When building a new home, a home buyer should strongly consider inspections that weigh the workmanship of construction. While there are multiple inspection services available, I will address this process as a whole.

Before addressing it, however, home buyers need to understand an important fact about inspections for new home construction: home builders, their representatives and superintendents are often dismissive of the inspection-findings. This derisiveness could be attributed to inspectors who are inexperienced. Other times, it could be derived from builders taking offense to criticism of their workmanship. Whatever the reason may be, it is something that home buyers need to be keenly aware of to avoid this landmine. Once you understand this paradox, then you can use tact when moving forward. This is also an area of the transaction when a versed new construction buyer broker (agent) can be very beneficial. Such a person will know how to effectively handle this situation.

Of great importance, choosing a qualified inspector will pay great dividends. Just as there can be poor workmanship from home builders, there are poor inspectors too. If you have chosen to work with a new construction buyer agent, then this person can be a good source for obtaining referrals in this area. If not, it can be a challenging process. It has been through my real world experience, which entailed trail and error, that has led to wisdom in this matter.

Once a home inspection has been performed, then the findings need to be deciphered by the home buyer. What does the report convey? Do you understand the construction language? What corrective measures need to be implemented by the home builder? Has the inspector cited code violations by referencing the offending code(s)? Is there any ambiguity in its interpretation? It is important to have a good understanding of these new construction matters.

At this point, the home buyer, or the buyer’s agent, needs to render the report to the home builder or its representatives. This can be done, among other ways, at the new home orientation meeting (learn more about the walk through buyer-builder meeting). Henceforth, its very important to discuss with the builder or its representatives what, if anything, is objected to in the report. If there are objections, why? How does the builder plan on correcting these issues? After establishing the protocol, you may consider methods to ensure that corrective measures have actually been implemented. How do you know if they have been done correctly, if at all? What happens if the builder states that everything is done while moving right along with construction? Is this a ploy by the builder to be evasive about correcting those problems? These are problems that have been exhibited all too often.

As illustrated, there are many cumbersome issues surrounding real world new home construction inspections. While it should not be so complex, it can be just that. Do your research and due diligence to sidestep these pitfalls.