The short answer: Yes. Even new homes can have defects, ranging from misinstalled appliances to roof damage to grading problems.
New construction single-family home sales have been rising since the pandemic, with builders frantically trying to keep up with the housing demand uptick that began in 2020. Builder incentives, mortgage-rate buydowns, and cash toward closing costs have also made new builds more enticing, especially as the gap in sale price between new construction and older homes starts to close.
Many buyers think that investing in new construction means they’re moving into a home with zero problems. But “new” doesn’t necessarily mean “perfect” — something that many new build homeowners may discover if they opt to skip a new construction home inspection, whether buying a house in Washington, DC or Dallas, TX.
Is a home inspection needed for new construction?
Yes, almost always. When you buy a pre-owned home, it’s practically a given that the buyer will get a home inspection. With new construction, many buyers assume that municipal building inspections or builder warranties make an additional inspection unnecessary — but what it comes down to is builder goals vs buyer expectations.
“Builders are under a lot of pressure to deliver as many houses as they can, as fast as they can, to fulfill their financial obligations with their shareholders,” says Fred Rodrigues, owner and inspector at Damngood Inspection in South/Central Florida. “The builders’ goals are to deliver the house as fast and as efficiently as possible; the expectation buyers have is that what you are buying is a great quality product.”
When to schedule a home inspection for new construction
When you’re getting an inspection on a new construction home, there are a few key timing points to keep in mind: depending on whether you’re building and buying a new construction home, or closing on a newly completed spec house.
1. From…