The short answer is “yes.”
In Utah, there is generally a standard one-year warranty against construction defects. This is the language in our standard New Construction Real Estate Purchase Contract states:
“Unless Seller is providing an alternate Builder’s Warranty under Section 7(j) (in which case this Section 11 shall not apply) Seller DOES warrant the heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing and landscape sprinkler systems (including all gas and electric appliances), fixtures, and structural elements of the Residence (including the roof, walls, and foundation) against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year after the Settlement Deadline. Seller further warrants that as of the date Seller delivers possession of the Residence to Buyer, any private well or septic tank serving the Residence shall have applicable permits and shall be in working order and fit for its intended purpose. The provisions of this Section 11 shall survive Closing.”
If you are buying a new home from a developer, this language could be different, but most builders offer a one-year warranty against construction defects. So, if you have a one-year warranty, why do you need an inspection?
Are you going on the roof to check that it was properly constructed? Are you going to check the crawl space under your home to make sure there isn’t standing water? Do you know if the heating and air were properly connected? In my opinion, if there is a defect, it’s better to find out upfront than a month before the expiration of the warranty when there has been a snowstorm and you realize no one attached the gutters.
I have sold properties in developments where several of the roofs were defective. I have sold new construction where someone forgot to hook up the driveway snowmelt system because it was summer when the property was completed. Builders are under a lot of pressure right now to meet deadlines. They may have crew turnover due to the nature of the construction industry right now. There could be sub-contractor errors that the general contractor has no idea about.
Get a home inspection after you close. Find out what, if anything, needs to be corrected. You will sleep better.
2 Comments
Building homes and managing construction is a passion for most contractors, not a hobby. They have mastered best practices over many years of working in a variety of conditions.
As a real estate agent, I can definitely relate to the challenges builders are facing with tight deadlines and high pressure to deliver. I’ve seen similar situations where issues like incomplete systems or defective roofing weren’t caught until after the sale. It can be frustrating for both buyers and sellers when these things slip through the cracks.