When buying an existing home that someone has lived in, it is common to order a home inspection before finalizing the sale. However, many people who have a home built from the ground up rely on the builder’s final walkthrough as their quality check. While attending the builder on a walkthrough is important, it is not a substitute for a full home inspection. Hiring a professional, third-party inspector to perform an inspection on a newly constructed home is a smart way to protect your investment.
Just Because It’s New Doesn’t Mean It’s Perfect
Ordering an inspection on a newly constructed home may reveal poor workmanship from a subcontractor or defects in materials. There are so many components that are being built and installed simultaneously that it is unrealistic to expect the general contractor to closely review everything.
A home inspector is trained to evaluate both new and older homes and assess the quality of the structure and components. If an issue is uncovered from the home inspection, you will have a report to present to the builder.
Municipal Code Inspections are Minimal
You might be thinking, “Why should I have an inspection on a newly constructed home when it will also be inspected for code compliance?” A code inspection is not the same as a home inspection. The job of a municipal code inspector is to check for basic standards and that the building is up to code. Municipal inspectors are on a strict schedule and do not have time to carefully check every aspect of the home, nor is that their duty. You should not assume that your new home is free of defects just because it passed a code inspection.
An Inspection on a Newly Constructed Home Will Matter at Resale
Should you decide to sell your home in the future, issues with the initial construction may be revealed during the buyer’s inspection. Rather than finding out through the buyer’s inspection that there is a problem with the way the home was built, order an inspection on your newly constructed home before your final walkthrough with the builder.
Assure Home Inspection offers new construction inspections to the Chicagoland area. Contact us to schedule an appointment.