Phase Inspections

NEW CONSTRUCTION PHASE INSPECTIONS

New build Phase inspections are broken down into 3 stages

  • Foundation (Pre-Pour)
  • Frame (prior to insulation)
  • Final (pre-close)

Conducting inspections during these three phases is crucial for assuring the home is being built in accordance with proper codes/requirements. The best way to catch defects is before they are covered up with concrete, insulation, drywall, and other building material.

FOUNDATION INSPECTION (PRE-POUR)

Foundation Inspections, also known as a “Pre-pour” inspection, should be performed after all form boards, plumbing grounds, tension cables, electrical conduit, and foundation “make-up” is completed. Once these have been installed, its time for the inspection. Your builder should be able to provide you with a window of time (usually a couple days) for any third party inspectors including their own to come in and assess the foundation and confirm all areas have been checked/corrected prior to pour. We do recommend requesting a set of blueprints or plans of the foundation layout from the builder and forward those to us before the inspection. It is also beneficial to get a copy of the builders own inspection report and to make sure all items have been corrected before moving forward.

FRAME INSPECTION

Frame Inspections are normally done 2-4 weeks after the foundation has been poured. This inspection should be performed once the home has all the necessary structural members installed along with the roof, the windstorm requirements such as clips and straps, and the home is “dried-in”. The structural aspect of the home is the most important, but it is more beneficial to you if we can inspect after the HVAC rough, electrical rough, chimney flue and plumbing top out have been installed. Your builder should be able to give you a window of time, when the frame will be completed and prior to insulation and drywall being installed. They normally have a couple days so their own inspections can be performed and corrections can be made. We do recommend requesting a set of blueprints or plans from the builder and forward those to us before the inspection. It is also beneficial to get a copy of the builders own inspection report and to make sure all items have been corrected before moving forward.

FINAL INSPECTION

The final inspection of the home will be performed after construction is 100% complete and prior to closing. the final is the only inspection of the three that is issued on a TREC required REI 7-5 property inspection form. Pre-pour and frame inspections are done on a custom template and are not regulated by the Texas Real Estate Commission.

HELPFUL TIP:

When planning the phase inspections it is very important to coordinate with your builder and provide us with at the very minimum, a weeks notice. We will always do our best to schedule with you on the day the builder provides. The earlier notice we have, the better we can secure the date/time you need the inspections performed. We understand that construction projects experience delays and sometimes the home is not ready. We will do our best to work around these issues and get the job done, but this is not always achievable as we might have prior obligations.