New construction
A new house still needs an inspection.
The builder and the town inspector do not work for you. A new construction inspection is how you find what is wrong before you close — and how you get it corrected while the builder is still responsible for the house.
Why it matters
01
New is not the same as built right
A certificate of occupancy means the town signed off. It does not mean every drain, duct, wire, and flashing detail was done the way it should be. Buyers still find those problems in houses that just got keys.
02
You still have leverage
Before closing, a written list is part of the purchase. After closing, the same list is a warranty argument. Photos and plain findings give the builder something specific to correct while crews are still on the job.
03
The inspector works for you
Cody does not work for the builder or the site superintendent. The report is yours. He will explain what the finding is, why it matters, and what a reasonable correction looks like so you are not guessing in that conversation.
The town inspection is not your inspection.
A municipal inspector is checking a code list on a schedule, across a lot of houses. That visit is not a promise that every system was installed the way the manufacturer requires, or that the house will drain, heat, and cool the way you expect once you live in it.
A buyer’s inspection is different. Cody operates the systems, looks in the attic and the crawl if there is one, and writes down what he finds with photos. Items that are code problems or installation defects go in the report so you can send them to the builder. That is the list people use when a builder would rather move on to the next house.
If the walls are still open, book the pre-drywall inspection first. That is the last clear look at framing, wiring, plumbing, and ducts. Then do this inspection again before you close, when the house looks finished. A sample new-construction report from Wilmington shows what that finished visit looks like.
What gets looked at
Same major systems as a full home inspection. On a new house the question is whether they were installed correctly, not whether they are simply old.
Grading and drainage
New lots settle. Downspouts, swales, and soil against the foundation decide whether the first hard rain stays outside.
Roof and exterior
Covering, flashing, penetrations, siding, windows, and exterior doors. A new roof can still be flashed wrong.
HVAC
The system that was installed, not the one on the brochure. Condensate, operation, and duct layout that will actually move air.
Electrical
Panels, breakers, GFCI and AFCI protection, and devices that are loose, reversed, or not finished.
Plumbing
Supply, waste, fixtures, and the water heater. Leaks and missing supports are cheaper to fix before you live with them.
Attic and insulation
Coverage, ventilation, and bath fans that should leave the house. Coastal humidity finds every gap the crew skipped.
Book it before you close.
Schedule during due diligence, while the builder still has a reason to correct the work. Bring the report to the builder. The items that matter are the ones with photos and a clear description — not a punch list of paint nicks.
Pricing and open times are in the scheduler. Thermal imaging is included with a full inspection.
New construction
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