There are three main types of home inspections you should think about if you are buying a new home, or building a custom home. Each type of home inspection is based on when it's done, and we will explain each one.

Before the foundation concrete is poured

When the home's foundation is finished and the builder is ready to pour concrete, the pre-pour foundation inspection is done. We call this the Foundation Stage.

At this point, the main reason for an inspection is to make sure that the work done on your home's foundation is done correctly, before under slab components are covered by concrete.

Before the drywall is installed

If you're buying a new home early on, you might be able to get a Pre-Drywall Inspection. As the name suggests, this is an inspection of a house before the drywall is put up. Some people call this a framing stage inspection (we do), but it involves more than just framing. The process also includes an examination of the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-ins.

But this isn't an ironclad rule. A full home inspection will take a few hours, but a pre-drywall inspection usually only takes about an hour.

Unlike most home inspections, we often spend a lot of time after the inspection doing research. New products and ways of building are always coming out on the market, and we see a lot of them when we inspect new houses.

We not only check the framing, but also the exterior envelope, electrical, plumbing, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. A pre-drywall inspection will often find problems that can't be seen once the drywall has been put up. 

Also, the cost to fix any problems we find during pre-drywall inspections is usually a lot less than what it would be if the home was already finished. This can save the builder lots of money and save you lots of headaches later.

Final Inspection

At this point, the house should be ready to move into, except for some last-minute cleaning. If you can only get one kind of inspection for a newly constructed home, this is the one you should get.

Ideally, a final inspection should be scheduled a few days before the final walk-through with the builder. Key points to remember are:

• The house should be 100% complete

• All utilities are ready and turned on

• Most if not all of the major appliances are installed (eg. fridge, oven, washer and dryer, dishwasher and microwave)

If there are repairs that need to be done, and there usually is a list that will be provided to you by the inspector, it's best to do them now. Having repairs done in a home where people are living is disruptive, and it's much easier to work on a house that is empty.

Summing it up

There are many reasons why a new construction inspection can help make sure there aren't any unpleasant surprises when you move in:

• Gets rid of any worries about the building's stability and design flaws;

• Gives exact details about what needs to be fixed or replaced;

• Fixes any problems that might come up in the future because they were done during construction;

• Allows buyers to make smart choices based on what they can expect from their new home.

When it comes to home inspection services Indianapolis has a ton of reliable companies. AllCheck Inspections have been in business for 17 years, and is a trusted, family-owned and operated company.

Get in touch with us today and let us know how we can help ensure your newly constructed home is safe for you and your family.

About the Author

Jason started AllCheck Inspections in 2006, a home inspection company based in Indianapolis. His growing love and desire to share his experience and expertise as a home inspector led him to establish Home Inspector Institute two years after, where he found it self-rewarding and finding pleasure sharing and training both licensed and would-be home inspectors up to this day.