Do You Really Need an Inspection on a Brand New House?

"Schedule the inspection right before your final walkthrough."

Wish I'd read this thread sooner... I learned the hard way that "brand new" doesn't always mean "problem-free." My builder seemed trustworthy enough, but the inspector caught some sneaky plumbing shortcuts and insulation gaps that would've cost me later. Felt a bit awkward handing the builder that report—like giving someone their own bad report card—but hey, better a little awkwardness now than emptying my wallet later, right?

I get your point, and inspections can definitely save headaches later on, but I'm not entirely convinced they're always necessary for brand new builds. I've had experiences on both sides of this—some new homes do have hidden issues, sure, but I've also seen inspectors flagging minor cosmetic stuff that honestly wouldn't have affected the home's value or safety.

Last year, I bought two newly constructed properties from different builders. On one home, the inspector caught a legitimate issue with electrical wiring that was a genuine safety hazard—so, definitely worth the inspection there. But on the other property, the inspector mostly noted superficial things like paint drips or a slightly misaligned kitchen cabinet door—stuff I could've easily spotted myself and didn't really need to pay someone else to tell me about.

Plus, many builders offer warranties on their work for at least a year. If something significant pops up after you move in, you're usually covered anyway. Not saying inspections are pointless by any means; just suggesting that sometimes the value you get isn't always worth the cost. It depends heavily on your builder's reputation, your own comfort level with identifying issues, and how thorough you feel comfortable being during your walkthrough.

Also—and maybe this is just my experience—but I've found that handing over an inspection report filled with trivial things can sometimes sour your relationship with the builder unnecessarily. It might lead them to be less cooperative later when you need them for genuine warranty repairs or other issues.

Bottom line, it's definitely situational. If you're dealing with a builder that's new to you or has mixed reviews, by all means, get that inspection. But if it's a builder you've worked with before and trust—or if you're fairly knowledgeable yourself—the inspection might not always be worth it.

I think you're mostly right, but I'll say this: I skipped the inspection on my first new build because the builder had a great reputation and everything looked perfect. Fast forward six months, and I discovered a plumbing issue behind one of the walls (slow leak, total nightmare...). Warranty covered repairs, sure, but the hassle was huge. So yeah, it's situational—but personally, I'd rather pay upfront and save myself the headache later.

Totally agree with you on this one. I learned the hard way myself—thought I was being clever by skipping the inspection on our new build (because hey, shiny new house, reputable builder, what could possibly go wrong?). Well, turns out plenty. About three months in, we noticed the upstairs bathroom floor felt oddly squishy underfoot. Long story short, someone forgot to properly seal around the shower pan, and water had been quietly seeping into the subfloor. Warranty covered it, thankfully, but having your bathroom torn apart for two weeks isn't exactly a relaxing spa experience...

Honestly, even the best builders can miss stuff—it's human nature. Paying a bit upfront for an inspection is like buying peace of mind insurance. Sure, you might not need it, but when you do... boy, are you glad you did.