A new construction inspection increases your peace of mind during what will likely be one of the most important purchases you make — a home. If you’re about to buy a residence in Atlanta, getting one is an essential part of the process.
1. What Is a New Construction Inspection?
New construction inspections occur before you have made the final payment on a new-build residence. They are comprehensive checks — typically performed by the builder and a building inspector — to reveal potential problems or abnormalities with the home before you reside there. It is increasingly common for buyers also to hire third-party inspectors for additional checks.
Knowing about issues in advance gives you the opportunity to have the builder resolve them while the company still guarantees the work rather than finding out about them too late.
2. When Should You Schedule the New Construction Inspection?
The most common time for scheduling a new construction inspection is after the builder has completed the work and before you do the final walk-through. There are always many things to handle before moving into a new place, and you should stay in regular contact with the builder so this check does not get overlooked during all the excitement.
Phase inspections are emerging alternatives to a single new construction inspection. They happen at numerous points during the building process, such as before pouring the foundation and prior to installing insulation and drywall. Examining the residence at these key times allows inspectors to see things that would be concealed and harder to detect later. Each phase inspection can cost up to $200, making planning for the periodic expenses necessary.
3. What Is the Focus of a New Home Inspection?
A new home inspection involves all a residence’s interior and exterior parts. Although professionals performing them will note cosmetic issues, they aim to find hidden defects that may cause significant problems later. Inspectors know how to find things others may miss.
For example, improperly installed pipes or faulty fixtures could cause plumbing emergencies later. Most people don’t know the signs that something’s wrong, but inspectors will apply their experience to find potential concerns.
Similarly, they will scrutinize factors relevant to the local climate and geography. Those insights will tell them whether a home is at risk of future foundation issues due to frequent soil movement or whether damage may occur due to rapid temperature changes.
Unfortunately, buying a top-dollar new home does not necessarily reduce the chances of inspectors finding issues. Some who have gained social media traction have posted evidence of improperly anchored bathtubs and rotten wood in homes costing well over $1 million.
Consider the new construction inspection a practical way to increase your peace of mind before making one of your life’s largest and most important purchases. Knowing that the home is defect-free will help you feel reassured of having a safe residence.
4. What if the New Home Inspection Reveals Issues?
Many people assume that a new home inspection will find nothing amiss. However, these checks almost always reveal some imperfections. The benefit of knowing about them is that you can see them in the proper context rather than learning about them during an emergency. The inspection report will help you plan what to do when maintaining your home.
That is valuable information to know, regardless of the residential aspect. For example, a home’s siding can last up to two decades when maintained well. However, gaps, peeling, and fading are signs that the siding needs replacing. If the siding is already showing bubbling or cracking in a new build, you will want it addressed before you move in. The same is true for flooring, roofing and other critical components in the home.
A new home inspection report can also help people understand the issues they may face later, allowing them to learn the telltale signs of developing problems. Just as they may gradually put money away to replace siding as needed, homeowners can decide to budget for things they became aware of because of inspections.
5. What’s the Best Way to Handle Severe Defects?
If your new construction inspection found significant problems, immediately contact your builder to inform them that the results of your third-party check are concerning. Give them a chance to make things right and work with you. However, if your contractor refuses to assist with identified issues you may have to pursue legal action, including going to court. A suit in a Georgia small claims court can be as much as $15,000, which could be sufficient depending on the extent of the problem.
It’s also wise to learn about Georgia’s Right to Repair Act, which was passed in 2004 and outlines the process of dealing with defective construction. It applies to owners of new and older single-family homes, condos and duplexes. One of its crucial stipulations is that unless a construction defect causes personal injury or death, you cannot file a lawsuit against your builder right away.
Instead, you must send a written notice to every applicable contractor that states the type and results of all claimed defects and includes documentation from your inspector. Additionally, serving this notice must happen at least 90 days before initiating a lawsuit. Then, contractors have 30 days to reply in writing and explain whether they will inspect the home or settle without that examination.
Commit to Getting a New Home Inspection Today
An ongoing trend has caused many people to purchase new homes without inspections. Sometimes, they have too much trust in the builder. In other cases, inspector shortages make scheduling prompt checks more challenging than anticipated. However, now is an excellent time to budget for your home inspection and begin contacting area providers. Proactiveness increases the chances of a professional fitting you into their schedule.
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