As a home inspector ,I get a lot of friends that will ask me to "take a look at something at my home". An increasing number of these have been practically new homes that are less than 2 years old. In almost every case, there is indeed a water damage situation that was caused by roof leak, a leaking shower pan, or a plumbing leak . When I ask if an inspection was performed when the home was purchased, the answer is usually "it's brand new, the builder is responsible for a year....I didn't need an inspection".
Most new homes are inspected as far as the foundation, framing, plumbing, and the electrical as they are being built.... by the local building inspector. No one ,however, checks to see if the roof leaks after a blowing rain , or if there are leaking plumbing fixtures once the water is turned on, etc.
While it is true that the builder is usually responsible for these kind of issues for a year from the closing date, many times these types of problems may not become apparent to the homeowner until well past the warranty period. It can take many months for a slight roof leak to soak through the insulation and stain the ceiling so the problem is visible to the folks living in the home. A home inspection performed 10 or 11 months after closing would have revealed a stained roof sheathing when viewed from the attic. The same with a plumbing leak in crawlspace. A dear friend of mine had a leaking shower pan that wasn't found until several months AFTER her builder warranty had expired. Now she is faced with thousands of dollars in repairs that should have been the responsibility of her builder. These items may or may not have been discovered if a home inspection had been performed before closing. By letting the house "cook" as I like to call it for several months before getting an inspection, it is easier to spot things like leaks . If you have a new home that is about to run out of its builder warranty, think seriously about having a home inspection done. It could save you thousands in out of pocket expense.
Maybe you HAVE complained to your builder about certain issues that have not been repaired to your satisfaction. A home inspection report is a great way to get an expert opinion and have that documented in case of the worst possible senario....it winds up in court.
Most new homes are inspected as far as the foundation, framing, plumbing, and the electrical as they are being built.... by the local building inspector. No one ,however, checks to see if the roof leaks after a blowing rain , or if there are leaking plumbing fixtures once the water is turned on, etc.
While it is true that the builder is usually responsible for these kind of issues for a year from the closing date, many times these types of problems may not become apparent to the homeowner until well past the warranty period. It can take many months for a slight roof leak to soak through the insulation and stain the ceiling so the problem is visible to the folks living in the home. A home inspection performed 10 or 11 months after closing would have revealed a stained roof sheathing when viewed from the attic. The same with a plumbing leak in crawlspace. A dear friend of mine had a leaking shower pan that wasn't found until several months AFTER her builder warranty had expired. Now she is faced with thousands of dollars in repairs that should have been the responsibility of her builder. These items may or may not have been discovered if a home inspection had been performed before closing. By letting the house "cook" as I like to call it for several months before getting an inspection, it is easier to spot things like leaks . If you have a new home that is about to run out of its builder warranty, think seriously about having a home inspection done. It could save you thousands in out of pocket expense.
Maybe you HAVE complained to your builder about certain issues that have not been repaired to your satisfaction. A home inspection report is a great way to get an expert opinion and have that documented in case of the worst possible senario....it winds up in court.
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