Newly constructed homes can often have serious issues relatively soon after their built. Problems caused by faulty wiring, leaky plumbing, and improper structural construction can spring up unexpectedly and quickly blossom into a home maintenance disaster. Most of these problems are invisible to the untrained eye because, on the surface, the new house looks flawless.

Still, many people neglect to have their new home inspected before they close.

Even if the home that you're considering is brand new or still being built, don't forego having it inspected by a qualified professional. New home inspectors act as agents on your behalf, spotting potential problems before you're responsible for them. Then, you can make sure that the builder or seller fixes the issues before you close on the house, which could potentially save you thousands of dollars in repair costs down the road.

The Inspection

Your inspector should be checking out three key areas of the construction: the foundation, the framing, and the finished home. Within those three main areas, the inspector will be able to make a complete inspection of every critical part of your home.

During the inspection of the foundation, one of the first things the inspector will look for is proper grading and excavation of the home site. This ensures that water will not pool up near the home or within the foundation. Also, since the foundation supports the entire home, it's important that it be properly constructed to support the load of the house.

Next, it's time to examine the actual structural framing of the home. This ensures that your house was not constructed of substandard wood and that the dimensions of the lumber are adequate to support the full weight of the structure. Also, the electrical wiring and plumbing that would otherwise be hidden within the walls will be inspected. Please note that this is different from any plumbing or electrical inspections that the law requires. In those cases, the inspector is only concerned with the work's compliance with the law, not the quality of the workmanship.

Finally, the inspector examines the finished product of the home. This is the most rigorous part of the examination. All the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems are tested. The inspector also examines the fit and finish of the trim work and drywall as well the insulation around problem areas, like the windows.

Ideally

You want the inspector present at all the three main phases of the construction of your home. Sometimes, however, that isn't possible. Still, qualified inspectors should be able to determine the build quality of your new home even if they only witness the finished product. It just may take a little more investigation. To learn more, contact a company that offers new home inspections.

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