Buying a Home
Should I get a home inspection on a new home?
By Steve Lockhart
The short answer
Yes. A new home still deserves an independent inspection, because new construction can have its own issues: grading and drainage problems, HVAC that is undersized or poorly installed, missing insulation, and cosmetic defects that builders might otherwise not prioritize.
Full answer
Yes. A new home still deserves an independent inspection, because new construction can have its own issues: grading and drainage problems, HVAC that is undersized or poorly installed, missing insulation, and cosmetic defects that builders might otherwise not prioritize. A third-party inspector works for you, not for the builder's warranty team, so they tend to catch things that get missed. It is worth understanding what a builder's warranty covers and what it does not, because many warranty claims are process-driven and time-sensitive. Before your final walkthrough, I will help you review the punch list so incomplete work is documented and corrected before closing. The cost of a good inspection is tiny compared to the comfort of knowing, and it is one of the few steps that costs you money but almost always saves you from a headache.
Go a little deeper
Frequently asked
Questions buyers often follow up on
If the builder offers a warranty, do I still need a third party inspection?
Yes, and that is the standard advice from experienced new-construction buyers. The builder's warranty has its own process, and the builder's own teams are not the same as an inspector who works only for you. A third-party inspector documents issues in writing while they are still easy to fix, which is exactly when you have the most standing with the builder.
When should the inspection happen during new construction?
Timing depends on the builder's schedule, but serious buyers often inspect at a pre-drywall stage and again near completion, and always before the final walkthrough, when you can form a punch list. Ask your inspector and your agent about which stages fit your build so issues are caught while fixing them is straightforward.
What do I do with the inspection report?
Read it with me and the builder, and keep a copy. We separate the items that genuinely matter, like grading, drainage, or HVAC problems, from cosmetic bothers, and present the important ones to the builder as a clear, fair list. Then we confirm the corrections in writing before closing, so the report becomes action rather than paperwork.
The Lockhart Method
The Lockhart Method
Your Home | My Strategy | Proven Results
My strategy: spend the modest inspection fee on every new build and review the punch list before closing. The cost is small beside the quiet years it brings.
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