Q&A: Do I need to hire a home inspector for a new home?

Q: Anthony, If I am buying a new home, do I still need a home inspector? A: In one word: absolutely. Just because the home is new, doesn’t mean there won’t be defects that need to be corrected. It is not unusual for a general contractor not to know what his subcontractors have done. Home inspectors often find defects in the crawl space under the home or in the attic, such as broken trusses, crimped duct work or lack of insulation. There can also be foundation problems or incorrect wiring which can cause huge problems in the future. A good time to have a home inspector come is for a “pre-drywall” inspection so the insulation can be inspected before the drywall is installed. A few people will also hire the inspector to come back and examine their house...