Why should I have a new home inspected?
There are some very important reasons why new home buyers should always get a home inspection before purchasing. Buying a new home is an exciting experience, with great opportunities to pick your finishes, choose your colors, and to decide what floor coverings you want. But with all the excitement of choosing your decor and finding your new daily route to work, don’t forget to have your new home inspected. While it’s best to have your first home inspection when the home is in the early phases of construction, when more of the home is visible, it’s still a good idea once it is all finished.
New homes can have a wide variety of problems. Building a home is a complex and often complicated orchestration involving many different subcontractors and their employees, each working on a different system of the house. Each subcontractor has their own set of priorities and commitments. These are not always in line with the builder or the homeowner! While the vast majority of home builders want to build the best home possible, it is very difficult for any builder to carefully inspect each and every portion of each phase of the construction process. With all the different phases happening at once, even the best builders will likely miss something.
Municipal building inspections are not the same as home inspections. The responsibility of the municipal building inspector is to check for compliance to the local building codes for that area. Building codes are based on minimum industry standards. Even so, while most municipal building inspectors are doing their best to keep a close eye on things, they are often hindered by factors and circumstances beyond their control, and this alone will not be effective enough for quality control.
Problems found before you purchase the home can be fixed before moving in to your new home. This can save you from having to deal with dust and noise from repairs being made, or from the inconvenience of having to stay home from work while workers are in your home. While there will likely be some small touch ups and repairs required after you move in, you will want the builder to fix any significant repairs right away.
Defects can be repaired before they result in serious or substantial damages or costs to you. Safety items, such as gas leaks or electrical hazards need to be addressed to protect you and your family. Missing attic insulation that will result in higher utility bills can be installed. Raised shingles, can lead to water damages such as rotted roof sheathing, and should be repaired before you take possession of your new home.
These issues, and having the proper repairs made, matter for resale and they will matter for your peace of mind. When you decide to sell your formerly new home, the buyer will likely get a home inspection. Deficiencies that date back to the original construction will undoubtedly be discovered, even if you did not know that they existed. At this point, it is usually too late to get the builder involved, and these problems are now your own. Your potential buyer will, in all likelihood, either ask that you have these repairs made, or they will lower their offering price to cover the cost of the repairs.
A home inspection on your new home will also allow you to learn about the necessary upkeep and maintenance of your home. A proper home inspection will do more than just identify deficiencies and necessary repairs to be made. It will also highlight many important maintenance steps and requirements that will enable you to protect your investment and the ongoing enjoyment of your problem free home.
As you can see, having a home inspection on your new home can more than pay for itself, both monetarily and with the peace of mind and confidence that comes with knowing your new home is ready to for you to fully enjoy well into the future.