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Building a house can be a big headache. There are many topics that are forgotten in the process of hiring a contractor.
Here are some you may want to consider before beginning your new construction venture:
1. When setting up your contract, make sure you have the right to have a home inspector monitor the building process as you want without interference.
a. Some contractors do not allow home inspectors at all prior to closing.
Example: Larry has arrived at many scheduled home inspections for his clients and was not allowed to conduct the inspections because the contractors did not permit inspections, and inspections were not included in the contracts.
b. Some contractors allow home inspectors at a cost to the buyer.
Example: Larry was at a home a while ago, and the contractor allowed him to do an inspection but only if the representative from his company was with us during the inspection. Astonishingly, the buyer was charged $200.00 an hour for this to happen.
2. When discussing the contract with your attorney, make sure to discuss adding a condition to the contract regarding your right to have a home inspection completed before the closing date.
3. Do codes help?
a. Most, if not all, building inspectors do not have to be licensed?
Explanation: Each town or city usually has building codes that must be followed by builders, and an inspection is required to make sure these codes are met. What buyers may not know, though, is that the inspectors that complete these inspections do not have to be licensed, and codes only cover a minimal number of issues that could be present. In other words, builders are only required to build a home meeting minimal requirements.
4. Home inspectors:
a. Talk to a home inspector, prior to writing your contract, who has been in business for a while and is a certified member of at least 1 of the major organizations: the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) or the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). As members of one of these organizations, your inspector will have completed continuing education above most of the State licensing requirements. Through mandatory continuing education, you can be assured they are up to date on new developments in the building industry.
Example: I have a young daughter. She can take a state licensing course next week, take the state test the following week and be licensed to do home inspections in under a month, yet she may not even know what caulk is used for. This is why you need to know who you hire. Licensing means minimum standards; that’s all.
5. What it boils down to:
Call a home inspector that has experience and belongs to a professional organization like NAHI or ASHI, and ask as many questions as you can before signing any new construction contract. Then, make sure to have your lawyer add a clause to your contract that allows you the option of having a home inspector who you hire to complete a home inspection or series of inspections on the property before closing.