A typical builder will use 10-20 subcontractors on a single new house, depending on the scope of work and the size of your home. If you include specialists that install security systems, entertainment systems, pools, etc., that number can increase. The sheer volume of participants in the building process can lead to a miscommunication or even a lack of communication.

A lot of times subcontractors working on one portion of the house construction, unintentionally harm another portion being worked. Almost every builder relies on their sub-contractors and far too often the sub-contractor who gets the job was the low bidder.

So the reality is Your house is being built by the lowest bidder.

After performing a private home inspection on thousands of new homes, we have compiled a list of the 20 most common problems or flaws (even cosmetic flaws), found in new construction homes. A lot of times the issues were so subtle, even the builder wasn’t aware.

However, since we were able to identify the issues before the construction workers left the jobsite for good, they were corrected before the owners of the new house moved in.

1. Insulation that is missing in unseen portions of attic and other areas
2. Electrical outlets that have been Incorrectly wired
3. Air ducts in attic that have been torn or crushed
4. Roof straps for roof to wall attachments that have been incorrectly installed or missing completely
5. Roof tiles that have slipped or cracked
6. Improper venting of the home
7. Dryer vent that has been improperly terminated or uses improper material
8. Windows that have been impropery installed or have broken locks or springs
9. The slab extends beyond the exterior wall creating, slab lippage. This will typically lead to moisture intrusion into the home
10. Safety function of the garage door, not working properly
11. Metal plates that are missing below the trusses
12. Bolts that secure the bottom plate to the ground have been improperly tightened
13. Fire retardent foam that is missing at penetrations along the top plates
14. Electrical wires that are missing nail plates
15. Trusses that have been drilled through or cut by subcontractors. This compromises structural integrity
16. Masonry cells that have been improperly filled in portion of building
17. Fascia and soffit that have been improperly installed
18. Window wraps or Tyvek that has been installed improperly or is missing
19. Exterior swinging and sliding doors that have been improperly installed
20. Sub-floors that squeak, typically the result of improper installation (e.g., loose screws)

Our team wants to make sure hidden building defects or attempted shortcuts are caught and corrected before you get the final bill. This way, when you move in all you need to worry about is where to put the furniture and appliances. The last thing you want is headaches.

Phase Inspection Process

There are three opportunities available during the building cycle that are recommended to have your third-party inspector evaluate and report on the workmanship and construction of your new home. The standard 3 phase inspection process is utilized to ensure that major construction defects within your home are not covered up.

There is a market for these types of inspections for a reason. Additionally, most high-quality home builders fully welcome a third-party inspection. The new construction phase inspection is conducted at three separate times:

1. The first inspection should be conducted prior to your concrete being poured (Pre-pour Inspection)
2. The second inspection takes place prior to the interior walls and insulation being installed (Pre-Drywall Inspection)
3. The final inspection takes place after the home is complete, usually around the time of your initial “Final Walkthrough Inspection”.

Furthermore, there are numerous workmanship defects that are present on nearly every foundation that can impact the visible appearance as well as the bearing capacity of the foundation. Once the concrete is poured, the opportunity to have your water lines, gas lines and foundation inspected is gone.

It takes time to coordinate with concrete companies for the required concrete for your foundation. That means, your builder knows a few days in advance when they plan on pouring. The best time for the pre-pour inspection is typically two days prior to the actual pour day. This will help ensure that the foundation is ready to inspect, as well as give the builder sufficient time to make any and all needed corrections, or postpone the pour day. Additionally, this will allow you some time to re-inspect the repairs prior to pour day.

Another way to get an idea on the intended pour day is to ask the builder when their in-house inspector is scheduled to review the foundation. If we know when the builder’s inspector will arrive to perform the code inspection, we can usually schedule the inspection around that date, as the forms and reinforcements are typically complete at that time.

Upon completion of the on-site inspection, Young Home Inspections will return to the office and begin constructing your digital report. The report will be comprised of digital photographs and locations of each defect, as well as the relevant references for issues discovered during the inspection.

There is ample value in having your home’s foundation inspected prior to the pour day. If you are considering having your foundation inspected there are a few critical points you should plan for. Failure to install your home’s foundation in accordance with the engineered plans can have a devastating impact on the integrity of your home’s foundation.

Furthermore, there are numerous workmanship defects that are present on nearly every foundation that can impact the visible appearance as well as the bearing capacity of the foundation. Once the concrete is poured, the opportunity to have your water lines, gas lines and foundation inspected is gone.

When to Schedule the Framing Inspection

The best time to schedule the framing inspection will typically coincide with your builder’s framing walk-through. We like to do this inspection right before the builder has scheduled their own inspection with city inspectors or local code inspectors. A few days to a week ahead of their own inspection will give them time for them to fix any issues we find before they do their own inspection. Then when you do your walk through with your builder you will either have our written report with photos of any deficiencies we found as your check list for the necessary repairs, or you add a re-inspect inspection and hire us to come back and re-inspect the work ourselves.

This also happens to be in-line with the building officials required inspection.

1. The most common issue found during the framing inspection by every builder is improper notching and boring of the interior load bearing stud walls. After the framers have completed their installation, the electrical and plumbing are installed through the home’s interior walls. During this process, over-zealous cutting of load bearing studs is conducted in order to make way for the utilities. There are requirements that must be met in order to maintain the integrity of load-bearing walls after they have been damaged. This, of course, goes unseen very often.
2. Another common problem is with the installation and flashing of the home’s windows and exterior penetrations. Poor flashing installation will in most cases lead to water damage to the home. Unfortunately, this can take quite some time to finally manifest itself within the home once it has been covered. This is one of the primary reasons for an inspection at this stage.
3. Installation defects in regard to the home’s water-resistive barrier and air barrier are also quite common. The water-resistive barrier and air barrier are installed in order to prevent the infiltration of water and moisture laden air into the home. When not installed properly, which is often the case, an unnecessary amount of unconditioned air can enter the home’s thermal envelope.

We truly appreciate you taking the time to consider Young Home Inspections as your home inspector, and we look forward to assisting you with your new home inspection needs.

1. Try and let your builder or project manager know well in advance that you will have a third-party inspector conducting independent phase inspections on your behalf. This has the advantage of putting them on notice, which will improve their attention to detail from the start. Also, it will require your project manager to be more accurate with their projected timelines. One of the most common complaints when dealing with your project manager is their inability to deliver an accurate timeline.
2. Your home builder may also have some requirements that may need to be met by your inspector. Try and obtain this well in advance and get it to your inspector to avoid any last-minute difficulties. The requirements are usually minimal, and any quality inspection company should have no issues supplying the needed documentation.

If you do this as recommended, in the month 11, your warranty is about to expire. In most cases, warranties typically offer coverage on workmanship and materials as it relates to the many components of the home, like the roof, windows, ventilation, HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems. We highly recommend you take advantage of this final opportunity before your warranty expires.

We do have a comprehensive inspection that covers all major components of your building. This provides you an opportunity to have a State licensed inspector prepare a third party report you can give directly to your builder. This virtually eliminates any going back and forth with your builder about what constitutes a deficiency within the home, because that is what we are licensed to do and they know this.

Remember this inspection can be done in any month during your first year, prior to your warranty running out. Schedule this while you are available during that time. The last thing you want to do is wait until it is too late.

The request from the insurance company for a Roof Certification Inspection will usually come in the mail several months prior to the policy renewal date or before issuing a new policy altogether. Proof of a roof replacement is also acceptable in lieu of an inspection in most cases. Failure to provide a Roof Certification Inspection or proof of roof replacement usually results in a denial.

A Roof Certification Inspection is not a pass or fail situation but just a report on the present condition of your roof and how much estimated life there is left in the covering. A roof cannot leak and has to have three viable years of use remaining. We inspect the following when conducting a Roof Certification Inspection:

• Roof covering type
• Age of roof covering
• Date of last update
• Type of last update
• Visible damage
• Granuale loss
• Cracking
• Signs of leaks
• Curling
• Blistering
• Exposed nails heads
• Chipped or broken tiles
• Rust or any visible damage from acts of nature, trees, etc.

Please keep in mind that a Roof Certification Inspection is different from a Wind Mitigation Inspection. A Wind Mitigation Inspection is focused on the windstorm minimizing properties of your home and not just the condition of the roof itself. A Wind Mitigation Inspection also can help lower your homeowner’s insurance cost, which is why we highly recommend scheduling both if you have been required to obtain a Roof Certification Inspection from your insurer.

If you have any questions about a Roof Certification Inspection request you have received or would like to schedule an inspection feel free to contact us at any time. We’re always here to help!

4 Points are typically required on homes 30 years old or older. Also any sinkhole remediated home or Bank owned homes. Some insurance carriers require them at less than 30 years it can vary by carrier.

At this point you’re probably wondering what a 4-point inspection actually entails. 4 Point Home Inspections focus on 4 major systems in a home. These 4 systems are:

1. HVAC (heating and air conditioning)
2. Electrical
3. Plumbing
4. Roof

Note: A 4 point inspection can only be performed by a building contractor or more frequently a licensed inspector.

4 point inspections are good for 6 months to 1 year, so if you’re thinking about switching insurance companies, you may not need one if you recently purchased your home or had it inspected.

There are a lot of reasons why you may be declined for coverage due to a 4 point inspection with a particular insurance company. There are some insurance companies that will still extend you coverage even if you “fail” certain aspects of a 4 point inspection if you can provide proof that you will be replacing the system within 30 days after closing. Many times, this gives the homeowner the chance to fix any outstanding problems with the home to be eligible for insurance again.

There are several insurance companies out there that require the 4 Point before 30 years old or older. State Farm, Farm Bureau, Universal to name a few want one at a much younger age of the home. State Farm requires a 4 Point at 10 years old or older.

In order to proceed with the purchase of your home you must provide the 4 Point and wind mitigation reports to your agent in order for them to be able to bind your insurance.

At Young Home Inspections, when you order an inspection package, that is having your Full comprehensive home inspection done and including the two insurance reports you might need at the same time, you receive a package discount price.

At Young Home Inspections, we give you a secure and stress-free buying experience right from the start. Knowing what’s going on “behind the scenes” in real estate transaction gives you the upper hand for negotiation and bargaining. You don’t want to walk into to any home sale blindly.