New construction
New Construction Inspection
A brand new house still gets built by people, in weather, on a schedule. An independent inspection finds what the punch list misses, while the builder is still responsible for it.
What it is
A new house is not automatically a finished house
A builder walks away from thousands of decisions on every home. Most are right. The ones that are not tend to be the ones nobody looked at twice: a flue that was never connected, a bath fan venting into the attic, flashing stopped short of the wall, a breaker sized wrong for its circuit. None of that shows up in a walkthrough with a tape measure and a punch list.
A new construction inspection is an independent set of eyes on the house before it becomes your problem. We are not working for the builder and we are not trying to be difficult. We report what is there, in writing, with photographs, while the builder is still contractually on the hook to fix it.
The three points where an inspection pays for itself
- Pre-drywall, once framing, rough plumbing, wiring and ductwork are in but before insulation and drywall close it all up. This is the only time anyone sees the bones of the house. See the pre-drywall inspection page.
- Final, before closing, when systems are live and everything can be operated and tested.
- Before the first year is up, while the builder warranty still applies. Settling, seasonal movement and workmanship issues surface in the first twelve months. This is the 10th month warranty inspection.
Scope
What we look at
The same standards we apply to a fifty year old house, applied to a new one. Age is not the question; workmanship is.
Structure and exterior
- Foundation, framing, load paths and any visible structural shortcuts
- Roof covering, flashing, penetrations and attic ventilation
- Grading and drainage away from the foundation
- Siding, trim, sealants and window and door installation
Systems
- Electrical panel, breaker sizing, grounding, bonding and receptacle testing
- Plumbing supply and drainage, fixtures, water heater and venting
- Heating and cooling operation, duct runs, registers and condensate handling
- Exhaust fans actually vented outside rather than into an attic or soffit
Interior and finish
- Doors, windows, floors, cabinetry and visible finish defects
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm placement
- Attic insulation depth and coverage
- Garage separation and fire rated assemblies
Schedule your inspection
Online booking, or call the office for your market and talk to a person.
Other services
See it in practice
Common questions
New construction questions
Do I need an inspection if the county already inspected the house?
County inspections confirm the house meets minimum code at specific milestones. They are not a quality review, they are not looking out for you specifically, and inspectors are working through a large volume of homes. A private inspection is a separate, independent look on your behalf, and it routinely finds items a code inspection is not scoped to catch.
When should I book the pre-drywall inspection?
After framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing and ductwork are complete, and before insulation goes in. That window is often only a few days, so tell us as soon as your builder gives you a drywall date and we will work backwards from it.
Will the builder let an independent inspector on site?
Almost always yes. Some builders ask for notice or want a representative present, which is fine. If a builder refuses an independent inspection entirely, that is worth knowing before you close.
What happens if you find something?
You get a written report with photographs within 24 hours. You take that to your builder as a punch list. Because it is documented and dated, it is far harder to wave away than a verbal comment during a walkthrough.
Is this different from the builder walkthrough?
Yes. A builder walkthrough is led by the builder and is mostly about cosmetic finish and orientation to the house. We work for you, we test systems, and we go into the attic and crawl space.
Do you inspect new townhomes and production homes?
Yes. Production builders work fast and repeat the same details across many homes, which means both that issues are common and that they are usually straightforward to describe and fix.
Ready to schedule?
Schedule online in a couple of minutes, or call and we will talk it through first.