Why Every New Home Needs A Thorough Inspection

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New doesn’t mean flawless, and we’ve got the stories to prove it. We pull back the curtain on new construction, showing how well-intended builders and fast-moving subcontractor crews can miss critical details that lead to leaks, hazards, and costly fixes after closing. From window installations done the wrong way for years to nails protruding near a staircase where a toddler could get hurt, we break down what we find, why it happens, and how smart buyers stay ahead of it.

We start with the essentials: what a comprehensive home inspection includes for new builds—air and radon testing, sewer and chimney scopes, and even slab elevation mapping to spot early settlement. Then we tackle the big misconception that “it passed code” equals “it’s built right.” Code is the legal floor. True quality lives in the manufacturer’s installation instructions and building science fundamentals like proper flashing, continuous drainage planes, balanced roof ventilation, and assemblies that match local climate and wind exposure. When something isn’t clear, we call the manufacturer and document their guidance so you have leverage to get it fixed correctly.

We also examine the subcontractor model and why it complicates accountability. If a builder can’t recognize an incorrect install, they can’t enforce a correction—and homeowners inherit the risk. We talk through phased inspections—pre-drywall, pre-closing, and targeted reinspects—that catch problems when they’re still easy to fix. You’ll hear how material choices like foam board sheathing can work in certain contexts but demand proper bracing and detailing, and why house wrap repairs must follow the maker’s specs to keep water out for the long haul.

If a builder tries to limit your access to your own project, take that as a warning sign. Great teams are proud to show their work and welcome third‑party eyes. Listen for practical tips you can use right now: what to verify, which documents to request, and how to push for manufacturer‑compliant solutions without turning the process adversarial. If you’re planning a build or approaching a final walkthrough, this conversation will help you protect your investment and move in with confidence.

If this helped you spot what matters, follow the show, share it with a friend building a home, and leave a quick review so more buyers find it.

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To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Three-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com) 

NBC4 news segments: The importance of home inspections, and what to look for | NBC4 WCMH-TV

Advice from experts: Don’t skip the home inspection | NBC4 WCMH-TV

OSU student’s mysterious symptoms end up tied to apartment’s air quality | NBC4 WCMH-TV

How to save money by winterizing your home | NBC4 WCMH-TV

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Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Course listings...

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:01):
Hey everybody, it's Jen, and of course Laura is
here.

SPEAKER_02 (00:04):
Hello everyone.

SPEAKER_00 (00:05):
Alright, so we do home inspections.
We also do air testing, radontesting, sewer scope, chimney
scopes, and we do new buildinspections.
We even have a tool to measurelevel heights.
So say you got a house on aslab, and you're like and you
want to know is it sinking onone side or what?

(00:27):
We have a tool that we we set itsomewhere, that's our base
measurement, and then we measureother areas all throughout the
house or that slab, and wechange we can record the change
in elevation.

SPEAKER_02 (00:40):
Nice.

SPEAKER_00 (00:41):
I've seen it because you you it's okay that nothing's
gonna be perfectly level, veryrare.
If it's up or down a little bit,that's okay.
But there is a certain range tothat, and we'll talk about that
later on.
But when you're doing uh we alsodo new build inspections, it
often, well always, when youhave a brand new house built,

(01:03):
you expect it to be done right.

SPEAKER_02 (01:05):
Yeah.
And I we did.

SPEAKER_00 (01:08):
Yeah, yes, yes, and I we had a great builder.
Yes, we did.
Dean did a fantastic job.
Yes, he didn't know everything,just just like we don't know
everything.
It nobody knows everything.
If somebody thinks they knowevery everything, find a new
one.
Oh it's extremely rare, orthey're refusing to look at

(01:30):
things that they don't knowabout because they don't want to
be ignorant of some facts, orthey've stopped learning and
they're gonna be able to do it.

SPEAKER_02 (01:36):
Stop learning, you know, stagnate.

SPEAKER_00 (01:38):
To me, if that is some sort of sin where you you
you stop learning things.
But anyway, digressing there.

unknown (01:44):
Just a little.

SPEAKER_02 (01:46):
New builds.

SPEAKER_00 (01:47):
We did a new build the other day, and well, no,
like a month or two.
Actually, we we we did itJanuary 1st.
We did it January 1st holiday.
So we did that, and the builderand the homeowner used the
report, and apparently it cameout that the builder realized
that he'd been installingwindows wrong the entire time

(02:09):
they've been a builder.
And I call me if you want toknow who the builder is.
No, and we're not gonna getwe're not gonna give the name.
Because listen, well, this thisis the same builder, and I've
never heard of this.
I I I never thought it wouldactually happen, but I I'm the

(02:29):
builder has no employees.
No, everybody is a subcontractorthat does the work for them.
Which to me is odd.

SPEAKER_02 (02:40):
Because I'm like, are you you have no quality
control?

SPEAKER_00 (02:44):
Exactly.
Yeah, who's who who's doing thequality control, or you're just
relying on the subcontractorsand everything?
But the builder did not know howto install Windows, which means
even if he did come take a look,he couldn't tell the
subcontractors doing it right orwrong.

SPEAKER_02 (03:03):
And even then they fixed them and they still fixed
them wrong.
They didn't do it right.

SPEAKER_00 (03:07):
They they were not as good as they should be, yes.
They were definitely not bestpractices, I'll say that.

SPEAKER_02 (03:14):
No, but yeah, they they had complete team of
subcontractors, they had noemployees.

SPEAKER_00 (03:24):
Which I guess that could be an efficient way of
running your business, but butthere there were there were
wrong things, and this is rare.
Normally we do the pre-drywallinspection.
And I don't know, you typicallyfix those things that we find,
and then we next time we see thepeople, it is a final

(03:44):
walkthrough.
Right.
Like I did a final walkthroughlast Monday or last week, I I
don't know, and see how theprogress is going and do the
inspection on that.

SPEAKER_02 (03:57):
Um, but this house, we went back and did the uh
reinspect of the issues that wefound during the pre-drywall
that wanted fixed.

SPEAKER_00 (04:09):
And I'm pretty much my pretty sure I'm correct when
I speak for every homeinspector.
We really don't like going backdoing the request or remedy
checklist.
We do not like doing those.

SPEAKER_02 (04:20):
Good thing we did in this case, though.

SPEAKER_00 (04:22):
Well we yeah, we did, and there are things that
are not done correctly.
I mean, there's there justcontinues to be issues.
I'll I'll just say that.
So you always, if you'rebuilding a house, you always
need to get it inspected.
Now, home inspectors were notcode inspectors.
No, that it's prohibited.

SPEAKER_02 (04:42):
Revised code.

SPEAKER_00 (04:44):
As far as I know, I think that is every state that
has licensing.
You're not code inspectors.
You're not supposed to.
There are some probably someguys that are code inspectors,
right?

SPEAKER_02 (04:52):
But that would be a separate license from the home
inspection.

SPEAKER_00 (04:55):
Right, but but not here in Ohio, we're not code
inspectors, but so we look foris basic standard practices.
How is this supposed to be donetypically?
And then we don't know, we doresearch on it.

SPEAKER_02 (05:08):
Or call the manufacturer.

SPEAKER_00 (05:10):
Like we did research on this same house, same build,
same builder.
They use a weird foam instead ofsheathing, you can use foam
board for the out exteriorsheathing walls, and that's
okay.

SPEAKER_02 (05:28):
It's a little bit more common out west, yes, where
there's less issues withtemperatures and wind and things
like that.
However, I don't understand whyyou would use that, first of
all, here in Ohio, and secondly,it's more expensive.

SPEAKER_00 (05:45):
It it is it is a higher insulation value.

SPEAKER_02 (05:48):
So that I don't buy that though.

SPEAKER_00 (05:51):
Well, and it it's not a structural thing, so it's
not doesn't really providestructural support, but you know
that's obvious.
But you don't have to havestructural panels like OSB or
plywood everywhere.
You definitely need most areas,you should have the plywood to
help support everything.

SPEAKER_02 (06:07):
Would you have wanted that in our house?
No, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 (06:10):
No, I I would not.

SPEAKER_02 (06:12):
I would not have this case closed.
Plus, I wouldn't have either.

SPEAKER_00 (06:15):
Plus, we're we're not in a windy zone here.
And we've had some strong winds,but we've got to be a little bit
of a few.

SPEAKER_02 (06:19):
Oh, we've had some really strong winds.

SPEAKER_00 (06:20):
But we're surrounded by trees, so our the level of
our house is protected from allthe trees.
Yeah.
Hopefully, no tree gets blownover onto us.
That would be a good thing.
I think we clear them all away.
So none of them should reach uswith that little barrier there.
However, what this is one of thethings we we do research on.

(06:45):
Like the house wrap.
Often we'll see issues withhouse wrap.
So what we do is call themanufacturer and go, hey, is
this a typical repair?
Or is this an acceptable repairon any of your house wrap that
has a tear in it?
And we'll get feedback on that.

(07:07):
But every code defaults to themanufacturer's recommendation.

SPEAKER_02 (07:12):
For installation.

SPEAKER_00 (07:14):
Yep.
We had somebody gave us feedbackon a report the other day that
they weren't that we that wecouldn't, they're upset that we
couldn't tell them exactly howlong the ridge vent should be
for the ventilation.
Mike, like we said, and I didn'tI can't remember how I
responded.
This is this is a quite whileback.
But like we said, find out whothe manufacturer is of that

(07:37):
ridge vent is and ask them.
I don't care if some some dudebuilt builds it to what they
consider code, code is thelowest quality allowed by law.
Right.
Manufacturer recommendation isusurps that.

(08:02):
Well, okay, code may say that,but if the manufacturer tells
you you need to have the ridgevent going the entire length of
the roof, it has to go theentire length of the roof.

SPEAKER_02 (08:13):
Because that was how it was made, and that is how it
works.

SPEAKER_00 (08:18):
So we do research on that.
And yeah, no house is perfect,but you do not, you never want
to skip the home inspection.
And we and we can't do it.

SPEAKER_02 (08:31):
Because let's face it, builders are at the mercy of
the subcontractors.
If you've got somebody that'shiring subcontractors and the
subcontractors don't know whatthey know or don't know what
they don't know, I mean, I mean,like our builder's been building
for what 20, 30 years at thispoint, and he didn't know
everything.

(08:52):
And he's he's a good builder.

SPEAKER_00 (08:54):
He is a good builder.
I give his name out to somebodythe other day.

SPEAKER_02 (08:57):
And so, like, if there's someone like that, how
do you expect to get a new crewof kids coming in that are you
know 1099s and aren't actuallyworking for you to do a good
job?

SPEAKER_00 (09:10):
Yeah, and I don't like the whole subcontractor for
everything because say that sayit's not right.
Who did what on the house?
Right.

SPEAKER_02 (09:19):
And who's culpable for what at that point?

SPEAKER_00 (09:21):
Each subcontractor will go, no, I no, I didn't do
that.
This this was him.
He did this one.
Well, we can't find him.
Right, yeah.
So that was possible.
Yeah, that's the story of arecent uh new build inspection.
I mean, I did a new build theother day, it was a final

(09:42):
walkthrough.
They had nails sticking outaround the staircase, and the
buyers had had a little kid, andI can see a little kid just
barely stepping over, goingdown, and just and just cutting
her foot on this nail that isjust sticking out from the yeah,
yeah, the stringers on the sideof the stringers, it was coming

(10:03):
in from the side, nailing thatinto the tread, but it just was
sticking out.
It didn't stay in the wood, itwas coming out.
Easy scrap yourself.
They had like I saw that in twoareas.

SPEAKER_02 (10:12):
That's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 (10:14):
But nope.
The builders are victims of thesubcontractors, and the builders
that use only subcontractors arethey're more at the mercy of the
subcontractor.
Subcontractor wants to do a goodjob or not.
And in this case, the builderdidn't know what's a good job or

(10:35):
not is.

SPEAKER_02 (10:36):
No.

SPEAKER_01 (10:37):
Habitation investigation is the way to go
for a home inspection in Ohio.
Trusted licensed home inspectorsfor your needs.
From radon to mold to warranty.
For a great home inspection, youreally can't go wrong.

(10:58):
Visit home inspections inOhio.com.

SPEAKER_02 (11:04):
Not at all.

SPEAKER_00 (11:05):
I think that's about it on this one, but yeah, always
get it inspected.

SPEAKER_02 (11:09):
I don't at least cover yourself.
And let me just say this too.
If you've got a builder, and Idon't know who it is because
I've heard of several, that istelling you, as a purchaser of
that house, you are not allowedto go onto that property at any
time.
Yes, you just walk away becauseat what point in time is that

(11:31):
not just a red flag going, hey,we're gonna screw up and we know
it, so we don't want youanywhere near this house until
it's completely covered, so youcan't tell what we screwed up.

SPEAKER_00 (11:40):
Yeah, that that is a red flag.

SPEAKER_02 (11:43):
Do not like like don't don't.
I don't care how pretty thehouse is, how happy you are with
the house, how perfect of anarea it is, you need to run like
heck.

SPEAKER_00 (11:54):
Yeah, the builder tells you you can't you can't
come watch our progress, and youcan only go, well, you go you
can show it when the when thehome inspector's there, or you
can come the final walk throughand we'll show you right before
your house is done.
No, I I would I would run.
I would run.
What are they if it's a goodbuilder and he knows he has good

(12:17):
people working for him, heshould be proud to show his work
off.

SPEAKER_02 (12:20):
Yes, he should.
And no guilt trips, do not tellmy client that, well, the fact
that you're having us checked onby a home inspection makes us
sad because you don't trust ourwork.
No, no, I don't.

SPEAKER_00 (12:35):
I'm sorry, not after you're screwed up.
No, it's and you can still say,listen, it's not you, it's your
subcontractors.
You don't know exactly who's Idon't know who's exactly working
on my house.
I want to double check.
So always get it looked at.
Yes.

(12:55):
All right, thank you, everybody.
Bye.
All right, bye bye.