Do You Need a Home Inspection on New Construction? Here’s What We Find in New Homes

When you're buying a brand-new home, it’s easy to assume there won’t be much for a home inspector to find.Everything is new. The roof was just installed. The appliances haven't been used. The plumbing, electrical, heating system, windows, doors, and finishes have all recently been completed.

So why pay for a home inspection? Because new doesn't necessarily mean everything was installed correctly, completed properly, or functioning as intended.

New Homes Can Still Have Defects

Building a home involves many different trades working on hundreds of individual components. Even with a reputable builder and municipal inspections throughout construction, items can be overlooked, damaged, improperly installed, or simply not working by the time the home is finished.

A home inspection provides another set of eyes—working specifically for the buyer—to evaluate the home as a complete system. And yes, we find issues in new construction—which allows home owners to address important items before they become an issue.

What We've Found During New Construction Inspections

Here are some examples of conditions we've encountered while inspecting newer and newly constructed homes around the Truckee and Lake Tahoe area:

• Roofing defects – Damaged, improperly installed, or incomplete roof coverings and flashing details.

• Insufficient ground clearance – Siding, trim, or other building materials installed too close to soil, increasing the potential for moisture-related deterioration.

• Crawlspace issues – Missing vapor barriers, displaced or falling insulation, inadequate ventilation, and improperly terminated drains.

• Water heater drainage – Condensate or other drainage improperly discharging into the crawlspace instead of an appropriate location.

• Electrical issues – Open panel knockouts, improperly configured protection, nonfunctional fixtures, and other installation concerns.

• Windows and doors – Windows that don't operate properly, early indications of failed insulated-glass seals, interior doors that don't latch, and missing self-closing hardware where required at the garage-to-home door.

• Heating and ductwork – Problems discovered while operating heating equipment and evaluating visible portions of the duct system.

• Attic ventilation – Inadequate or obstructed ventilation that may contribute to excessive heat or moisture accumulation.

• Plumbing fixtures – Toilets, faucets, valves, and controls that leak, operate incorrectly, or require adjustment.

• Fireplaces – Operational or installation concerns discovered during testing (when possible)

• Appliances – Issues that aren't apparent until the installed appliances are actually operated (when possible)

• Interior finishes – Nail pops, settlement cracks, incomplete finishes, and other defects.

• Foundation movement – Early cracking or movement that may warrant monitoring or further evaluation.

Many of these aren't dramatic problems. That's exactly the point.

Catching a small issue while the home is new can be much easier than discovering it after you've moved in and the problem has had time to develop.

Isn't the Home Already Inspected by the Building Department?

Municipal inspections and an independent home inspection serve different purposes.

Building officials inspect construction at various stages for applicable code and permitting requirements. A buyer's home inspection is a visual evaluation of the accessible systems and components of the completed home.

During a home inspection, systems are operated where appropriate. Fixtures are tested. Windows and doors are opened. Accessible electrical components are evaluated. Heating equipment is operated. Plumbing fixtures are run. Appliances are tested. Attics and crawlspaces are inspected when safely accessible.

The goal isn't to replace the work of the building department or builder. It's to give the buyer an independent assessment of the home they're about to purchase.

A Warranty Doesn't Find the Problems for You

A builder warranty can be valuable, but you still need to know that a problem exists before you can ask for it to be corrected.

Some defects are obvious. Others may be hidden in an attic, crawlspace, electrical panel, roof surface, or mechanical system that a homeowner may rarely access.

Finding and documenting these conditions early gives buyers an opportunity to discuss them with their builder while warranty coverage or contractual repair periods may still apply.

When Should You Inspect a New Construction Home?

For a completed new home, an inspection before closing can identify defects while there is still an opportunity to discuss corrections with the builder.

Another valuable opportunity is an 11-month warranty inspection. If the builder provides a one-year warranty, an inspection near the end of that period can identify conditions that have developed after the home has experienced seasonal temperature changes, snow loads, precipitation, normal operation, and initial settlement. For homes in the Sierra, that first year can be especially informative.

New Home. Independent Inspection.

Buying new construction can eliminate many of the age-related concerns found in older homes, but it doesn't eliminate the possibility of installation defects, incomplete work, or components that simply aren't functioning properly. An independent home inspection gives you a better understanding of what you're buying—and a documented list of items that may need attention before they become bigger problems.

ASAP Home Inspections provides new construction and warranty inspections throughout Truckee, North Lake Tahoe, and surrounding communities.

Schedule your inspection before closing—or before your builder warranty expires.

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