New construction homes are popping up all over the region. The Great Recession has passed and the real estate and construction industries are booming. That means more and more people are purchasing new construction homes. And most new homes come with a new home warranty, giving buyers peace of mind in the first year or more that their builder will help address structural and mechanical issues should they arise.
However, how does a homeowner know when something is wrong? Obvious cosmetic defects or blatant mechanical failures are easy to detect. But what about things you can’t see? This is where a home inspection comes into play. Boggs Inspection Service has been helping Lewis County homeowners see inside the nooks and crannies of their homes for over 13 years.
Whether a new or older home, owner Dwayne Boggs suggests getting a home inspection. For new construction, buyers can hire an inspector before closing or opt to call the Boggs team just prior to their warranty’s expiration. This is often called the “11-month New Home Inspection.”
A home warranty typically covers structural defects, cosmetic issues and systems of the house. Whether the problem is small or large, owners have the builder’s assurance it will be addressed. The four inspectors on the Boggs’ team typically log three to five warranty inspections each month, helping homeowners find potential problems before time runs out.
Often homeowners are asked to create a “punch list” of little things they notice – sheetrock nail pops, drywall cracks, trim defects, scratches. These issues are usually easy to see. However, what about things you can’t see? What’s lurking in the attic? Is anything amiss in the crawl space?
“We have found homes missing insulation in the attic or crawl space and homeowners never knew,” says Boggs. Does your heating bill seem high? Boggs’ team has found a home missing floor insulation more than once. Discovering these issues prior to the warranty expiration puts repairs on the builder’s tab, not yours.
Warranty inspections also find GFCI outlet problems, broken roof trusses, small exterior openings where moisture can seep in and improper drainage. These may seem like small problems, but they can mean hefty repairs down the road if not addressed. Poor drainage can lead to structural or foundation problems. Small exterior leaks can cause wood rot, mold or pest infestations. Improperly wired outlets are a fire hazard.
The trick to leveraging the value of your warranty is to discover these issues prior to the expiration date. Repairs on your builder’s dime are better than on yours. A warranty inspection offers an unbiased, third-party report you can to guide your builder when you meet at that one-year mark.
Local homebuilder Rob Rice Homes works regularly with Boggs Inspection Services for both new home and warranty inspections. Rob Rice Homes offers their 2-10 Home Buyer’s Warranty (2-10 HBW). The program offers “risk reduction, increases the resale value of the home, and often saves the homebuyer money after closing when the unexpected and unforeseen happens,” shares owner Rob Rice.
What does the 2-10 HBW offer? “It’s limited warranty coverage from frame to foundation and interior systems to exterior finish,” says Rice. Defects in workmanship and materials are covered up to the one-year mark, making an 11-month home inspection a good bet for cosmetic issues.
The “10” in the 2-10 HBW is a 10-year structural defect coverage. The “2” indicates two-year coverage for systems such as wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling. These extended coverages exceed industry standards and make a Rob Rice Home a great value.
Boggs inspectors visit many Rob Rice Homes reporting a high level of workmanship. However, Rice is the first to share that even in the highest quality home settling or shrinkage occur. “Drywall cracks and concrete cracks are common issues in that first year,” Rice says.
“Even the best subs and builders can miss something,” explains Boggs. “It’s human error and we just try and help homeowners find things that were missed with a trained set of eyes on all the nooks and crannies of the home.”
Are you a new construction homeowner? Don’t let that eleventh month slip by. Leverage your warranty’s value with a home inspection from Boggs Inspection Services’ professionals. Ensure your biggest investment, your home, won’t empty your wallet with repairs down the road.
“We enjoy working with Boggs Inspection Services and have a successful long-standing partnership with them,” says Rice. “When new home buyers ask us about the value in getting a home inspection, we always recommend they do so.”
To schedule a new home inspection, a warranty inspection or a general building inspection contact Boggs Inspection Services at 360-480-9602 or visit Boggs online to learn more.
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