An Ounce Of Prevention Equals A Pound Of Cure When Building A New Home

By Micah Gaudio
  Building your dream home can be very exciting. While it’s fun to choose the cabinets, flooring and fixtures for your new home, it’s also important to consider the structural components including the roof, foundation and electrical wiring.
  Your builder wants you to be happy with your new home as it is a testament to the quality and craftsmanship of his product. As a homebuyer, it is your responsibility to research the homebuilding process. Some of the questions you need to ask your builder include:
 
• How are structural components installed?
• What type of quality assurance procedures are in place?
• What kind of materials are being used?
• Who will the subcontractors be?

  As in any relationship, communication is key to a successful home-building partnership. Your builder is probably working on several projects simultaneously, making it difficult for him to track every detail of every home.
  A practical way to stay involved in the building process while communicating in a professional manner is to hire a third party inspector. Why should you hire an inspector for new construction? Even with the best quality, mistakes can be made. The inspector will act as an advocate for both you and the builder by giving you the information you need to monitor the progress of your home with your builder while giving the builder the opportunity to make any necessary corrections. This is a win-win situation: You can protect your investment and the builder can protect his reputation.
   Anytime you buy a home, whether it is existing or new construction, an inspection is an excellent tool to give you an accurate assessment of the property. One of the great benefits of hiring an inspector in the early stages of a new construction project is that he will be able to inspect your home without the hindrance of walls. The inspector will visit your new home at four key points over the course of the building project including: after the foundation is poured; after the framing is up; after the house is wired and the plumbing installed; and just before the walls are closed in. If the home is inspected while it is being built, it can save you and the builder time, money and aggravation by fixing problems as they arise while they are minor and accessible. It is much easier to fix the foundation when a house isn’t sitting on top of it.
  After each inspection, you  will receive a written report and photographs of the construction progress. This information can then be submitted to the builder so he can make any necessary corrections.
So how should you go about choosing an inspector? The first thing to remember when hiring an inspector is that you trust this individual with the largest purchase you may ever make. With this in mind, interview the inspector. Ask him about his training, how many inspections he has performed, does he belong to any industry associations and how he takes advantage of continuing education opportunities. This process should give you a good idea if the inspector is a good fit.
  Building a new home can be challenging and stressful, but it also can be a lot of fun. By establishing a strong team of qualified builder and inspector, you can smooth out the  process and have peace of mind that you have done everything you can to ensure that you are getting a quality-built home that you and your family will enjoy for years to come.

Brian Wood is an independent inspector. National Property Inspections (NPI) was founded in 1987, and has inspected over one million residential and commercial properties.