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YOU MAY ASK; "Why do you think that home inspections are a good idea on new construction?"

Answer: 
I apologize in advance, there is no real short answer to this question but I will do my best.

A lot of people believe that a new home does not need an inspection. 
Their thoughts:
  • The city inspected it, so it must be Okay.
  • The builder may even advertise they use a third party inspector, so if the builder inspected it too, then it must be Okay.
The truth of the matter is that the builder is only as good as the contractors they hire. 
The job of the builder is to facilitate the process of the build and to schedule their contractors in a timely manner so the house is built in a reasonable time frame. Some are better at this than others.

Most of the builders or site foremen have no idea what the codes are and do a poor job on contractor oversight. 
The City Inspection Process is to inspect to the City’s “Minimal Standards”. This means, they do not do a full inspection. 
It is totally up to the builder to build the home to the Required State Recognized Codes, Trust Me, this is never done!
The builder will build to the minimal standard that will pass by the City and no more. This is more cost effective. 

We have been performing Phase Inspections since 2000 and we have never found a newly constructed home without unfinished components or defects that should be corrected. 

It is not uncommon for us to find:
  • Gas leaks
  • Missing Insulation
  • HVAC Equipment Not Working Properly or Never Connected
  • Kitchen Appliances Not Properly Installed
  • Outlets and Fixtures Not Working
  • Incomplete Work On The Outside Walls and Surfaces
  • Plumbing Fixtures with the Hot and Cold Water Reversed
  • Slow Draining Plumbing Fixtures

By having a third party non-bias inspection that is performed by a code certified inspector before the builder’s final walk through will help the buyer have a complete list of what needs to be completed before they close. Once the new home has been closed on, the new homeowner will always be second to the current home the builder is trying to close. You Are Put On The Back Burner.

If the NOW  homeowner "That's YOU", find something wrong after they close, they will have to work with the contractors warranty department, which will result in the homeowner taking time off of work to be there when the work is performed and hope that one contractor does not blame the defect on another contractor and the warranty process is stalled while they wait to find out who is really responsible for the warranty work. This may require taking more time off work and more headaches that could have been avoided by having a third party inspection before the final walk through with the builder.

So there, this is the “Long” Short Answer.

There are many more reasons but this really gets to the heart of it.

Please feel free to email or call me anytime
Brian P. Murphy

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Items Inspected:
Structural Systems:
Foundation, Drainage Around Foundation
Roof Covering, Roof Structure
Interior & Exterior Surfaces (brick veneer, wood veneer, interior sheetrock and wall covering)
Ceilings & Floors
Interior & Exterior Doors
Windows (screens, thermal pane leaks, locks and window operation)
Fireplaces & Chimneys
Electrical Systems:
Service Entrance Wires, Distribution Wires
Panel Boxes, Sub-panel Boxes
Breakers & Fuses
Receptacles (outlets), Switches & Fixtures
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning:
Gas or Electric Heating Equipment
Air Conditioning (indoor & outdoor units)
Ductwork, plenums & registers
Plumbing System:
Exterior Water Hose Faucets
Interior Faucets & Fixtures (commodes, tubs & showers)
Laundry Connections
Drains, Waste & Vents
Water Heaters (gas or electric)
Appliances:
Dishwashers, Disposals,
Range Hoods, Range, Cooktops, Ovens
Microwaves, Trash Compactors
Bathroom Exhaust Fans & Heaters
Garage Door Openers, Door Bells, Dryer Vents
Operational Systems:
Sprinkler Systems, Pools & Spas
Gas Supply Systems
Septic Systems