By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,You often recommend home inspections for brand-new homes, but in my case, this has proved to be unnecessary. Since buying my home about six months ago, I've had two problems, and the builder repaired them immediately. In another six months, my warranty will expire. What reasons, if any, can you give for having an inspection during that time? --Mark
Dear Mark,
Reliance on the builder's warranty is the most common reason why buyers of new homes forego home inspections. In many cases, this has proved to be a costly error. Buyers assume that all significant defects will become apparent during the warranty period. This, as we shall see, is a faulty assumption.
All new homes have unapparent defects, regardless of the quality of construction or the integrity of the builder. Simply stated: No one can build something as large and complex as a house without committing a few errors at various stages of the process. To assume that all such errors will be readily apparent is a recipe for financial loss. Some problems may reside in the attic, in the electric service panel, or high atop the roof. They may involve safety violations with a chimney installation or the grounding of electrical outlets. There might be a defect in the roof framing, the gas connection to the heater, or the site drainage on the property. A home inspector who is able to discover such conditions will enable you to take full advantage of your builders' warranty.
Professional inspection of a brand-new home is always beneficial, if performed by a truly qualified individual. Just be sure to find an inspector with many years of experience and a reputation for thoroughness.
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