BEFORE CLOSING
New Construction Home Inspections
A finished home can still have items worth understanding before you take ownership. DG Home Inspections provides an independent, accessible review so you can have a more informed conversation with your builder before closing.
Before the keys change hands
New construction often leaves a strong first impression: clean finishes, unused appliances, and fresh paint. That does not mean every accessible detail is complete, correctly installed, or operating as expected. A separate inspection gives you a set of trained eyes focused on the home itself, rather than relying only on a final walk-through or the builder's own process.
This service fits when the home is substantially complete, utilities are on, and the builder is preparing for closing. Mike Ardizzone reviews the accessible home and its installed systems in the context of a residential home inspection. The goal is not to make the purchase decision for you or to create a construction-management checklist. It is to help you understand observed conditions while there is still time to discuss them with the builder.
New does not settle every question
A home can look finished from the curb and still deserve a careful review. The final stretch of construction brings many trades, installations, adjustments, and touch-ups into a short window. An independent inspection can bring attention to observable workmanship concerns, incomplete items, and systems that do not appear to operate normally when checked with normal controls. Those observations give you something more specific than a general sense that a new home should be fine.
The point is not to turn minor preferences into a dispute. It is to separate questions that deserve the builder's attention from items that may be routine maintenance, ordinary finish variation, or better suited to a specialist. A clear written report helps you return to the builder with locations and supporting images when appropriate, rather than trying to recreate a concern from memory after closing.
An independent look at accessible systems
DG Home Inspections follows InterNACHI's Standards of Practice for its home inspections. That means the inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of readily accessible areas and components. The review can include accessible portions of the roof and exterior, structure, heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical, attic or insulation areas, doors, windows, and interior, as the property and conditions allow. Systems are checked through normal operating controls where appropriate.
An inspection is not technically exhaustive, and it cannot reveal concealed conditions behind finished walls, below floors, or inside inaccessible areas. It is not a building-code certification, engineering evaluation, warranty determination, or prediction of future performance. This is a finished-home inspection; it does not include a construction-stage or pre-drywall examination. If a concern requires a different type of expertise or further evaluation, the report can help you identify that next question.
Plan the timing with the builder
Ask the builder early about access, utility activation, and the point at which the home will be ready for an inspection. A review is most useful when the major systems are installed and available to be operated, and when there is enough time before closing to discuss observations. Builder policies differ, so confirm the inspection appointment and access directly with the builder or the appropriate site contact before the date is set.
Bring the report into your final walk-through and use it as a conversation tool, not a substitute for that walk-through. You can ask which items the builder will address, how any work will be documented, and when you can verify completed work. Keep copies of the report, builder responses, and relevant follow-up for your own records. DG provides a personalized digital inspection report within 24 hours of the completed inspection, with photos or videos when appropriate.
A FEW USEFUL ANSWERS
Questions worth asking.
Should a brand-new home be inspected before closing?
A buyer may choose an inspection between signing and closing, including for a new home. The value is an independent review of accessible, visible conditions while the builder relationship and closing timeline are still active. It can help you prepare focused questions for the final walk-through rather than assuming a new finish settles every issue.
Will this inspection create the builder's punch list?
The inspection report documents observed concerns within the inspection scope. Your builder may use its own punch-list format and process for tracking unfinished work or corrections. Bring the report to that conversation, ask how each relevant item will be handled, and retain the builder's written response or completion record for your files.
What should be ready for the inspection?
Coordinate access with the builder and ask that utilities be active and the home be substantially complete. Clear, safe access to areas and components supports a more useful review. If an area is locked, obstructed, unsafe, or not readily accessible, it may not be inspected. Confirm timing with the builder before scheduling.