We often get asked if we would recommend an inspection on a new house. Buyers usually get a walk-through with the project manager or a builder’s representative near the time of closing, during which time they go through and look for any issues that should be addressed prior to closing. However, what about unseen items like the sewer system, what’s behind the electrical panel, etc? How often do we catch significant problems during an inspection? In reality, it is pretty uncommon that an inspection uncovers a significant problem that would not have been covered under the builder’s standard warranty, which generally ranges from 1 to 3 years depending on the builder. What are some of the worst things we’ve seen? We caught a disconnected sewer line once — that might have been the worst one. We have on occasion discovered a disconnected drain spout or heating vent. A couple of times, the polarity on an outlet was reversed, or a three way switch didn’t work, or some flashing was installed incorrectly. Inspectors often find things that we might not have spotted during a final walk-through, and those items may or may not be significant, but more than anything, inspections give the buyer a second set of eyes — professional ones — trained to spot issues — and that peace of mind is often worth more than the cost of the inspection to the buyer.
© Rich Tao Real Estate - since 2003
