The importance of getting your NEW home inspected

Source: http://www.ourgreenville.com/blog/2007/03/30/the-importance-of-getting-your-new-home-inspected/

March 30, 2007

I wanted to relay to you a quick story I recently heard about a real-life real estate horror story right here in Greenville South Carolina. I’ll make it short and sweet, but make sure what I’m about to tell you sticks with you when it’s time for you to buy your new home.

When I say new home, I mean, a newly constructed homes that has never had anyone living in it before. That sounds pretty safe, not needing an inspection, correct? Maybe not.

In 2006 there were over 4000 building permits issued in Greenville County for new home construction. That’s a lot of new homes that people are moving into. If you don’t already have a buyer’s agent and you are looking to move into a new home, stop right here and get yourself a buyer’s agent. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that when you’re buying a new home direct way from the builder, having a buyer’s agent is probably more important than it is. When you’re buying an existing home. Anyway, many people opt not to get a brand-new construction inspected prior to purchase. I am here to tell you that I think this is a bad idea. It is very important that you get your home inspected before purchasing, whether it’s 30 years old or brand-new.

In a particular story, I recently heard, a buyer here in Greenville, bought a new home and waved their right to get it inspected prior to purchase. They few months later, they noticed that there were foundation problems. When all was said and done the repair bill was over $30,000. Granted, they may have been able to get someone else such as the builder to pay this cost, but they still had to leave their home while the repairs were done. Spending that small investment it takes to get a home inspection done is one of the smartest things you can do.

Another story I heard about new home construction was one where the drainage for the sewer system was not connected to the city water system. Want to know where all of their sewage, what? Right under the house. They smelled it pretty fast. So when you go to buy that new home, keep these horror stories and mine and make the small investment to get your home inspected. And like I said, if you don’t have buyer’s representation and you’re looking to buy a new home, please get an agent. We would love the opportunity to serve you, so please give us consideration.