New Construction Home Inspections
Your New Home Still Needs an Independent Inspection
A newly built home may look perfect, but new construction can have installation errors, unfinished work, and defects that are difficult to see without a careful inspection.
Nonprofit Home Inspections provides independent new construction home inspections throughout Oregon and Washington. We inspect the home’s accessible systems and components and report conditions that may affect safety, performance, durability, or future maintenance.
An independent inspection gives you another opportunity to identify problems before you take ownership of the home.
Call 503-505-7879 or schedule your inspection online.
Why Inspect a New Construction Home?
A builder’s quality-control process and local building inspections do not replace an independent inspection for the buyer.
New homes can have problems involving:
- Roofing and exterior components
- Plumbing and drainage
- Electrical systems
- Heating and cooling
- Attic insulation and ventilation
- Crawlspaces and foundations
- Windows and doors
- Decks, stairs, and other exterior structures
- Interior components and appliances
Finding these issues before closing can make repairs easier because the builder and subcontractors are still working on the property.
New Construction Inspection Before Closing
We recommend having your inspection completed before closing or taking possession of the home whenever possible.
Identifying concerns at this stage gives you an opportunity to discuss them with the builder before you become responsible for the home.
Your inspection report can also provide documentation of observable conditions at approximately the time you take possession.
Don’t Forget the Builder Warranty
A second inspection may be useful before the builder’s warranty expires.
Some problems do not become apparent until the home has been occupied for several months. Changes such as drywall cracks, sticking doors, drainage problems, plumbing leaks, or HVAC concerns may only become noticeable after the home has been used.
We recommend considering a warranty inspection before the builder’s warranty period ends.
If Nonprofit Home Inspections performed your original new construction inspection, we offer a $50 discount on a subsequent warranty inspection.
New Construction Sewer Scope
A standard home inspection does not allow an inspector to see inside an underground sewer line.
A sewer scope uses a camera to inspect the accessible sewer line for conditions such as construction debris, damaged piping, blockages, improper connections, or other concerns.
Because sewer repairs can be expensive, a sewer scope can be a useful addition to a new construction inspection.
Ask us about adding a sewer scope to your inspection.
What Makes Our Inspections Different?
Independent and Nonprofit
We are not the builder, real estate agent or seller. Our job is to provide you with objective information about the condition of the home.
Thorough
We inspect accessible components throughout the home, including the structure, roof, exterior, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, attic, crawlspace, and interior.
Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging is used as an additional inspection tool to help identify temperature differences that may warrant further investigation.
Same-Day Reports
We understand that new construction purchases often have tight deadlines. Our inspection reports are provided the same day as the inspection.
Oregon and Washington
We provide new construction home inspections throughout Oregon and southwest Washington, including the Portland and Vancouver metropolitan areas and surrounding communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an inspection on a brand-new home?
Yes. New construction can have defects and installation problems just like an existing home. A home being new does not guarantee that every component was installed correctly.
When should I schedule the inspection?
We recommend scheduling the inspection before closing whenever possible. A warranty inspection can also be performed later, before the builder’s warranty expires.
What if the builder already inspected the home?
An independent inspection provides an additional evaluation from the buyer’s perspective. Builder inspections and municipal inspections serve different purposes.
Can you determine whether the home meets building code?
Home inspectors are not code inspectors by law. A home inspection is not a comprehensive determination of code compliance. When a condition requires additional evaluation, we can recommend an appropriate qualified professional.
Schedule Your New Construction Home Inspection
Don’t assume that new means perfect.
An independent inspection can help identify problems while the builder is still involved and before you take responsibility for the home.
Nonprofit Home Inspections
Call 503-505-7879
Serving Oregon and Washington