Should I get a Home Inspection for my new home I'm about to purchase?

We see this question quite frequently-

Why get my own private home inspection on a newly constructed home? Shouldn't the inspections by the city or county inspector be adequate?

Answer: Many new homes have defects and most of them are not noticed or reported by the city/county code inspectors. A commonly misconception is that all construction defects will be discovered by municipal building inspectors, not true. These inspectors are looking primarily at code compliance. They can cite a builder for improper structural framing or for improper electrical/plumbing work, but a nail hole in the roof shingle, or improper slope at the gutters, or many other items such as this will not be reported.

Municipal inspectors rarely inspect an attic or a sub-area crawl space. They typically inspect a roof from the ground. And final inspections are performed before the utilities are turned on, which prevents the testing of basics such as appliances, outlets, plumbing, furnaces and fireplaces.

It is also quite common for the city/county code inspectors to miss certain code violations. A lot depends on their daily schedule, how the city/county code inspector was feeling, how well they know the builder, and many other factors. They are basically exempt from any liability of un-found defects/code violations.

So you see, that any smart home buyer should hire a private qualified home inspector, regardless if the home is a resale or new construction.