Home Warranties and Inspections - Why to get an inspection of New Construction

This topic has been posed at least once or twice before, so I thought I would offer this link to anyone who is having a New Construction home built.

I know this is a DIY site, and there is a lot you can do yourself in this regard - but there remain some pretty important reasons to hire a professional inspector - expecially if you are early enough in the process to have a 3 or 4 phase inspection done.

This is from ABC news about shoddy new home construction and includes some tips for those who are having homes built:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2640618

Hope someone finds it useful (or maybe even interesting!)

In KY the only required inspections are electrical and plumbing. Building contractors are not required to be licensed. All you need is a pickup truck and a ladder.

It is always best to go with a licensed contractor who pays workers comp insurance and liability insurance. You need to work closely with the contractor and know who his subcontractors will be. Too, it is best to go with a reputable builder who is known for quality construction.

As a member of the Northeastern KY Home Builders Association, our members are very frustrated about construction quality and consumers looking for good construction at a low price and who opt for a lower priced contractor. These contractors tend to be those who can offer lower cost because they do not have the overhead of workers comp and liability insurance and employ people who lack training and knowledge of construction.

Educating the consumer is always a difficult process. It would be nice if we could assume that all tradesmen or contractorrs (or inspectors) were licensed, insured, and competent; but the truth is there is good and bad in every profession and it always pays to do your homework.

Often what seems to be the best value, is not.

I am 2 weeks from closing on a new home with a 1 year warranty. I debated getting a full magillacuddy inspection. I'm glad I did. He found 3 exposed nails on the roof, the furnace placed in the attic had a drain outlet over a window (more cosmetic), and a massive leak under the dishwasher.

All have been repaired by the builder at no cost to me.

It is usually worth the cost, but I am aware that this is a DIY site, and alot of handy people want to take this on themselves.

Glad you feel like it was of benefit to you.

One other point to make - a professioanl inspector for new constructioon should be able to cite allowable tolerances for imperfections (how big a dip in teh floor is accpetable, how far out of perfectly level can a door be, etc?). These are listed in teh National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) "REsidential Construction Performance Guidelines" and they help settle most issues when the builder disagrees that he should crrect the issue.

This publication is available to the general public as well (try www.builderbooks.com), as is a cool sounding book I am ordering called "Building Your Home, An Insiders Guide".

I think my new construction clients will find it VERY helpful - a tleast I hope so. Especially if they call me for a phase inspection (before the foundation is poured).

If you don't get an inspection (preferably phased), who is going to look out for you?

The contractor - No!

The building inspector - No! - When he has time to get to the job and meet his friends, he only has to make sure it is built to the lowest acceptable standard (the Building Code).

The code is a minimum standard. The old saying is "You are never wrong going by the code. but you may not be right".

Do you want to buy the least acceptable home possible?

Get a good plan and specifications and make sure it is enforced by a third party that is skilled, licensed, certified and insured.

That is the way to go for something as important as a the largest expenditure you will make.

Dick