If you’re buying a new home, you should have it inspected. We’ve heard every possible argument against hiring a private home inspector, and none of them are valid. We find numerous issues at nearly every new-construction inspection that we do, and the best home builders appreciate having these issues discovered before they turn into expensive problems.

We teach a one-hour class to real estate agents on this topic, stressing the importance of new construction home inspections. We also teach a two-hour version of that class to home inspectors.

Don’t just take our word for it, though. Check out some of the stuff we’ve found during new-construction home inspections. If these images and stories don’t convince you, nothing will.

Oh, and of course, our standard satisfaction guarantee applies to these inspections. If you’re not happy with your inspection, you don’t pay us. In short, you have nothing to lose by scheduling a new-construction inspection.

When should a new home be inspected?

There are three types of inspections associated with new-construction homes: pre-drywall, final, and one-year warranty. If you’re having a new home built, get a pre-drywall inspection and a final inspection. If you’re buying a new home that has already been built, get a home inspection. If you’ve already purchased a new home but you skipped the inspection, schedule a one-year warranty inspection before your warranty expires.

  • Pre-Drywall Inspections: These are scheduled before the drywall goes up in the home.
  • Final Inspections: These are scheduled 2-3 days before your final walk-through with the builder.
  • One-Year Warranty Inspections: These should be scheduled around the 11-month mark, and definitely before the 1-year warranty has expired.

PRE-DRYWALL INSPECTION

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) has put together a Standard Of Practice for conducting residential pre-drywall inspections, and this is the standard that we at Structure Tech follow.

View the ASHI Standard of Practice

This standard says what’s included, what isn’t, what gets reported on, described, etc. It’s very similar in detail to the ASHI SOP for home inspections, but it covers a different scope. Per the ASHI Pre-Drywall Inspection SOP, this inspection should take place after the following components have been installed:

A. Foundation components
B. Floor, wall, and roof structural components
C. Plumbing, electrical, and rough-in components
D. Windows and exterior doors