With a Phase Inspection, one accomplished during construction, finding such problems early and having them itemized and corrected will not only put the builder on notice but will help ensure that the work going forward is done appropriately and up to code. Having a home inspector on hand, especially when proper oversight wasn’t, is an invaluable tool for home buyers to feel confident that their home will be constructed properly. Most new home buyers believe that a local municipal building inspector has their back and will protect their interest by inspecting different phases of the home like foundations, roofs, electrical and mechanical installations. But many of these governmental employees are overworked and underpaid. At Gray Home Inspections we see it all the time. Inspectors having to perform 30 inspections a day in different parts of the county. They don’t have the time and in some cases the inclination to spend a lot of time on one particular home. Show up, review the permit, sign it and make a general inspection is usually the case believing the contractor has everything under control but that is not always the case. Unfortunately, building inspectors don’t have to pay for the mistakes made by contractors and their independent employees, the new home buyer does. Our Gray Phase Inspections, start by evaluating the current progress of a construction project at different phases or stages of completion. Our arrival onsite, at several, scheduled, and critical phases of construction, like the pre-slab, framing stage, pre-drywall installation and pre-closing, which allows us to see exactly what is behind the walls, before the general construction is finished. This is an invaluable tool to detect problems with the structure and materials used and installed, before the final builder’s walkthrough.

At Gray Inspections we know that new home buyer’s interests are best served by completing a New Construction Inspection performed as the home is being finished or in its final stages of construction. New home purchases are a considerable investment that we believe needs to be protected, as we are sure most buyers do. But many new home buyers are so caught up in the emotion and the excitement of the moment, that taking a prudent step to ensure all is well is not their most important concern. We believe it make sense to learn as much about the quality of the workmanship put into a home, for a relatively small cost, as possible before signing off on the project.

Contractors, even with the best processes and intentions, can still miss mistakes or not detect defects in construction that an independent 3rd party inspection could reveal. Our unbiased professional home inspections evaluate the condition of the property by reviewing the accessible components, installed electrical and mechanical systems searching for issues that might have been inadvertently overlooked by the builder. We want to ensure that the condition of the completed project is move in ready and that all systems are properly working and trouble free. If a defect is found, it gives the builder an opportunity to have repairs or even improvements made before the buyer takes possession of the house.

Now that you have had a chance to live in your new home, for a limited period of time, it might not be evident that a possible prevailing issue of a structural nature or even a mechanical component is looming in your near or not so distant future. Builders, like 12 month or 1-year warrantees set on new home construction for many reasons. First, certain building or mechanical issues will become apparent with use over a 1-year period and can be easily remedied. Second, having a fixed 12-month warranty limits the wear and tear occupants can inflict on a home. But third and most importantly, contractors believe new construction homes should have a limited guarantee that the structure was constructed correctly and that the components used were of durable quality and will last. Limiting their legal and financial exposure, if something were to fail, is of great concern to them.

Nobody buys a home expecting that the structure will fall apart after only a year’s use. Mortgages are offered at 15, 20, and 30-year intervals, so hopefully the home and its components will live through to the fullest extent of the mortgage. But sometimes a structural defect, silent and slow water leak or maybe a drainage issue will not show up in the limited timeframes set by contractors. Sometimes certain components will fail over time if improperly manufactured or installed. But how much time is needed and when are these issues the contractors responsibilities or yours. This is why it is important to consider having an 11-Month Inspection completed on the readily accessible areas of the home, crawl space, installed ductwork, mechanical systems such as HVAC units, plumbing and roofing systems etc. to determine if all is well. At Gray Home Inspections we carefully inspect for any structural component defects, looming mechanical failures or safety issues that might exist without the available evidence present. Making sure something was done right the first time is critical if limited and arbitrary warrantees are placed on the house as a whole. We also use advanced technology including, aerial drone photography, infrared thermography, moisture meters and imaging to determine if inaccessible areas have pending issues.

Our Certified Professional Inspectors (CPI)® are committed to ensuring that you understand the condition of your property inside and out before coming off your builders 12-month warranty.