While a third-party home inspection is not required when purchasing a new construction home, it is still highly recommended. It is possible for mistakes to happen during construction and you don’t want to get stuck with the bill!
What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is a thorough walk-through of your new home by a certified third party. They will carefully examine every structure and system for any issues before you purchase the home. These inspections can take several hours, but it is an excellent opportunity for homebuyers to see their new home in detail and ask any questions that may arise.
Typically, a home inspection costs between $300 and $500. In order to get your money’s worth, you’ll want to make sure you choose a credible home inspector and accompany them during the inspection.
Once you have hired a home inspector, they will go through the property disclosure statement, which lists all the issues with the property that the seller is aware of. Each state will have strict and specific requirements of what is to be included in the disclosure statement.
During the inspection, the home inspector will do three things:
- Identify any problems with the house or property that are visible to them.
- Suggest potential fixes to these issues.
- Prepare a report (including photos) that outlines the issues they have found.
When to do the home inspection?
Once your offer is accepted, you’ll want to schedule a home inspection as soon as possible, then allow for 7-10 days to get the inspection done and get the results. This will give you time to negotiate if something needs fixing or to gives you time to pull out of the purchase if the inspection doesn’t meet your approval.
Every PulteGroup home is built to the highest standard and comes with a solid 10 Year Limited Warranty that covers:
- The structural integrity of the home for 10 years
- Various types of water infiltration and internal leaks for 5 years
- Workability of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other mechanical systems for 2 years
- Materials and workmanship for 1 year
However, as a new homeowner, you can never be too careful. Home inspections can be arranged at any point throughout the building process and can make you feel at ease. If you don’t catch an issue beforehand – and it’s not covered under your new home warranty – you could be paying a lot more than the cost of a home inspection.
