With a new construction sale, your contract will include a final walkthrough, but it might or might not include an inspection. Either way, you’d be wise to ask to include an inspection contingency and plan on ordering an independent inspection. Read on to find out why.
Why You Should Get A Home Inspection on New Construction
Yes! You should get a home inspection on your new construction home! It may sound silly because when you think of a new construction home, you think it is flawless. You would like to believe it’s perfect. In some cases, the client has spent plenty of time with the builder and hand-picked the things going into the new house. But, even with all that being done, it still does not guarantee a mistake-free home.
Human Error
When buyers look at new construction homes, it’s hard to believe anything could be wrong with them because it’s brand new. When buyers take the time to work with builders and are active in building a new construction home, you assume there are no issues. If there are issues, you think you have already caught and addressed them. Human error is one of the main culprits, and there are many factors to be still considered that can lead to human error, such as:
- The speed of the building process
- The number of different contractors the builder uses
- Availability of certain materials
- Building to the minimum code standards
How Errors Occur
I bet you are wondering what all those things have to do with getting a home inspection for a new construction home. Let me walk you through these. First, if a building process is moving quickly, the initial thought is that this is great because that’s the sooner you can get into your new home. However, mistakes might be looked over during the process. Next, a builder uses contractors for projects that need to be done in the house. For example, one contractor will solely handle electrical, and another will solely handle installing cabinets. These are just two examples of the many different contractors builders use. In this case, since these are all different contractors, the proficiency that they work with will differ, which can lead to errors.
Product availability has become an increasing issue, especially during the pandemic. Some contractors may not be able to access the quality of products they used before due to manufacturing delays; therefore, they might opt to order cheaper products that could arrive more timely. This also falls under speed. Lastly, building to minimum code standards leads to things in the home not running or fitting as precisely as possible. Contactors have no problem doing this because they stand by their work, and have met “a” standard, unfortunately, sometimes it’s just the minimum standard.
The Cost Is Well Worth It!
It’s understandable that some buyers have a very strict budget and might not have the extra to cover the cost of a home inspector. After all, it is technically an additional expense. We’re here to say this is a cost well worth it and something that should go into the budget. A few things that a home inspector can point out are:
- Grading and Draining Issues
- Incorrectly applied siding
- Water Issues
- Cracks in Drywall
- Flooring Issues
These things could easily get missed if there isn’t a home inspection performed on the house, and the buyer, more than likely, won’t notice until after closing, and by that time, it’s too late.
Home Inspection Speaks for Itself
Once you go through the building process, no matter how hands-on or hands-off you were as a buyer, it will always be well worth the cost to get a home inspection before closing. When this happens, the home inspector will check things out and report to you and the builder. The builder will be obligated to fix any issues found within the home inspection before closing. As a buyer, this creates less stress and gives you that perfect home!
Final Touches
Getting a home inspection on your new construction has all-around benefits. The only downfall is that it is an extra cost, but it should be worked into the budget because of the overwhelming benefits! Also, as a buyer, make sure closing pending passing the home inspection is written into your contract so you don’t get stuck with mistakes on the home that can easily be fixed prior to closing. Clarion Title can help find you a great home inspector so you can have the perfect new construction home you desire.
This material is provided as a courtesy and for educational purposes only. Please consult your title professional for specific information regarding your situation.