Third Party Inspection For New Home: A Complete Guide

Buying a new home can be both exciting and overwhelming. 

And for obvious reasons, as while you’re thrilled about your brand-new abode, there’s also a fair share of doubt about its structural quality and strength, among others. 

But what if we told you that there’s a reliable way to skip all the doubts and be 100 percent sure about a property? 

Yes, that’s possible; all you’ve got to do is get a third party inspection for new home by certified home inspectors. 

Whether you’ve already put in an offer to buy a new home or you’re planning on buying one, third party inspections are invaluable. That’s because, with one such inspection, you can acquaint yourself with the property’s true condition from the inside out. 

And with a detailed idea about the home, you make informed decisions about the purchase. 

However, for starters, what is a 3rd party home inspection, and more importantly, how does it help new home buyers? 

Well, let’s have a look up close and understand it in detail. 

What is a third party inspection for new home? 

Home inspections are commonplace when it comes to purchasing an older property. In fact, a contingency clause in these purchase deals even allows buyers to legally get an inspection and even walk away after home inspection in some cases. 

Nevertheless, you can also get a new home inspected before finalizing the deal and making the payment. And this is where third party inspections come into the picture, providing you with in-depth insights into the newly constructed home. 

You see, a new home already undergoes rigorous inspections at regular intervals during construction by both the builders as well as the local county inspectors. This is done to ensure that the under-construction home meets safety and quality requirements in the building codes. 

A 3rd party home inspection, at the same time, is conducted after the construction is complete and when you’re about to close the purchase deal. 

Herein, inspectors follow a similar inspection procedure to examine the various components of the home as they’d in an older home. Also, they’ll provide you with a comprehensive inspection report detailing their findings about aspects such as construction quality, expected longevity of the home, etc. 

What do third party inspections involve in newly constructed homes? 

New as it might sound, a 3rd party home inspection is not different from a regular home inspection. Meaning one such inspection will involve an up-close analysis of the very same elements of newly constructed homes. 

And although inspections in different parts of the country might have certain unique requirements, a lot of new home inspection aspects are common and include: 

1. Home foundation inspection.
2. An analysis of the foundation walls and slabs. 
3. Underground plumbing inspection (both indoors and outdoors). 
4. Inspection of overground plumbing rough-in. 
5. Electrical rough-in examination. 
6. A thorough inspection of final plumbing and electrical systems. 
7. Doors and windows framing inspection. 
8. A whole-house insulation review. 
9. A detailed certificate of occupancy inspection.

Is a third party inspection for new home necessary?  

A third party inspection is not mandatory, which means you can buy a new home and start living in it even without getting it inspected. 

Nonetheless, we suggest you go for one such inspection, as it will give you a clear idea of potential problems that either already exist or might arise in the future. 

You see, although a local county/municipal inspector examines the home during construction, there are chances that they may miss out on detecting certain code lapses. Similarly, you can’t discount the fact that some problem areas might be overlooked during these inspections. 

Remember that county/municipal officials only check for building code compliance, and they do not conduct a thorough quality check, among other things. 

A third party inspection can turn out to be your savior in these circumstances, looking at every nitty-gritty of the construction and coming out with pin-pointed findings. 

Also, these inspections provide neutral reports, which serve as a guide for both parties to fix existing problems and prevent them from recurring in the future. 

As such, it makes sense to spend a few hundred dollars on a new home inspection before closing to safeguard your investment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

What problems does a 3rd party home inspection seek to detect? 

Even though old homes tend to have more issues, newly constructed homes aren’t immune to problems either. So, while you might think that a new home is completely safe and sound, this need not be the case. 

For instance, a lot of times, builders or contractors tend to complete projects hurriedly so as to meet their deadlines. And this can lead them to make certain mistakes, rather inadvertently. 

A qualified home inspector can help you detect underlying problems in the new home, which typically includes: 

1. Structural issues 

It is often said that structural problems in a home arise due to the building’s aging. And even if it results in faulty construction, the common belief is that it’s only detected after years when signs such as cracks start to appear. 

However, none of it is entirely true, as structural issues can be detected both during the construction and right after the construction is complete. All you need is a seasoned home inspector to detect these issues and suggest full-proof measures to effectively fix them. 

2. Mold 

Believe it or not, a newly built home can have mold too. 

In fact, there have been various instances of black mold detection in new homes, a rare possibility that can be the worst nightmare for homebuyers. 

So, by getting a new home inspected, you can detect the slightest presence of mold and ask the builder to take effective mold eradication measures. 

3. Inconsistent grading 

A lot of times, construction companies end up grading the site building site incorrectly. And this can have a significant impact on the home’s structural systems. 

Thorough home inspections on new construction are your best bet to detect these inconsistencies in grading and seek reliable fixes. 

4. Faulty electrical wirings 

Another common problem in newly built homes is faulty electrical wiring. Worse, these faults are hard to notice by bare visual examination as wires are mostly concealed under the walls. 

A home inspector analyzes the wirings using sophisticated and non-invasive technologies such as infrared thermography to detect faults and suggest remedies. 

5. Leaky plumbing systems

A leak in the plumbing system can be so insignificant that you wouldn’t notice it for months until it manifests in the form of moisture, wet walls, or seepage. 

A 3rd party home inspection can detect these hard-to-detect plumbing faults and let you know about the problems that they might cause in the future. 

6. Insulation problems 

Inadequate insulation can cause huge problems in the long run. From cold floors to damp walls to increased energy bills, the problems arising out of insulation woes are endless. 

Thankfully, a complete home inspection can help you detect insulation issues in a newly constructed home before they become problematic. 

7. Improper HVAC installation 

An improperly installed HVAC system is not only inefficient but also leads to increased utility expenses. Moreover, a faulty installation can significantly increase the drag on HVAC units and can even cause HVAC failure. 

While the HVAC system in a new home may seem to be in tip-top shape, a third party home inspector detects these installation faults and brings them to your notice. 

You might also want to read: What is a home inspection? (all questions answered)

Why hire a third party home inspector? 

Now that you’re aware of the importance of 3rd party home inspection for newly built homes, you might wonder why you should only hire a third party inspector. 

And the reason is very simple: third party inspectors are neutral and thus likely to offer you an unbiased opinion on the inspection’s findings. Also, this makes third party inspectors acceptable to builders who’re assured that the inspection company or team doesn’t have special interests. 

A lot of times, the builders may suggest a list of home inspectors, or they themselves might offer to conduct an inspection. But it is possible for such inspectors to have an understanding with the builders wherein they’d try to underplay certain issues. 

As such, the unbiased nature of a 3rd party inspector comes in handy to understand the true extent of problems lurking in a new home. 

What are the third party home inspection requirements? 

When it comes to hiring a third party home inspector, the minimum requirement that you should look for is their license. 

For instance, if you’re looking for a home inspector in Florida, you should check if the inspection company and individual inspectors are licensed to carry home inspections in the state. 

Furthermore, you should look for certifications that the inspection firms or the inspectors carry. That’s because these certifications are a sign that the firm is an acclaimed one with seasoned inspectors. 

For instance, if a 3rd party home inspection firm carries certifications from renowned institutions, you should definitely consider hiring them. 

In all, you should look for the following certifications in particular:

• The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) 
• The National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) 
• The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI)

How much does a 3rd party home inspection cost? 

According to estimates from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, a 3rd party home inspection cost for a single-family home can range anywhere from $300 to $500. 

Meaning while the true cost will be determined by the size of the home and the scale of the project, you can expect to pay in the above price range. 

Should you be present at the time of third party inspection? 

Home inspectors usually don’t mind you being present at the time of inspection unless you interfere with their work. In fact, the inspectors might even encourage you to be present so that they can point out certain issues and their concerns in real-time. 

Also, you can ask your inspectors questions regarding the inspection process and the areas under examination, among others. However, you should make sure not to question them while they’re working. 

Purchasing a home is indeed one of the biggest transactions you’re about to make, and home inspectors understand it. 

And towards that end, inspectors ensure that they cooperate with you and acquaint you with potential problems and their solutions. 

You might also want to read – Mobile Home Inspection Checklist: Everything To Know About.

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Conclusion 

As you can see, a third party inspection for new home can detect problems lurking below the surface before they become big. Also, it can suggest to you, as well as the builder, the best course of action to address the problems effectively. 

Not to mention the fact that 3rd party inspections are completely unbiased in nature, which means you can rest assured to find the true extent of problems. 

In fact, its neutral nature makes these inspections completely worth the investment. More so, for a few hundred dollars, you’re able to safeguard your property worth hundreds of thousands. 

Looking for one such 3rd party home inspection for new build property? 

You can get in touch with us!

At Homestead PI, we’re seasoned experts with over a decade of experience in inspecting single-family homes, among other properties. Meaning whatever your home inspection requirements are, we’ve got them all covered.