The importance of a pre-purchase inspection when buying an existing home is well known. However, it’s a different story when it comes to buying a new home. And our home inspectors know that a new home doesn’t have to be perfect… Stay with us and see why our inspectors always recommend a pre-acceptance inspection when buying a new home.

As we already know, the purpose of a pre-purchase inspection is to uncover certain problems with the building, identify apparent defects and indications of hidden defects. All this is done so that potential buyers can make an informed decision and make a careful, diligent purchase. It’s easy to understand the importance of this inspection, since the building under study has been subjected to nature’s elements for several years, and it’s therefore normal for certain elements to have deteriorated. The inspection will either enable the seller to carry out the work recommended by the inspector, or allow the buyer to negotiate the sale price in their favor.

But isn’t the situation different with a new home? The building hasn’t had to suffer the ravages of nature year after year. So its components should still be sound, right? So what’s the point of inspecting a new home?

In fact, the purpose of a new home inspection is not the same as that of a pre-purchase inspection. As described by GCR, the Garantie Construction Résidentielle, the organization that governs the warranty plan for new residential buildings, its primary goal is rather “to examine the building’s systems and components in order to detect work to be completed, apparent defects and faulty workmanship, as well as major construction defects, while indicating to the contractor the elements to be corrected or completed.”

When a new home is covered by a warranty plan, the builder and buyer must carry out the inspection together, according to a pre-established list of items to be checked.

It is at the time of this inspection that the buyer must officially accept the building – without reservation if everyone considers the work to be complete, or with reservation if certain elements need to be corrected. At the same time, this marks the start of the warranties.

What do these warranties cover?

The GCR warranty plan offers a one-year warranty for existing defects not apparent at acceptance, a three-year warranty for hidden defects, and a five-year warranty following completion of the work for design, construction and soil defects.

Unfortunately, the inspection stage is far too often attended only by a representative of the contractor and the customer.

However, unless you’re a construction or inspection specialist yourself, GCR recommends that consumers enlist the help of a building professional. In this way, they can ensure that the inspection is carried out according to the rules of the trade, and minimize the risk of problems arising at a later date.

So if you’re considering buying a new home, stand up for your rights and get what you paid for by hiring our home inspectors to inspect your new home!