Brand new construction

I laugh at the brand new inspector in me wondering early last year if home inspections were necessary on new construction when I come across stuff like this on brand new builds…

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Well done! Sometimes city inspectors don’t go into the attic. I don’t think the superintendent ever enters the attic space. This is from a new construction inspection Thursday. 31 items in need of correction. The flue piping was horrible. Once the duct is removed as a support for the flue pipe it will need proper supports. Try to get as many new construction inspections as possible. Once the neighbors begin talking the word will spread like wildfire. :moneybag:
Two furnaces in the attic:

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Picky picky! :smile: :wink:

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Right junior. 15 code violations. It’s new construction so I always reference the code number with code. It’s the only way the builder will make the corrections otherwise they say “hey it passed the city inspector it’s good to go”.

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I just missed the electrical inspector when I hit the garage. I have to give him some credit, he found 1 outlet in the garage was not GFCI protected.

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Yep! Also works the same when doing a builder warranty inspection in neighborhoods. After catching many dumbshit things just like the pics Martin posted, buyers are blown away at what the “City” missed. Word spreads like wildfire.

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Your right Brandon. I got into three neighborhoods building like crazy and it’s a great source of income. Once the trust is built the neighbors will knock your door down for a 12 month inspection.

Another idea is to offer weekly inspections to out of state buyers that are building. Just signed up another yesterday. Put them on a weekly deposit :dollar:. I’ve been doing this for over a year and it’s a great stream of cash.

Of course NONE of this happens without word of mouth.

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That is some excellent advice, thank y’all!!

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Not a new build but was wrong from the beginning…Just click the like button when you see it. (Unless you are in Ohio, then nevermind)…

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Did you remove it, Larry? Inquiring minds want to know. :thinking:

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No Way. I could see it was within 1/4 inch of contacting the live buses. I was not even going to put the dead face back on. I called the City Power Supplier and they had a guy out there within about 10 minutes. We had quite the conversation. (I asked him if that looked as scary to him as it did to me?) As I watched him, he also took some pictures of it and then he took the ring off the actual meter. He gingerly rocked the meter back and forth to remove it. and then took the ring out and replaced the meter. I got one more picture inside the panel sans ring and then he put the panel cover back on. The City Electrician/lineman was surprised it didn’t short when they placed the meter because he said they normally “Slam them in quick” to minimize arching.

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Smart man, Larry!

Hey man great idea. Can I get some more information from you on the weekly inspections? Lynn@cc-inspections.com

Hey man great idea. Can I get some more information from you on the weekly inspections you do for out of state buyers building a house? Lynn@cc-inspections.com

Welcome to our forum, Lynn!..Enjoy! :smile:

Being new to home inspection, I thought I read where it states we are not code inspectors that we cannot cite code violations. Just need clarification please.

On a new construction inspection if you find a defect what reason are you going to give your customer for the repair?

For example the auxiliary pan under an air handler has a drain that has been ran 20 feet without any grade.

The builder says a flat pipe will drain just fine, after all it’s an emergency drain. You say it should have grade on it sloping down towards the discharge. The question is how much and what is your source? It sure would be nice to have a reference instead of a “I the inspector want”.

Of course you can just describe it as needing correction by an HVAC contractor. The builder will say it’s been inspected by the city it’s fine.

Maybe you find a 14 gauge conductor on a 20 amp breaker. The code book says different however the builder says it was already inspected by the city it’s fine.

Your call. I find the builders in my area will make a correction once you reference the code in your inspection.

If you look at those photographs at the beginning of the post those GFCI receptacles in the garage were passed by the electrical inspector the day before my inspection. The builder will say it’s fine it was passed by the city.

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Its funny because I just received a notice from Ben about this exact topic and how citing code can get home inspectors in hot water. So either way, potentially, you could be in a sticky situation. I would make sure the client understands I am not a code inspector and this is not a code inspection. Being new in this industry I sure don’t want any trouble from the beginning. Just want the correct information according to Internachi.

Tami, I never used code in my reports but, if I was pushed against the wall by a know-it-all builder or such, I would cite the code needed…that usually ended the problem.

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Keep in mind, a home inspection is not a code compliance inspection and that the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) is the responsible party for determining/verifying code compliance.
The home inspector is using these standards, however, as a reference to help protect his or her client from possible future hazards, such as a house fire or chicken pox. … … … . … …