Here’s why new construction buyers should have a home inspection done.
Should you have a home inspection done when you’re buying new construction? People often skip this step for new homes; only around 14% of new construction homebuyers actually do a home inspection.
I think that’s a mistake—just because a home is new, that doesn’t mean it’s flawless. Around 25% of new construction homes sold have had big-ticket issues. Ten years back, I was walking through a new construction house with a home inspector who was checking out the HVAC system. On the outside, the system looked shiny and new, but the serial number was from 10 years earlier than the property’s build date. We had no idea where that system had been for those 10 years. As a buyer, I’d want to know the whole story before I purchase that property.
“Just because a home is new, that doesn't mean it's flawless.”
Home inspectors also check for safety issues when examining a home. Most
new construction houses have some sort of ground-fault wiring that hasn’t been
done properly, for example, so it’s always good to make sure that the final
product is safe for you and your family.
To be sure, you should go through a punch list of items to check with your builder
when the construction is done, and you should do a final walk-through as well.
However, I strongly recommend that you go the extra mile to have a professional
home inspector check out the nuts and bolts of the property.
If you’d like a recommendation for a home inspector to take a look at your new
construction property or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give me a
call or send me an email. I’d love to help you.
