Attention Home Buyers: Yes, Even New Construction Needs a Home Inspection

A home buyer who is looking at a new construction may think they are getting a top of the line home with no problems.  However, many home buyers are mistaken in the thought that a brand new home will come without any issues to fix, instead opting out of having a home inspection.  

The truth is that these new builds are not always in the best condition. Mistakes happen all the time when building. This is why home buyers will always want to consider a home inspection, regardless of the home’s age.

Minimum Requirements

Building houses is simply a business.  Unless a company is working directly with their buyer they are not tailoring their buildings to what fits the buyer’s needs or wants.  

When building multiple homes in a neighborhood a company is focused on meeting the codes for constructing a home which only has a minimum requirement.  This means they will follow code but they may not complete the home in a manner that would be most desirable by a home buyer.

National Versus Local

The building codes that companies must abide by are set at a national level.  These codes will keep a home buyer safe in their new home and the house should function well enough.  

However, every area has subtle nuances for building that should be taken into consideration.  A home in Michigan should not be the same as one in Arkansas while they both abide by the same national building code.

Little Inspection Time

Homes need inspections all the time.  There are many inspectors that are overworked and overbooked.  These inspectors need to go through many houses in a day and check if they are meeting minimum building code standards.  

Most homes will only have an inspector visit for less than four hours. It can be easy for them to miss a minor problem if they cannot spend more time at the property.

Building Codes, Manufacturers, and Workmanship

Anything built to minimum standard will work.  However, there is a difference between a car built to minimum standards and a car crafted by a car enthusiast that knows their manufacturer’s standards inside and out.  One results in a basic model while the other is a luxury model to show off.  

The same can go for a home as every piece in a house will have a different manufacturer and need different care when being installed.

Inspecting a New Build

Using a third-party inspector can help bring to light any problems a newly constructed home may have.  They are likely to find problems that another inspector has missed. The overall workmanship of the home can be evaluated and the buyer will need to judge if that particular home is up to their standard or not.

A new construction will have fewer problems than a home that has been neglected for the last few decades.  Home buyers who choose to buy a new construction should not find any major problems that would endanger their lives in their new home.  They may run across some minor inconveniences or problems that they would like to fix before moving in. But the bottom line is that a home inspection should still be carried out prior to the purchase.