At Team Athey & remarkable property management, we recommend that all of our clients building a new home hire an impartial, third-party inspector. Specifically, a phase inspector—to evaluate and report on the workmanship and construction throughout the building process. Whether purchasing your new home from a large home builder or an independent custom homebuilder, a phase inspector can make all the difference now and in the future.
First, let’s acknowledge there are a myriad of details and installation practices to pay attention to when building a new home. Unless you have an in-depth construction background, there is no way you can know what to look out for in each phase of construction. Therefore, you need to hire a qualified, non-biased professional to give you their opinion, so honest mistakes and errors can be caught and corrected before it is too late.
Most builders welcome another set of eyes on their work to ensure their construction and installation are going as planned throughout the building cycle.
Behind the Scenes
Let your builder know you have hired a phase inspector so their crew can be on alert to schedule with the inspector the correct times for a quality inspection. It is paramount that a phase inspector hit the right days during certain phases of the building so that corrections can be made.
A STANDARD 3 PHASE INSPECTION PROCESS IS USED BY MOST INSPECTORS.
1. Pre-pour Inspection. This inspection is just what it sounds like. It is an inspection conducted prior to concrete being poured. A phase inspector will be looking for defects that might affect the integrity of your home’s foundation.
2. Framing Checkup. This second inspection takes place before the interior walls and insulation are installed. Window flashing, electrical wiring and framing components are just a few of the things covered in this inspection.
3. Final Inspection. This inspection incorporates all the major systems in the home. Therefore, it needs to take place after the home is complete.
Remember, a phase inspector represents you, not the builder. They are impartial. Therefore, you can trust their expert knowledge when it comes to reporting all flaws and deficiencies. You can also count on them to provide you with photos and detailed reports that will be invaluable when making certain any construction errors made were corrected. When it comes to zoning and building, they know the law. And, last but not least, they know how to read the building plans to sure that the home you contracted was built to your specifications.
What can you expect to pay for a service like this? While we can’t give you a definite answer, we can give you a ballpark estimate of about $1,500 to $2,500 per your individual needs. It’s a small price to pay when you consider the benefits of protecting your new home from foundation issues, workmanship concerns, and safety hazards for years to come.
I’m Suzanne Athey, the founder of Team Athey & Remarkable Property Management. I hope you’ve found this blog post informative. After all, keeping clients in the know is one of the things that I feel sets Team Athey apart. If you’d like to know more about the unique way we do business, call me at 469-916-1222 or email me at suzanne@teamathey.com. I’d love to visit with you and answer all your questions.
