3 Inspections Every New Construction Home Needs

By John Salkowski

The JRS Realty Group, founded by high-producing Real Estate Broker & Author John Salkowski was built on the notion that the secret to achieving incredible goals and getting true results is to dominate real estate with a team approach.

For this edition of Ask John, someone sent me a direct message on Instagram asking whether I’d recommend having the home inspected when you buy new construction. My answer is an absolute yes.

New construction is far from perfect. Many people assume a brand-new home comes out flawless. I’m dealing with new-construction issues right now, and I can tell you it rarely goes perfectly.

Every new home has hundreds and hundreds of moving parts. On top of that, several different contractors and tradesmen work on the property before it’s finished. With that much going on, I recommend three inspections if you choose to build.

1. Start with a pre-drywall inspection. You want your inspector walking through the home before all the walls are closed up. They should check the electrical, the plumbing, and all the 2x4s to see whether they’re wood or metal studs.

2. Inspect again before you settle. Before you settle with the builder, have the home thoroughly inspected. Anything that pops up should be addressed before closing.

3. Book the 11th-month warranty inspection. Of the three, this is the one buyers skip most often, and it’s the one I’d urge you not to miss. Builders usually offer a one-year warranty, so schedule another inspection just before it expires. Then present the report to the builder’s warranty division, so they address every issue it turns up.

The builder represents the builder. As I often say, you don’t know what you don’t know. It still blows my mind that so many buyers go directly to the builder. The builder looks out for the builder’s interests, and the sales rep at the builder’s sales center does too.

You want a real estate pro representing you through this whole process. You also want your own home inspector in your corner.

Your broker matters more than location. Buying or selling a home is your largest financial and emotional transaction. The most important decision you’ll make is who you hire, and that matters even more than location.

If you have questions about new construction, schedule a free discovery call with me, and we’ll talk through your real estate goals. These calls run about 45 minutes to an hour. I like to think of each one as a GPS, a road map, or a flight plan, because it’s built to lead you to success.

Call me at 610-709-5147, email me at john@jrsrealtygroup.com, or visit thejrsrealtygroup.com. I look forward to helping you get your new home right from the studs up.