What To Watch Out For in New Home Construction Projects

What to Watch Out for in a New Home Construction Project

 

Once the excitement and cozy feelings wear off, a new home construction project points-up several concerns that you need to pay attention to.  This is in-no-way an effort to denigrate builders en masse.  However, even builders themselves (i.e., their own profitability) suffer from low quality workmanship–when it occurs.  This is why they employ quality managers, site supervisors and other oversight talent.  The bottom line up front:  TRUST BUT VERIFY THE WORKMANSHIP OF ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.  Never simply trust that every worker has gone out of his way to make things right.  This rarely happens.

 

Here is a great example: The Village at Clear Springs is a newly planned project for eastern Loudoun County; over the next several years…

Of the development’s 1,077 units, 230 will be single-family detached, 667 will be townhomes and 180 will be multifamily attached affordable units. Twelve of the townhomes will be priced below market rate, and 274 of the single-family homes — a combination of single-family detached and townhomes — would be age-restricted for people at least 55 years old.  Source:   https://www.loudountimes.com/0local-or-not/1local/supervisors-approve-village-at-clear-springs/article_0e91031c-f79a-11ee-a2de-17ee9b62082e.html



Van Metre Homes will be a major builder and–in most locations, has a reasonably high reputation.  But what can you do as a buyer of new construction to assure a smooth project?

List of Strong Recommendations When Buying a New Construction Home

  • Over-communicate and document all of your decisions, choices and selections to the builder.
  • Consider hiring a buyer’s agent to represent you in this very expensive transaction.
  • Do not get lazy: read all applicable documentation and hire an attorney to give the key documents a review if you’re unsure about anything.
  • Do not skimp on hiring a home inspector who can engage the project at several points during the build project ( including before the expiry of the 1 year warranty!). For a treatment of their value, browse here.
  • Pop-out to the site during construction (i.e., the middle of a sunny day) … unannounced.
  • Know what your builder is promising, get it all in writing and track the delivery of all details.
  • Know which items to negotiate, even hire a buyer’s agent to help you do this.
  • Assume you will need to prove every detail that is significant… and stay organized.
  • Back up your computer so you have copies of your digital files should a mishap occur.
  • Verify your builder’s license via the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (dpor.virginia.gov)

Many new home projects go well, but you cannot afford to let yours be the exception that wreaks havoc on your life.  North Star Home Inspections would enjoy helping you at Clear Springs project or any other in new construction project in Northern Virginia… just give us a call.

What To Watch Out For in New Construction Projects

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