Is home inspection needed for new construction?

I'm current purchasing my first condo and I'd say yes. It's always good to know what your buying whether it is new or not, in some cases an inspector can point out places where major short cuts were taken and that can help you during the negotiation process. From what I've read and experienced you cannot just trust a developer just because they say it is new. They also could have installed things in ways that aren't safe and you can't really count on the city picking up on those issues. For $400.00 to $750.00 [depending on your unit] it is worth it considering you are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home that you'll spend much of the coming years in.

Just like everyone in this industry, I think you have to push inspectors to tell you the truth. I just got an inspection on a renovated condo and the inspection report made it sound like the building was going to fall down. They estimated over $50,000 in "possible" costs and the inspector practically told me that this was to cover their asses if something did go wrong. I pushed though and found out that we're actually buying a very nice apartment with little obvious risk. With that said, the little risk we found, we were able to put into the contract.

The lawyers don't want to negotiate, the real estate agents don't want to offer real advise on the market, the mortgage brokers don't want to provide guidance on rates, the inspectors want to assume the worst, the seller [and their agents] ALWAYS over represent. They are ALL trying to cover their asses and get the most $$ out of every interaction. You really are in this by yourself. With that said, an inspector can provide you with more information than you would otherwise have to make your own decisions.

Good luck.

Posted by: guest at November 13, 2007 9:31 PM

There seem to be stories in the papers about shoddily built condos. I think you might need it more for new than for old. Old you can always fix, new maybe not.

Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 10:49 AM

Partly depends on your sense of risk. Will you be put off by all the stuff the inspector finds and worry about buying it (or buying anything at all, if that's the case)? If that's you, think about whether you want to know in advance, or just sue later if there's something big left undone/done wrong.

If you can handle knowing all the details and pushing through to find out what in the report is really important, and will push to cover that stuff in your contract (though your lawyer may, or may not, be helpful in negotiating that) like the poster above, then go for it, as an inspection will always give you useful information.

It is really a matter of your personality and how you deal with risk.

Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 3:09 PM

I bought the house I was raised in from my mother and I still got an inspector to look at it. You always need another set of eyes, that are professional and honest because you're paying.

Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 4:28 PM