Ask the Expert Home Inspection Vancouver

Ask the Expert: What Do I Need to Know Before Buying New?

Ask the Expert Home Inspection Vancouver

Question: What could possibly be wrong with a brand-new property when buying?

Answer: Although new homes can appear very desirable and charming, they can also come with some real issues. Because this is such a common misconception, we thought we would outline some prevalent issues associated with new homes, that we see on a day-to-day basis.

What to look for in a brand-new home

Some may think a brand-new building or home must meet Code. This is true, however Code is the absolute MINIMUM standard to be met. Even being built to Code does not infer quality or mean that City officials have approved what you are buying.

Although all new homes come with Warranty Coverage, this does not apply to non-residential buildings.

  • Poor Finishing: Warranty Claims, under the existing 2-5-10 Coverage, are a large part of our business. We have been documenting new construction deficiencies for some 30 years!
  • Design Is Very Personal: Recently, a buyer was very concerned, as a new home they were considering turned out to be poorly designed and built. The kitchen and adjacent dining area were so small, the builder eventually realized no one wanted it, so the rear wall was pushed back onto the deck and then re-finished. Unfortunately, they were left with a sloping floor in that new area. As a result, the floor was patched, but the work was obviously done as cheaply as possible, so there were resulting worries about re-sale, the unseen structure and the City coming back on them.  The newly built deck was also a disaster!
  • Code issues.
  • Comfort issues: Comfort is also very personal. We’ve seen new properties with crazy heating and cooling situations, which just do not work from a comfort perspective.
  • High energy costs.

In conclusion

These are just a few examples of how you can run into major issues with a brand-new home. Now that you know of these common problems, it’s important that you gain all the knowledge you can about a property before you buy, as well as what is and is not covered under your New Home Warranty and what dates and deadlines you need to be aware of, so you don’t find yourself in a situation where you aren’t properly protected.

What you may see is not always what you get.

For more information, contact us today, so we can help you make an important, well-informed decision and SAVE you lots of money!