New-Home Buyers May Want to Consider ‘Phase Inspections’
March 28, 2024
Residential Real Estate, Home Inspections, Selling New Homes
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Newly built properties are not flawless. Bringing in an inspector for multiple checkups during construction can solve problems early.
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New-home buyers may want to bring an inspector into the construction process earlier and at multiple intervals—such as when the foundation is poured and again before the walls are sealed.
Adam Long, president of HomeTeam Inspection Service, which has 200-plus offices nationwide, says “phase inspections” can offer extra assurance that a home is built correctly every step of the way. “Once all the walls are in place, you cannot see what’s behind,” Long says.
Phase inspections give buyers an opportunity earlier in the construction process to pinpoint any potential problems and request fixes from builders. Common phase inspections include an inspector visiting the property to assess the following:
Long says home buyers considering a phase inspection will want to look for inspectors who have additional training in new-home construction. Inspector fees can vary significantly for these extra checks, but a buyer could expect to pay around $150 to $200 per phase inspection.
Long says new-home buyers also might want to consider one more extra inspection at the 10- to 11-month mark. Most homebuilders offer a one-year warranty for repairs and will agree to complete punch lists provided by the buyer after the home has had time to settle.
‘New’ Doesn’t Mean Perfect
Many buyers say they want a newly built home in order to avoid renovations and problems with plumbing or electricity, according to research from the National Association of REALTORS®. But quality issues can still be uncovered, even on a new home, Long says.
Sixty-five percent of buyers who purchased a new home say they uncovered problems during an inspection, according to a 2022 survey from Clever Real Estate(link is external). The following were the most common issues, according to respondents:
Also, many buyers report that after moving into a new home, they faced premature repairs or maintenance, such as on electrical systems, plumbing, the foundation and drywall, the 2022 survey found.
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Listings identified with the FMLS IDX logo come from FMLS and are held by brokerage firms other than the owner of this website. The listing brokerage is identified in any listing details. Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. If you believe any FMLS listing contains material that infringes your copyrighted work please click here to review our DMCA policy and learn how to submit a takedown request. © 2021 First Multiple Listing Service, Inc.
This content last updated on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 7:18 AM from FirstMLS.
©2024 Georgia Multiple Listing Service All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Virtual Properties Realty may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. Copyright ©2024 All rights reserved.
This content last updated on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 6:30 AM from GAMLS.
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