I have been asked to do an inspection on a new construction. The builder, KB Homes, sends out a packet with their requirements. Its a typical sub contractor package. I do lots of new construction and never have to do this. Im not working for the builder, and actualily will be doing the inspection on a Saturday. I wont be providing the stuff they requested, any one else bumping into this?
Thanks
Rob
Their house, their rules I suppose. Builders escalating insurance and other requirements for 3rd party inspectors seems to be a common thread here and on other forums lately. There was one a few days ago that the builder was requiring inspectors to be code certified if I remember right.
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In those situations you may be left telling the buyer you will be happy to do an 11 month inspection but the builder won’t let you do a pre-purchase inspection (makes you wonder what they’re hiding). Don’t know about your state but in Maryland all new construction is warranted for one year. The builder will have to fix it anyway.
You say you do a lot of new construction so you could also advise your buyer that you know many builders who stand behind their work and are happy to prove it with an independent pre-purchase inspection. KB Homes isn’t the only game in town.
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Then you better not be doing the inspection.
I do alot of new construction, and around here, every builder requires insurance and license info. Sometimes, they even require worker’s comp if you have employees.
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Yep. They’ll run you off like a fox in their hen house. How embarrassing for you and the customer.
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I am happy to provide documentation of any state requirements. I certainly wont do the inspection if they dont waive the requirement.
I found an old thread where this was discussed and see it is common in a lot of areas. It is not common in Washington
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I’ve had to deal with that here, it’s hit or miss if they require it. Some builders do it, some only on certain build sites. Copy of: Auto, E&O, general liability insurance and drivers license, blood sample and my waist size
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You must not deal with the big national builders much then. KB builds coast to coast and requires all that stuff just like Lennar, DR Horton, and others.
They own the house until closing so they have every right to deny you access to the house and might even call the 
on you for trespassing. Not saying they would, but they have the right to.
And coming soon, your preferred pronouns. 
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I just send them a link to my state contractor’s board that has my insurance info. They sometimes get cranky about having to click a few buttons to get the info but it’s all there. There’s always a lot of back and forth leading up the inspection and often times I haven’t given them the info when I arrive and have never been turned away. I’m sure this is all dictated by the mothership (corporate office) and what happens on the ground runs behind.
I recently had a builder superintendent hassling me for copies of my info after I sent them the link to the state and AFTER I performed the inspection. They absolutely insisted that I email them the paperwork and wouldn’t accept the link. I finally just asked them if I burned the house down at the inspection (at this point three days prior) and told them to suck it. Never heard back.
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Recommend an “Immediate Post Closing Inspection”. You can do this the same day they close and the Builder is completely out of the picture. That’s what I do.
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New construction really needs a pre-drywall inspection. When the house is new before or after sale many things haven’t settled enough to show up (mostly all you see is how competent the finish crew is) . The 11 month inspection gives the house the opportunity to survive four seasons and settle and the buyer finds things that they want documented. All less work for me.
Don’t want to be the middle man. Give them a copy of the “Residential Performance Guidelines” (NAHB).
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If you have insurance and your license there should be no problem, give the builder what they require. technically it’s their Property till closing. If you are to get hurt while on their property or break something they want to make sure you have insurance to cover it. Its just standard practice. As the builders insurance does not cover you as you are not their employee or sub-contractor. It’s not about them hiding anything. It’s their insurance that requires it, not the builder. Just like letting your client up on the roof while you are inspecting a house. Do you allow it? if they provided their own insurance to you and a contract stating you are not liable if they get hurt, would you then allow it? It’s the same thing.
As long as they bring their own ladder it’s fine with me.
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I just refused to do their paperwork and told my client to wait until the 11 month period as it saves them some money.
Totally agree with you Bob!..I have done this exact thing!
I will also let them know that they would have the option of having it inspected as soon as they own the home as I have found Safety issues that may not wait for an 11th month warranty inspection. Don’t know about other areas but our Code inspectors here miss all kinds of stuff that could get a family killed.
If a builder were to pull this crap with me, I would simply demand that $20,000 be held in escrow (After closing) till any defects My Inspector may find is Repaired. That would satisfy their totally bogus insurance/liability concerns.