Do I Need a Home Inspector as Well?
Didn’t the building inspector already inspect the property several times? Of course they did! Building inspectors perform a number of various “phase” and “final” inspections. A building inspector’s job is simply to insure that the building complies with city or county building codes and ordinances.
Builders will often say that a home inspection is not necessary because the home has been passed by the building inspector.
If you have heard that said, here is some food for thought:
When a building inspector inspects a new build, his job is to determine that the minimum building standards allowed by the county, or city, have been met. The passing grade by the building inspector means simply, that your new home has met the minimum standard required for habitability… Are you happy with minimum?
Unrealistic expectations for city or county building inspections:
- Building inspectors do not carry out a comprehensive detailed Inspection of the property.
- Their schedules can call for up to 30 properties per day.
- Building inspectors do not test every outlet, switch and fixture.
- Building inspectors do not crawl through the finished attic to identify leaks, missing or thin insulation, or unfinished electrical connections.
- Building inspectors do not verify the workability of appliances or the quality finish carpentry.
You should not rely solely on a city or county building inspector’s final inspection to insure that your new home is really “finished”. There will still be work that needs to finished, in order to bring your new home up beyond the minimum standards for habitability.
