Do I Need a Home Inspection on New Construction?
Quick answer: Yes. New construction needs an independent inspection even though the city issued a certificate of occupancy. The municipal inspector verifies minimum code compliance, not workmanship quality, and is not your advocate. Builders, racing multiple trades to deadlines, leave real defects: missing insulation, reversed wiring, deck-ledger flashing gaps, HVAC commissioning errors. A pre-drywall and final inspection catches these while the builder is still obligated to fix them.
Code minimum is not quality
The most common misconception is that a passed city inspection means a flawless home. The municipal inspector spot-checks for code minimums across dozens of homes a week and works for the city, not for you. Workmanship, system commissioning, and the hundred small details that determine how a house performs are outside that scope. An independent inspector works only for you and evaluates the whole home to a 120-point standard.
Two inspection points on a new build
| Phase | When | What it catches |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-drywall | After framing, rough wiring/plumbing/HVAC, before insulation | Framing defects, missing straps, plumbing/wiring errors hidden once walls close |
| Final / pre-closing | After completion, before your walkthrough | Trim, grading, HVAC commissioning, GFCI/AFCI, deck flashing, finish defects |
| 11-month warranty | Before the 1-year builder warranty expires | Settlement cracks, nail pops, performance issues that emerged in year one |
What inspectors actually find on new builds
- Missing or compressed insulation in exterior walls and attics.
- Reversed polarity or ungrounded receptacles from a rushed electrical rough-in.
- Deck ledger boards lag-bolted without proper flashing — a Burnsville water-intrusion classic.
- HVAC systems never balanced or commissioned, leaving rooms hot and cold.
- Roof flashing and kick-out details skipped at wall-roof intersections.
- Negative grading that drains toward the new foundation.
A real Burnsville example
A buyer closing on a new build in the Heart of the City infill area ordered a final inspection before the builder walkthrough. The inspector found a deck ledger fastened without flashing, two ungrounded bathroom receptacles, and an HVAC return that was never connected, leaving the upper bedrooms starved for airflow. Because the home hadn't closed, the builder corrected every item at no cost — defects that would have become the buyer's problem the day after closing.
The leverage window closes fast
The reason to inspect a new build is timing. Before closing, the builder is contractually obligated to fix defects. After closing, you're chasing warranty claims. An independent inspection — and later an 11-month warranty inspection — keeps the pressure where it belongs.