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I had a home inspection today on a new construction property that my clients are purchasing. And I was reminded of what a good idea to have an independent home inspector do an inspection, even on new construction. It's amazing to me how many people don't get this done.
This is not a question of whether or not you trust the builder. First of all, we're all human and fallible! This is a huge purchase and it's just good sense to have another, objective and experienced, pair of eyes take a look.
The best home inspectors will teach you things about your home that the builder will not. It's not that the builder doesn't want you to know these things. But they have homes to build and sell and it can take time to explain why your new furnace could use some additional metallic tape to keep potentially combustible gases from your water heater from being drawn in! A good home inspector spots these little things and will talk you through what you should be doing to protect yourself and your home.
A good inspector will know what is code in a particular jurisdiction and can catch things that the builder missed. The buyer is probably not an expert on local building codes and shouldn't be expected to be. Sometimes your realtor may know a lot about local codes as well. But a home inspector is likely to catch the nuances that can make a difference to you now and in the future. They can catch things that could prevent you from getting your occupancy permit in the time frames needed for settlement. And they can catch items that could come back to bite you when you go to resell the property in a few years.
A builder will not recommend a home inspector. They often view them as nuisance. But a smart buyer will always get a home inspection, even on new construction!
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