One of the biggest misunderstandings is; “It’s a new home, therefore it must be built right” or “The home is inspected by County Inspectors.”
Let’s address each of these statements: During it’s skeletal stage, (prior to installing the drywall), this is the best time to examine the complete structure; foundation, load bearing walls, joists, trusses, electrical wiring and connections, plumbing fittings and grade of pipes, HVAC supply / return ducts and connections, because once it’s covered, you can’t see through the walls.
In a new home, the quality of construction is often not what it used to be some years ago. Nowadays you have a Project Manager (PM) who oversees the construction of several homes in a new development. The PM oversees several tradesmen, generally sub-contractors, it is next to impossible for him to observe each detail of construction, therefore; mistakes will go un-noticed.
My job is to notice!
The poor overworked County Inspector; this person has many homes to inspect per day, and does not have the luxury of time, generally about 15 – 20 minutes per home. I on the other hand have all the time necessary to provide you with a thorough inspection. See my What I’ve Seen for some shocking pictures.