Private Home Inspections: Worth The Money?

If you are building a new home, you might be wondering if you should hire a private home inspector. Private home inspectors are often used for resale but they can also do inspections on new construction. But are they worth the money?

I always say yes! It isn’t because I don’t have faith in our own process, but rather because I believe in our product and our quality. A private home inspection can also give buyers peace of mind when they are making such a large investment. Every NDI home goes through a quality assurance process and the county goes through their inspections, but I say, what the hey? It can’t hurt to have another set of eyes on the house.

Private inspections can usually be done for under $1000. Not chump change so here are some tips to get the most out of your money…

Schedule the inspection right before drywall is installed. The home inspector will be able to do a more thorough inspection of the structure if he/she goes in before drywall is hung. He/she will look at the framing, mechanicals, etc. before they’re all covered up. Bringing the inspector in at the end of construction will give you a limited snapshot of your house and one that is mostly cosmetic. I think it is more important to know what’s behind your walls.

Hire someone who knows construction. This is very important, especially since you want them to look at the “bones” of the house. Find someone who knows what to look for in a home under construction!

Be there! You can learn a lot about your home during an inspection and a good inspector will take the time to explain things to you as they go.

Building an NDI home? To make sure you get the most out of your Private Home Inspection…

Schedule the inspection ahead of time. We want to make sure the house is (1) ready and (2) available without a bunch of other work going on. Let your NDI Project Coordinator or NDI Project Manager know and they will help you coordinate!

Questions about the inspection list. A good inspector will provide a detailed description of any concerns (including pictures). We will review the list with you and assess a course of action to correct and address code or quality concerns.

We welcome private home inspectors because we believe in our homes. But that isn’t all – check out this post for ways we encourage our clients to be involved!

Dream. Build. Live.