A guide to new construction phase inspections

New construction homes offer major advantages for homeowners, such as brand-new appliances, modern electrical systems and updated plumbing. But they still need to pass new home inspections. These inspections are vital to making sure your newly built home is safe, sound and ready for move-in.

You can buy a completed home from a builder, which will have already passed new construction inspections, or you can buy land and build from the ground up using your own plans. This will require your builder to pass inspections during different stages of the build. While they might seem inconvenient, they protect you from potentially costly problems in the future.

Let’s explore in depth what these inspections entail, what they cost, and how they protect your investment.

What is a new construction phase inspection?

When you buy land and build a house, every inch of the home must pass thorough new home inspections to ensure it meets the homeowner’s requirements and all safety and structural standards.

Professional home inspectors evaluate the home’s building process in phases:

• Before builders pour the foundation.
• Before they hang the drywall.
• After the home is completely built, but before homeowners move in.

The new construction phase inspection ensures builders aren’t cutting corners, causing safety issues, or putting homeowners at risk of dealing with structural and financial headaches down the road. It’s usually your or your builder’s responsibility to order the inspection, as it protects your investment in the property.

New construction vs. regular home inspection

A home inspection on a new build differs from a regular home inspection because inspectors can evaluate the home’s structural integrity before builders do anything permanent. For example, if the inspector finds an issue before builders pour the foundation, they can require builders to fix the issue and prevent future complications after pouring the foundation.

In a regular home inspection, the inspector evaluates an already-built home. They can’t see things beyond the foundation or drywall, which could leave undetected defects that could cause problems down the road if there aren’t any current visible signs.

Phases of a new construction inspection, explained

There are three phases to the new construction home inspection, each is equally important.

Phase 1: Pre-pour (foundation)

Before builders pour the foundation, inspectors can evaluate the preparation done to ensure structural integrity.

Items commonly inspected include:

• Elevation, drainage, and adequate grading
• Trenches and footers are proper width
• Installation of pipe casings are done to code
• Metal, beams and tension cables are properly placed and connected
• Pipes and sleeves are set properly
• Placement of plastic vapor barriers are correct
• Water lines are installed properly

Phase 2: Pre-drywall

After the foundation is poured, a professional home inspector should do a pre-drywall inspection before the builders hang the drywall. This is the last inspection before the home is closed up with insulation and drywall and gives inspectors a chance to closely look at the home’s inner workings, such as plumbing, electrical, ducts, and the roof’s structure.

Items commonly inspected include:

• Framing to ensure it’s structurally sound
• Integrity of the wood used
• All exterior walls and windows
• Rough-ins for HVAC systems
• All fasteners, connectors, and bolts
• Exterior electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems

Phase 3: Final inspection

The final inspection is the phase that’s most like a regular home inspection. This is when the inspector looks at all aspects of the completed home, ensures their integrity, and provides the builder with a list of any issues they must address before you occupy the home.

Items commonly inspected include:

• All major systems, plumbing, electrical and mechanical
• Roof and attic integrity
• Structural soundness of walls, ceilings, windows and doors
• HVAC and water supply systems
• All exterior components, including porch, patio, and deck
• Appliances

Why new construction inspections are required

New home construction phase inspections might seem like an unneeded and unwanted hassle, but they are legally required and are designed to protect you. They are needed for loan approval and also ensure that you won’t run into costly issues should you ever want to sell your home.

Here are some reasons that new home inspections are well worth the inconvenience and cost:

• They identify safety issues. An inspection can discover safety issues before the building is complete to ensure the home is built to code and safe for occupancy.
• They ensure code adherence. Ensuring a home’s structure is up to code prevents unnecessary fines or legal troubles, especially when you go to sell the home.
• They spot and prevent problems. It’s still humans building your house, and anything can go wrong, from preventable to unpredictable issues. Having an inspection at each phase limits the problems you may have in the future with the home.
• They help expedite financing. Lenders will insist on your construction passing inspections and being built to code.

How much does a new construction phase inspection cost?

The cost of a new construction inspection varies based on the area, size of the home and type of inspection you want. If you want all three phases inspected, you’ll pay between $800 and $2,000, but if you only want one or two phases inspected, expect to pay $100 – $500 per phase.

This is just one of the many expenses to consider when determining the cost of building a house. It should be included in your budget, as you don’t want to skip the inspection phase.

How to order phase inspections on a new build

To order a phase inspection on a new build, follow these steps:

• Do your research. Don’t assume all inspectors are good. Do your research, read reviews, and check out the Better Business Bureau before hiring an inspector.
• Talk to your builder. Reputable builders will welcome an outside inspector to evaluate their work, but it’s always a good idea to let your builder know your intentions so they are aware.
• Hire the inspector. Once everyone is on the same page, you can hire the inspector and connect him and the builder so they can determine the best timeline for the inspections.

The bottom line: Protect your investment with new-build inspections

If you are building your home from the ground up, new home inspections are a critical part of the process. They are legally required, but more importantly, they help ensure your home is safe, up to code, and built to last. By checking the construction at key phases – before the foundation is poured, before drywall is installed, and after completion – inspections catch issues early, when they’re easier and less costly to fix. While they add to your up-front costs, they can save you from big problems down the road, giving you peace of mind and protection on what is likely one of your biggest investments.

When you’re ready to build your dream home, apply for a loan through Rocket Mortgage.

Rocket Mortgage is a trademark of Rocket Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.