Comments on: New Construction Tip http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/ Seattle's Leading Resource for Real Estate Information Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:47:42 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Suzanne & JJ Greive, Home Inspections of Puget Sound http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-303486 Suzanne & JJ Greive, Home Inspections of Puget Sound Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:28:18 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-303486 We are a home inspection team, Home Inspections of Puget Sound, and we routinely do new home inspections. We always carry blue tape for our clients. We look at so many new construction projects, that we often will see and point out flaws missed by most buyers. More importantly we have found issues in brand new construction such as defective furnaces, disconnected heating duct work, uninsulated attics, leaking gas lines, crawlspaces full of construction debris and no vapor barriers. See some examples here http://www.hipspro.com/newhomeindex.htm These issues were clearly not inspected by municipal inspectors. As a general contractor, we never have seen a municipal inspector in a crawlspace, or an attic, or on a roof. We always recommend a full inspection on new construction. If you or your client bought a new house without an inspection, make sure to have it inspected before the warranty expires. We are a home inspection team, Home Inspections of Puget Sound, and we routinely do new home inspections. We always carry blue tape for our clients. We look at so many new construction projects, that we often will see and point out flaws missed by most buyers. More importantly we have found issues in brand new construction such as defective furnaces, disconnected heating duct work, uninsulated attics, leaking gas lines, crawlspaces full of construction debris and no vapor barriers. See some examples here http://www.hipspro.com/newhomeindex.htm
These issues were clearly not inspected by municipal inspectors. As a general contractor, we never have seen a municipal inspector in a crawlspace, or an attic, or on a roof. We always recommend a full inspection on new construction. If you or your client bought a new house without an inspection, make sure to have it inspected before the warranty expires.

]]> By: New Construction Series: Punch List http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-210946 New Construction Series: Punch List Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:55:36 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-210946 [...] With all new construction there are issues. Being new construction, you would think this would not be the case. Heck, it’s new what could go wrong, but there are always issues either immediate or that creep up once you move in. So some quick precautions. First, make sure your development contract allows you to inspect the unit before closing and develop a list of items that the developer needs to correct (punch list). A good agent should accompany and bring along a roll of blue tape so you can highlight cosmetic issues with finishes. Second, make sure the development contract allows you to bring a licensed inspector along for assistance with the punch list. Third, make sure the development contract allows you to perform a final walkthrough just before closing to ensure punch list items have been corrected. Note any items that have not been corrected and let your attorney know at the closing. Fourth, great, you now have a list of items to correct but more importantly, make sure the developer agrees to fixing the issues and also agrees to fix issues within a defined timeframe (ex. 30, 60, 90 days, etc.). The best case is to have all issues identified and fixed before closing. Prior New Construction Series Posts [...] [...] With all new construction there are issues. Being new construction, you would think this would not be the case. Heck, it’s new what could go wrong, but there are always issues either immediate or that creep up once you move in. So some quick precautions. First, make sure your development contract allows you to inspect the unit before closing and develop a list of items that the developer needs to correct (punch list). A good agent should accompany and bring along a roll of blue tape so you can highlight cosmetic issues with finishes. Second, make sure the development contract allows you to bring a licensed inspector along for assistance with the punch list. Third, make sure the development contract allows you to perform a final walkthrough just before closing to ensure punch list items have been corrected. Note any items that have not been corrected and let your attorney know at the closing. Fourth, great, you now have a list of items to correct but more importantly, make sure the developer agrees to fixing the issues and also agrees to fix issues within a defined timeframe (ex. 30, 60, 90 days, etc.). The best case is to have all issues identified and fixed before closing. Prior New Construction Series Posts [...]

]]> By: New Construction Series: Punch List | Real Estate, Loans and Mortgage Rates http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-120814 New Construction Series: Punch List | Real Estate, Loans and Mortgage Rates Fri, 06 Apr 2007 17:34:36 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-120814 [...] First, make sure your development contract allows you to inspect the unit before closing and develop a list of items that the developer needs to correct (punch list). A good agent should accompany and bring along a roll of blue tape so you can highlight cosmetic issues with finishes. [...] [...] First, make sure your development contract allows you to inspect the unit before closing and develop a list of items that the developer needs to correct (punch list). A good agent should accompany and bring along a roll of blue tape so you can highlight cosmetic issues with finishes. [...]

]]> By: New Construction Series: Punch List at ChitownLiving http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-120513 New Construction Series: Punch List at ChitownLiving Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:41:01 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-120513 [...] First, make sure your development contract allows you to inspect the unit before closing and develop a list of items that the developer needs to correct (punch list). A good agent should accompany and bring along a roll of blue tape so you can highlight cosmetic issues with finishes. [...] [...] First, make sure your development contract allows you to inspect the unit before closing and develop a list of items that the developer needs to correct (punch list). A good agent should accompany and bring along a roll of blue tape so you can highlight cosmetic issues with finishes. [...]

]]> By: Home Inspections, Fort Myers, Naples Florida http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-66189 Home Inspections, Fort Myers, Naples Florida Sun, 21 Jan 2007 05:08:23 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-66189 I'm a Home Inspector also. Blue tape is made for easy removal and will not generally do any harm. Personally, I like to use the round stickers used to color code folders. I try to use a different color than the builder used so he can keep my stickers straight. BTW, you should always recommend a professional home inspection, even on a new home. I could fill a blog or two with stories of home inspection issues found on new homes. Bruce Lunsford www.ableinspector.com Naples, Cape Coral, Fort Myers Home Inspector I’m a Home Inspector also. Blue tape is made for easy removal and will not generally do any harm. Personally, I like to use the round stickers used to color code folders. I try to use a different color than the builder used so he can keep my stickers straight.

BTW, you should always recommend a professional home inspection, even on a new home. I could fill a blog or two with stories of home inspection issues found on new homes.

Bruce Lunsford
http://www.ableinspector.com Naples, Cape Coral, Fort Myers Home Inspector

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-44688 ARDELL Sun, 10 Dec 2006 06:39:07 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-44688 Julie, Which of the two is less likely to cause damage? How do we identify the difference between the two? Julie,

Which of the two is less likely to cause damage? How do we identify the difference between the two?

]]> By: Julie T Beller http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-44686 Julie T Beller Sun, 10 Dec 2006 06:29:26 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-44686 I have been a Home Inspector in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties for over 10 years. I have always brought blue tape with me to new construction and condo conversions. I usually have a roll and offer a roll to my client, if they choose. They usually are eager and glad to place the blue tape also. I offer the roll and encourage them along with myself to place it on all finished flaws. But keep in mind there are 2 kinds of blue tape. One of the 2 is less likely to cause more damage when pulled away from a painted drywall surface. Its important to work together for the same common goal which is: a satisfied buyer. Builders / painters typically for the most part don't mind the blue tape as long as it doesn't cause them extra work by pulling it off. Julie T Beller - Cambridge Home Inspections, LLC. I have been a Home Inspector in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties for over 10 years. I have always brought blue tape with me to new construction and condo conversions. I usually have a roll and offer a roll to my client, if they choose. They usually are eager and glad to place the blue tape also. I offer the roll and encourage them along with myself to place it on all finished flaws. But keep in mind there are 2 kinds of blue tape. One of the 2 is less likely to cause more damage when pulled away from a painted drywall surface. Its important to work together for the same common goal which is: a satisfied buyer. Builders / painters typically for the most part don’t mind the blue tape as long as it doesn’t cause them extra work by pulling it off.
Julie T Beller – Cambridge Home Inspections, LLC.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-40151 ARDELL Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:59:37 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-40151 Alan, Did they have a one year mostly unlimited warranty? Looks like you have "water intrusion" issues there that could create more damage if left unaddressed. Are homeowners getting those things caulked on their own before the rains came? Alan,

Did they have a one year mostly unlimited warranty? Looks like you have “water intrusion” issues there that could create more damage if left unaddressed. Are homeowners getting those things caulked on their own before the rains came?

]]> By: Alan http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-40094 Alan Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:26:16 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-40094 Another tip is to assume that the builder is dishonest and looking to take advantage of you any way he can. Remember, "only the paranoid survive". Another tip is to assume that the builder is dishonest and looking to take advantage of you any way he can. Remember, “only the paranoid survive”.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-24559 ARDELL Tue, 24 Oct 2006 22:11:43 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2006/10/18/new-construction-tip/#comment-24559 Lenny, Thanks for the comment. What things did the inspector tape that you wouldn't have picked up without an inspector? I assume it is a zero lot line townhome where you are responsible for the roof and exterior. What things did get fixed by the builder that you wouldn't have picked up on your own? Lenny,

Thanks for the comment. What things did the inspector tape that you wouldn’t have picked up without an inspector? I assume it is a zero lot line townhome where you are responsible for the roof and exterior.

What things did get fixed by the builder that you wouldn’t have picked up on your own?

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