Should I get a home inspection on a brand new place?

Question : Should I get a home inspection on a brand new place?
I’m about to purchase a brand new condo in Burbank, CA. The realtor has asked me to decide whether or not I want an inspection. So far I have read that CA home inspectors are not licensed, and they generally do not check for things like mold, asbestos, radon, rodents, lead, and wood-destroying organisms (about.com). I also have a 1 year waranty on the condo and brand new appliances. The inspection will cost around $ 200. Should I get one?
asbestos inspection

Best answer:

Answer by ~Brian~
If you choose to get an inspection, research your inspector. Ask for references from previous clients. Don’t just rely on one that your realtor suggests. Spending $ 200 now can save you many times that later. Remember, for most people their home is the largest single investment that they will ever make. Do you really want to take someone’s word on the condition of your home?

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Comments (8)
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#1 written by Christiane 1 year ago

Yes, but it will probably cost you more. Make certain that you hire a reputable company!

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#2 written by Mary B 1 year ago

I am a STICKLER on home inspections, but here is when paying for one is a waste of time and money:

1) If there is a local code enforcement that inspects the property at various stages, such as after foundation, footing, framing, etc. If the home didn’t pass code, they would not have been able to continue building until they passed.

2) If there is a home warranty. One year is not the standard for new construction, 10 years is…I would ask the builder to purchase an additional home warranty and Old Republic is a company that I go through…mainly because they will actually pay if you have a claim…too many warranty companies will refuse to pay or find loopholes to get out of it.

The home isn’t going to have mold being new, and asbestos hasn’t been used in homes in many, many years. So if it’s new construction, it doesn’t have asbestos. Radon is only a concern if you have a basement. Lead paint hasn’t been used in homes since 1973, and you need to ask for evidence that the home was TREATED for wood-destroying organisms…b/c all new homes should have a preventative termite treatment, and some local codes require it.

Keep in mind that unless you had an inspection contingency in your contract, an inspection will not lift your obligation to purchase the home, and if it’s new construction, builders usually have written into the contract that if it receives a Certificate of Occupancy, then they can legally force you to close.

They also have written into the contract that anything an inspector will find will be fixed at the BUILDER’S discretion…again, that means they won’t fix things that an inspector finds.

Builders are required to build TO CODE…code is a MINIMUM standard of construction…and an inspection, no matter how many “mistakes” they find, if they have built the home to code, you can’t get out of the contract no matter what your inspector finds. People that tell you that you can don’t understand real estate contract law.

It’s sad that your Realtor didn’t give you the pros and cons of an inspection.

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#3 written by Dee 1 year ago

You should always get a building inspection, You also have 8 year warranty on the building. When you buy a new property it takes a few year for it to settle down and for the foundations to settle. Also when a builder builds a house they do not use it, which makes it more likely to find faults after you have moved in and found problems such as leaks.
Always inspect house on a rainy day

I would get an inspection as well as take pictures of all the walls and around the house in and out, In case you ever need to take the builder to court. The best of luck in your new place.
Dee

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#4 written by daddyslittlegirl 1 year ago

You should always get an inspection done no matter what age the property is, as for the inspector not being licensed get your own inspector or ask around the area for recommendations on an inspector who is reliable and trustworthy and ask him to look for mold, asbestos, radon, rodents, lead and wood-destroying organisms but find out first what it would cost for him to do this before he actually carries out the inspection.

Good Luck

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#5 written by lilbagel21 1 year ago

yes .
my mom didn’t do that with a new home and had a hard time with the people to come fix her house because it was uneven

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#6 written by Mike 1 year ago

First: A property inspection that is performed by a competent property inspector will cost $ 400 to $ 500.

Any inspector that will perform the inspection for $ 200 is not competent and will do an inadequate inspection.

Second: Yes, you should inspect new construction. I have seen many mistakes made in new construction. The time to catch those mistakes is early in escrow.

A property inspection is the cheapest insurance that you can buy.

Third: It is true that home inspectors do not test for mold, asbestos, radon, rodents, lead andwood destroying organisms, thaose require different inspection with different inspectors.

I strongly recommend that you get the inspections.

They are the cheapest insurance that you can buy.

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#7 written by silvermouse5150 1 year ago

In my opinion and experience – YES.

I bought a newly built place and didnt think i needed to, but its definitely worth it. There are a whole lot of small things that you’ll see after moving in, things that an inspector probably would have caught.

After the end of the 1st year, my warranty covered some of the things i saw that should have been taken care of before i purchased and the builder had to fix/repair it, but it was a pain in the neck and i had to schedule time off of work to be there.

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#8 written by Serena 1 year ago

Yes….yes get a home inspector. I bought a brand new house and there were 40 things wrong. With a home inspection…I could make the company who built the house fix the problems (their problems) without a cent coming out of my pocket. I would have paid an arm and a leg to fix those problems myself. If I had tried to sell my house to someone who hired an inspector…I would also be paying a lot of money to fix those problems. It’s worth the $ 200, well worth it. You are investing a lot of money in your house…the inspector costs are WELL worth it. My friends bought a new house too and they hired an inspector. They found out there was a HUGE problem with their foundation. There house would have been unlivable the way it was (and they wouldn’t have known it without an inspector.)

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