Wrap up your new home construction with an inspection and a builder’s walk-through
A home inspection explores the house’s major systems and overall structure.
The average cost of a home inspection is $350; however, most buyers spend between $300 to $400.
A builder’s walk-through gives you the chance to ask questions and point out any problems.
You’re this close to moving into the house you’ve patiently waited for. But there are a couple more things to do before move-in day. First, to protect your investment and ensure everything complies with building permits and is up to code, you’ll need to find a professional home inspector near you. Next, you’ll want to schedule a builder’s walk-through session so that you can take a thorough look at every square foot of your new home. Learn more about what to expect from these two on-site meetings.
You might think your local government’s inspectors should catch all of the house’s problems and building code lapses when they visit, but this isn’t necessarily the case. If you hire an independent local home inspector, they work only for you and aim to leave no stone unturned. Here’s how they can help ensure all of the boxes are checked on your new build.
Everyone makes a mistake now and then. For example, a contractor might have been working too quickly, or maybe there was a miscommunication between subcontractors. A hired home inspector has the expertise to find often-overlooked problems, including:
Structural issues
Improper grading
Evidence of mold
Poorly installed roofing
Faulty wiring
Plumbing leaks
Inadequate insulation
Incorrectly installed HVAC systems
Even with the builder's best intentions, every new home may have an issue or two, and an inspection serves as additional quality assurance. An inspector can help you find any problems before signing off on the final builder walk-through. A new house inspection is standard, and reputable builders should stand by their work and correct any problems. Plus, you’ll want to take care of any issues well before your home warranty expires.
When an inspector comes to your new house for the inspection, they’ll spend two to four hours—depending on the size of your house—combing the structure for problems. They’ll take notes, measurements, and pictures and combine the information into a formal report that you’ll receive a few days after your home inspection.
After the inspector arrives, they’ll check these essential areas of your new home:
Foundation, basement, and structural components
Walls, ceilings, and floors
Windows and doors
Roof
Attic
Insulation
HVAC system
Plumbing
Electrical
Performing regular maintenance can help you avoid issues during your home inspection. Make sure to regularly inspect your roof, check your plumbing and electrical systems, and ensure your gutters and ventilation are clean to prevent buildup.
Even in a brand-new home, there are plenty of things that need to be inspected to ensure everything is up to code and there are no mistakes, omissions, or defects from the build. The inspection will be a top-to-bottom check of the entire home—an inspector may specifically check that:
All floors are level and properly installed
The foundation is level and free of cracks and moisture issues
The siding is installed correctly
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems are functioning properly
The land around the house is graded and has adequate drainage
The roof is installed correctly and has no gaps, missing shingles, or other defects
Decks, patios, stairways, and other exterior features are up to code
Structural components have no cracks or signs of improper installation
An attic inspection reveals no ventilation or moisture problems
Insulation is up to code and correctly installed
The cost for a home inspection varies, starting at around $400 for a 2,000-square-foot home. Most buyers spend between $300 and $400, though these prices can depend on the size of your home and location.
Individual home inspectors may have slightly different rates, so it’s always worth talking to a few inspectors to get multiple quotes.
You can have your house inspected at any point, but good timing is crucial because you don’t want to schedule an inspection so late that it delays your closing. But it's also a smart idea to wait until your local government inspector has signed off on the current work.
Consider hiring your own inspector for a pre-drywall inspection and a second follow-up visit later. With separate visits, the inspector can review the electrical, plumbing, and framing work before the drywall goes up. When they return, they’ll inspect the rest of the house. Home inspectors bill differently, so ask yours if they charge separately for each visit or if it's one price for both looks.
Compared to an official home inspection, your walk-through with your local builder will feel less formal and is the perfect time to ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable in your new home. Give yourself plenty of time—you’ll need more than your lunch break. This is, after all, not only your dream home; it’s also a significant and really important investment.
The builder will likely have a preprinted checklist to use during the walk-through. Or, if you’d prefer, you can source another version online. Use it to document every issue found, big and small. From a cracked foundation to cracks in your paint, this is the time to take notes on items like:
Doors and windows
Walls, ceilings, trim, and flooring
Appliances
Sinks, toilets, and tubs
HVAC
Driveway and walkway
Landscaping, hardscaping, and irrigation
Patio, deck, and porch
Roof and gutters
Drainage
Since all of the appliances, heating units, water heater, and house components are new, you'll get a set of instructions for each. Bring a file folder (or three) to keep everything organized. This is also the best time to ask questions about a system or appliance you're unfamiliar with, like a convection oven or the air conditioning system.
Take time to turn all the lights on and off, start the appliances, and run the heater and air conditioning. It's better to uncover any necessary fixes sooner rather than later at an inconvenient time. For extra efficiency, you can buy an inexpensive electrical outlet tester at the hardware store and check all the outlets for connectivity during your walk-through.
A home inspection isn’t just valuable for assessing the current condition of your home—it’s also a great chance to set up good practices for the future. Here are a few ways to keep your home in top shape after your home inspection.
You might feel like you have some time before you need to start regular maintenance because the house is new. But to stay in compliance with your home’s warranty, you’ll need to tackle maintenance chores according to the suggested schedule.
Some helpful maintenance tasks can include:
Getting your air vents and ducts cleaned
Cleaning the gutters
Keeping outdoor areas weeded and fertilized
Cleaning and maintaining appliances, including defrosting the freezer
Regularly cleaning humid areas like bathrooms
Doing an annual walk-through to check for any repairs that need to be done
"My home inspector was extremely thorough and professional. He found several significant defects that would have been very expensive to remediate post-drywall, as well as a large number of 'punchlist' type items...which could have been significant if they had not been fixed at this stage of construction. The fee was reasonable and paid for itself several times over with the repairs that were made."
— Paul O., Albuquerque, NM
Your home warranty likely covers quality and materials for just one year, so it's important to schedule the builder visit well before the warranty ends. You never know what issues may come up as the house begins to settle.
New construction home inspections are often completed in phases. The initial inspection takes place when the foundation is poured to ensure it is done correctly. Next, a pre-drywall inspection is performed to check the structural elements of the house. A full inspection follows once the build is completed, and many homeowners choose to have a follow-up inspection a year after building to ensure no areas of concern have developed.
The buyer is responsible for a new construction home inspection. Many lenders require this step as part of the approval process, but the buyer will need to foot the bill. The cost of a home inspection is a small investment to ensure your newly built home is free of defects or problems.
You’ll want to be present for a home inspection to ensure the inspector has access to everything they need. It’s best to be available if they have any questions, but stay out of the inspector’s way—you don’t need to follow them from room to room as they perform the inspection.
