimping on the inspection of your new home? Think again.
If you have already moved into your new home without a home inspection but did purchase a home warranty (which many buyers of new construction do, or which comes included with the purchase price of your home), you may still have the chance to catch mistakes at the one-year or subsequent home inspections that take place as a condition of your warranty.
