Anchor Inspection Services LLC
Inspected Once, Inspected Right!
I am often asked if there is any value in inspecting new homes. After all,
everything is new, and it's just been inspected by the town for the Certificate
of Occupancy - right?
This should be true. In a perfect world - where all contractors are skilled
and concientious; where municipal nspectors are thorough, professional, and not
pressed for time; where all plans are properly prepared, followed, and reviewed;
and where home warranties have teeth and protect the buyer - it would be
true.
We are so far from this ideal that the the State of New Jersey Commission of
Investigation took a hard honest look at the home construction business and
released a report entitled The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: New Home
Construction in New Jersey. The report contains little comfort for new home
buyers. An excerpt of the introduction states:
"the systematic problems in new-home construction are evidenced by tangible
defects that are emblematic of substandard workmanship and lax quality conrol
from foundation to roof. Numerous examples of flagrant construction
deficiencies, including structural and mechanical flaws - obvious, in some
instance, even to the untained eye - were found in single homes and in housing
developments, large and small, high-priced and affordable, in suburban and urban
communities across New Jersey.
On a more insidious level, the Commission found that new-home construction is
prone to an assortment of questionable and ineffective practices that play out
against a backdrop of lax government oversight.
The cosntruction code inspection and enforcement process, in particular, is
fraught with serious shortcomings. Among the most egregious is the fact that
despite the presence of significant defects in newly built homes - including
structural weaknesses that constitute potentially hazardous conditions -
certificates of occupancy have been issued by local government authorities,
clearing the way for the transfer of ownership and liability to unsuspecting
buyers. . . The Commission found that in many instances, the required
inspections either were never performed or were performed in an incomplete,
haphazard fashion for various reasons, including pressure from builders to move
quickly from one phase of a project to another.
In extreme situations, forged and fraudulent certificates of occupancy have
been generated by builder representatives in order to speed the closing of sales
with buyers who . . believe that everything is in proper order."
To view the full text (72 pages) of this eye opening investigation click here.
Protect your investment. Insist on an independent verification of the quality
of your new home. Better yet, independently inspect your home at critical
junctures to be sure that the construction is according to contract. Read your
construction contract. Many contracts specify that independent inspectors are
prohibited from visiting your home during construction or at turnover. For some
large builders this is a deal breaker. They want no outside oversight! This
should raise questions with the buyer at the very least.
Call me ( Anchor Inspection Services ) at 732 766 3193 to discuss your
project. I have performed many phased construction inspections, and new home
inspections. I also offer inspections for the one year warranty sign off period.
It's never too early to protect your investment. I will do my very best to
ensure the best value for your hard earned dollar. |
