There is an impression that new home builds don’t need inspections because they are, well, new. This isn’t the case, and a misconception Certified Inspectors of North Carolina hears all the time. Our clients often get two inspections, one pre-drywall and one when all the work is completed. If you are on the fence with getting a pre-drywall inspection, here are our top seven reasons why you should consider going forward with one.
Ensure The Build Meets Code
All too often we see code violations when we are inspecting a home. You might never have known about these had you not gotten some eyes on the issues prior to the drywall being hung. Often, these are just a mistake made by a builder and are easy fixes. But sometimes, these are a result of a contractor using a third-party installer who might not be familiar with (or concerned about) building codes.
Inspect Plumbing Work
Once the drywall is up, you will never know what your plumbing looks like or if anything is done improperly. This is a unique chance to understand how your home is plumbed and gives you an opportunity to investigate for troubleshooting purposes later.
Inspect Electrical Work
As one of the most critical aspects of your home, your inspector can look at your electrical work in detail. An estimated 51,000 fires from poor electrical functioning happen each year, and we don’t want you to become one of those statistics. We will check to see if any code violations are present and explain anything that you might not understand about this part of your new home.
Inspect Building Materials
Chances are, your contractor has used the best materials to construct your new home. They have much to lose if they don’t. However, sometimes substitutions are made that are not up to code. A pre-drywall inspection can catch these violations so they can be corrected before you close on the property.
Inspect Mechanicals
During a pre-inspection appointment, usually, the mechanical systems will be in place. We will look to ensure your HVAC, furnace, water heater, venting, and any appliances are installed correctly.
Inspect Environmental Factors
Now is an excellent time for us to look at the environmental functions of your home such as how it is slopped on its foundation, how the irrigation system is installed, how the drainage is working, etc. These are all things that are expensive to fix later if they aren’t caught before closing.
Last Chance to Make Changes
Finally, during this inspection, you get a chance to change things that don’t seem to work for you and your family. For example, if your laundry room is set up with the washer first and dryer second, you might realize the doors open opposite than you thought; now is the chance to reverse that. This change won’t likely be available later and it will be too late or too expensive to do.
We hope this has given you good reasons to consider a pre-drywall inspection and why they are so beneficial. If you would like to schedule one, you can do so by using our online booking page or call us anytime.
