One of the reasons that newly built homes are so popular with buyers is because of the belief that they are too new to have any problems. There’s a common misconception that newly built properties tend to be problem free for at least the first ten years of their lives, but that isn’t always the case.
A lot of people presume that newly built homes don’t need a house inspection because they are too new to have problems. However, even homes that have been recently constructed can have problems. Sometimes faulty materials have accidently been used, the workmanship has been poor for one reason or another, or there has been some accidental oversight.
The fact is that having an independent home inspection completed by an objective company can allow any problems (or potential problems) to be spotted early and dealt with quickly. Any issues can be sorted as soon as possible, instead of further down the line when they have worsened and your property is no longer under warranty. By paying to have an independent home inspection done, you are putting your investment first and thinking smartly about your financial future, which makes an inspection more than worth the cost.
When it comes to buying a newly built home, there are some things to be aware of.
One of the more important of these is the builder’s warranty that you are given. Even if you’ve got a warranty on your home, such as one that local builders offer, that doesn’t mean the problems with your property will be covered if left for a long period. For example, in the Austin area, local builders like Scott Felder Homes, David Weekley Homes, Highland Homes, CastleRock Communities, and CatAtlantic Homes offer a range of warranty packages. Each warranty package offers different levels of coverage it’s important to read the policy information carefully.
Other Factors to Consider
Another thing to think about is the site that your home is built on. Is it on a slope – will this impact the foundations? Talking about the foundations, have they been well built for the location? Will landscaping be difficult? Is it near river or water source that could cause flooding? You need to be clear that the location the property is built on is somewhere that you want to live.
It’s also important to find out about the roofing that the property has and what benefits it offers. Is the roof well insulated? Is is strong and durable? Will it reflect the sun’s heat from the home or draw it in and make the property too hot? Is the roof designed to allow water to run off of it effectively? These are all questions that a home inspection can answer for you.
Is the property well ventilated? Is it built in a way that will hold heat in the winter and stay cool in the summer? Is each room well ventilated? Ventilation is important for a number of reasons, one of the most important of which is mold. Mold favors areas that are stuffy and aren’t properly ventilated, which is why adequate ventilation is so important, especially as mold can cause an array of health problems.
Sometimes when a house has been constructed, and some of the work doesn’t meet the correct specifications, a punch list is given to the buyer that says before payment is made, the error must be fixed. Unless you have an independent inspection completed on the property, it’s impossible to know if the specifications of the property are correct.
Then there’s the question of whether the appliances are of a good quality and are well fitted. An independent inspection can tell you whether the appliances that are fitted are of a good quality and meet the regulations in place.
Just because the property has been newly built, that doesn’t mean that an inspection isn’t required. A lot of owners of new builds aren’t keen to pay for an inspection but then kick themselves later when an issue that could have been fixed during construction comes to light. Avoid the headaches and schedule a new home inspection today.
Every Bumblebee House Inspection includes:
- Printed or digital PDF report versions (including thermographic and digital images) from the inspection with a complete summary of deficiencies
- Professional, Friendly Home Inspection Expert
- Maintenance Tips and Lifecycles
