New Build Inspection Finds Bent Window Screens, Screws All Over The Roof, A Leaking Grinder Pump And A Sewer Valve Turned Off Before Anyone Moved In

Home inspector @inspector.jordan says you have to love pulling up to a new build inspection, getting out of the truck, walking to the front yard and finding bent window screens lying around. Nobody has lived in this house yet, but he jokes that it already looks like the teenagers have been sneaking out.

A home inspector in a navy shirt standing on a lawn on the left, and a house roof with a dormer window and chimney on the right, illustrating a new build inspection that finds bent window screens, screws on the roof and a leaking grinder pump.

“These kids, man, these kids,” he says. “They’re sneaking out of the house that they haven’t even moved into yet.”

@inspector.jordan

“All They Need Is A Buddy To Set Up A Ladder” Says Inspector About Bent Window Screens

His running gag is that a buddy with a ladder is all the imaginary teenagers need. They pop the screen off, climb down, and walk away.

The screens are the setup. The real findings come next, and they get more serious as he goes.

Screws All Over The Roof And A Damaged Shingle

Up on the roof, he finds a damaged shingle and screws scattered all over the place. The imaginary teens must have “a pocket full of screws that keep falling out,” he jokes.

He says he will make sure to put the exposed fastener in the report. “This way, the next time they sneak out, maybe they could throw some ceiling on this for us,” he says.

Exposed fasteners on a roof matter because every hole through roofing is a spot where water can get in over time. Roofers normally cover them or seal them, so an inspector will flag them.

A Grinder Pump Problem Gets A Loud Reaction

Then the inspector gets to something that makes him exclaim, “Oh, my mama!” He says there is an issue with the grinder pump.

A grinder pump takes wastewater from a house and sends it uphill or over a distance to the sewer line, which is common where gravity alone will not do the job. When it fails, the wastewater has nowhere to go.

Near the end of the video he reveals what he thinks is behind it. “Oh, hey, it looks like the sewer’s shut off. It’s perpendicular. That might be why the grinder pump’s having issues.”

A valve handle sitting perpendicular to the pipe is the standard sign that the valve is closed. In other words, the pump may be struggling because the line it is supposed to push into has been turned off before anyone even moved in.

Baseboard Trim Is In, But The Finishing Is Left To You

In the master closet, he points out that the builder installed the baseboard trim. The buyer, though, has to do the coping and the paint. “That’s called sweat equity,” he says.

He also notes a spot on a wall that looks like “somebody put their butt up against the wall.” Small things like this are what he lists as cosmetic punch list items.

The Air Filter Sits Right Above The Stairs

Above the stairs is where you change the air filter for the HVAC system. He says they put it there so you will always be reminded to change your filter. Then he adds, with a laugh, “Here’s two more filters.”

Opening the unit, he finds two air handlers. There is a gap that lets a lot of cold air out, and he says this could cause moisture issues, so it needs to be sealed up.

Gaps like that matter because cold air hitting warm, humid air can lead to condensation. Over time that can mean damp insulation, stains and even mold, so sealing the gap is worth the effort.

The Attic Access Won’t Be Painted This Way

His last stop is the attic access. They are not going to paint this attic access this way, he says, “you know that.” It is a small detail, but it joins the list of things the builder will need to clean up.

How To Use An Inspection To Get A New Build Fixed

The comedy aside, the video shows how much an inspector can find in a house that nobody has ever lived in. Here is how to turn that into action.

Get the report in writing, with photos, and sort the items into safety, water and cosmetic groups.
Send the list to your builder right away and ask for repair dates before closing.
Ask for proof of repair, such as a re-inspection of the roof or the pump.
Check the basics yourself on the final walk-through: turn on the lights, run the water, and make sure the air conditioning works.

New construction goes up fast, with many different crews coming and going. Each crew assumes the next one will catch what it missed, and that is how a shut sewer valve ends up in a finished house.

A good inspector takes the time to look at every part, from the roof to the pump to the attic hatch. A sense of humor helps, but the report is what protects the buyer.

The takeaway for anyone buying new: a house with no previous owner is not a house with no problems. It is simply a house where nobody has found the problems yet, and a hired inspector can be the first person to do so.

Willow and Hearth