It's a New Home - Why Would I Need a Home Inspection?
"Why would a new home need an home inspection?" I've heard this question asked and probably thought it myself at one time- that is, until I began inspecting new homes! This article addresses the common misperception that "new" means "perfect".
When purchasing a newly built home, it’s natural to expect that everything was constructed properly. We all want to believe that new is best, right? However, even the most reputable builders can make mistakes or miss important details. The factor that is often overlooked is human error and those chances for error are multiplied across a number of individuals in modern construction. The days of home construction by a single contractor have gone the way of the slide rule- of what? Exactly, they're unheard of. Subcontracting is the present and the future of home construction. This is due, in part, to the complexity of modern designs and systems as well as the reality that contractors juggle multiple jobs at the same time.
In my experience as a home inspector, I quickly learned that new homes have their share of issues. I once inspected a newly built home where the foundation walls were bowing and the foundation and wall were going to have to demolished and rebuilt- hopefully, at the contractors expense. More than once, I have seen the scenario pictured above- a ridge vent rendered completely useless by bubble foil insulation or the contractor cutting the sheathing, but forgetting to cut the shingles and underlayment. Actually, the photograph above is of a brand new home where ridge vents and soffit vents were not even installed! Speaking of soffit vents, I've also seen on new construction where insulation baffles were not installed and the blown insulation covered the soffits, making them completely ineffective for ventilation. I've seen neutral and hot wires reversed on new homes - a serious fire hazard. I've seen plumbing leaking under sinks and crawlspaces of brand new homes, multiplied safety issues with decks improperly constructed or not even attached to the home! I've identified numerous water penetration areas from improperly flashed or sealed building components, windows that wouldn't open or close, violations of building codes that I am compelled to notify my client of (although I am not a code inspector). And, the list goes on.
A home inspection is not just about finding problems, but a good inspection will likely identify issues that need to be resolved. Wouldn't you rather know about problems before you purchase your home than to pay for expensive repairs down the road? Of course, you would! Think of a home inspection as an insurance policy and valuable tool for negotiating your home purchase. Oftentimes, my inspections identify thousands of dollars in repairs needed, which can be handled by the seller prior to closing or renegotiated in the contract in the form of a price reduction. Either way, the price of an inspection is a small investment that pays dividends! So, is a home inspection necessary for a newly built home? I'm convinced it is and, ... no one could convince me otherwise.
Your Friends at Higher Rock Inspections
