ThoroughSpec · Providing Home Inspections Since 1998
New Construction Home Inspection in Orange County, CA
One Inspector. Every Time. Make It Experience.
A brand-new home can still have defects. Before you close on a newly built home, Mark Kinder inspects it for you, walks you through what he finds and sends your report the next business day.
- Providing Home Inspections Since 1998
- You Always Get Mark
- InterNACHI Certified
- Next Business Day Report
Why should you inspect a brand-new home before closing?
Because new doesn't mean flawless. A new home is put together by many different crews working on a tight schedule, and small misses between trades are easy to cover up with fresh paint and new flooring.
The builder has its own checks, and the city has its own inspections. Both serve a purpose, but neither one works for you. A ThoroughSpec new construction inspection is an independent look at the finished home by an inspector whose only job that day is to tell you, the buyer, what he sees.
Closing is also the point where your leverage changes. Before you close, the builder is still working to finish the sale. Finding an issue now usually means a simpler conversation than finding it after you've moved in.
What kinds of problems can a newly built home have?
The same kinds of problems any home can have, just newer. A home inspection on a new build is not about age or wear. It's about whether the work was finished and put together the way it should be.
Examples of the kinds of things a new construction inspection can turn up:
- Roof and attic: flashing or vents that weren't finished, insulation that was disturbed or left uneven by later trades.
- Plumbing: a slow drain, a loose fitting or a small leak under a sink that hasn't had time to show a stain.
- Electrical: an outlet, switch or cover plate that wasn't finished or doesn't work as it should.
- Heating and cooling: equipment, ducts or registers that weren't connected or set up correctly.
- Exterior and grading: soil that slopes toward the house instead of away from it, or gaps around windows, doors and stucco.
- Interior finish items: doors that don't latch, windows that stick, and other items that are easy to miss during a quick tour.
Not every new home will have these issues, and some will have others. The point of the inspection is that you find out while it's still the builder's punch list, not yours.
Why does Mark's construction background matter on a new home?
Because a new home is best understood by someone who knows how homes are built. Before he became a home inspector, Mark worked in construction, termite inspection and appraisal. He reads a house from how it was put together, not just from how it looks on move-in day.
Mark has been providing home inspections since 1998. On a new build, that experience helps him tell the difference between a cosmetic detail and something worth raising with the builder before you sign.
When should you schedule a new construction inspection?
Schedule it before closing, with enough time for the builder to respond to what Mark finds. If you can, book it before your final walk-through with the builder so you arrive with a written list in hand instead of trying to spot everything yourself.
A few practical tips for buyers:
- Ask your builder about access early. Let them know you're hiring your own inspector so the home is open, the utilities are on and there are no surprises on inspection day.
- Leave room in your timeline. The builder will need time to look at the list and make repairs before you close.
- Plan to attend. You're encouraged to be there. Mark walks you through his findings at the end, and issues that sound serious on paper are often easier to understand when you see them in person.
Call or text Mark at (714) 404-3392 to talk through your closing date and find a time that works.
What do you get from a ThoroughSpec new construction inspection?
You get Mark, start to finish, and a report you can hand straight to your builder.
- You always get Mark. No dispatcher and no rotating crew. The inspector you talk to is the inspector who walks your new home.
- A walk-through at the end. Mark shows you what he found and answers your questions on the spot.
- A next-business-day report with digital photos throughout and a Summary Page that puts the most important items up front. That makes it easy to share with the builder as a clear, organized list.
- Answers after the inspection by phone, email or text, while you work through repairs with the builder.
- InterNACHI Certified, member #NACHI06032194, 15-year member.
What happens after you move in?
Your builder's warranty usually becomes your safety net. Many owners book a second inspection near the end of their first year in the home, while the builder's workmanship coverage is still in effect, to catch anything that showed up after move-in.
Where does ThoroughSpec inspect new construction homes?
ThoroughSpec inspects homes throughout Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties and parts of San Bernardino County, from an office in Garden Grove. If you're buying a newly built home anywhere in that area, call or text Mark to check your location.
FAQ
New construction inspection questions
Do I really need a home inspection on a brand-new house?
It's worth it. A new home is built by many different crews on a tight schedule, and small misses can be hidden by fresh paint and new finishes. The builder's checks and the city's inspections serve their purposes, but a ThoroughSpec inspection is an independent look at the home done for you, the buyer.
When should I schedule my new construction inspection?
Before closing, with enough time for the builder to make repairs. If you can, schedule it before your final walk-through with the builder so you have Mark's written list in hand. Let your builder know early that your own inspector will need access.
How much does a new construction inspection cost?
ThoroughSpec Home Inspections prices each inspection based on the features of the home. If you are using only one factor when choosing your inspector, make it experience — the inspection fee is a short-term cost, but a missed finding can have costly long-term implications. Call or text (714) 404-3392 for your fee and to schedule.
Will the builder fix what the inspection finds?
That depends on your purchase contract and your builder. What Mark gives you is a clear report with digital photos and a Summary Page, delivered the next business day, that you can share with the builder as an organized list of items to address before you close.
Ready to inspect your new home before closing?
Call or text Mark at (714) 404-3392 for your fee, Monday through Saturday, 8am to 8pm, or request your inspection online.