Why You Need a Home Inspection Even on a Brand-New Home

By Darren James

Darren James is a highly accomplished real estate professional and the founder of one of Baton Rouge’s premier real estate firms. With over 20 years of experience in selling and marketing real estate.

We’ve encountered this situation more times than we can count: A client gets excited about a stunning new construction home and asks, “Do I really need a home inspection? Didn’t the parish already inspect everything during the build?”

Here’s the short answer: Yes, you absolutely still need a home inspection—every time, without exception. To illustrate this point, I’ll share three real-life experiences that highlight the importance of home inspections.

1. Unreinforced attic rafters. A recent client reminded us of a similar case early in our career involving an attorney. He was sharp and assumed that city inspections covered everything.

While those inspections are important, they don’t replace a thorough, independent home inspection that focuses on protecting the buyer. Builders often juggle multiple homes in a subdivision, creating a fast-paced environment where mistakes can slip through the cracks.

In this attorney’s case, several major attic rafters were not properly reinforced. This might not seem urgent, but in a hot Louisiana attic with expanding and contracting materials, missing reinforcements can pose significant structural risks over time. That issue alone could compromise the roof’s integrity, and he would never have caught it without a home inspection.

2. Faulty exterior outlet. The same house had a problematic exterior outlet wired into the garage door opener without a proper waterproof cover. Imagine it’s pouring rain, and the homeowner arrives home with groceries, only to find that the garage door won’t open. The breaker trips, leaving them outside in the rain, trying to reset the power. This issue was avoidable if it had been caught earlier.

3. $75K bulkhead repair. Recently, another buyer was under contract for a beautiful waterfront property. During the inspection, we discovered that the bulkhead in the backyard, crucial for waterfront homes, was damaged. We negotiated with the builder to have it fixed before closing, saving our client over $75,000.

We share these examples not to scare anyone off from buying new construction, but to emphasize that you deserve peace of mind. A professional inspection provides that assurance. It’s not just about what’s visible today; it’s about protecting yourself from future problems that may be hard to see now but can be expensive later.

Think of it like buying a used car. Would you skip having a mechanic inspect it before making a purchase? Of course not. The same logic applies, whether it’s a brand-new build or a century-old fixer-upper, always get an inspection.

Let’s make sure your dream home doesn’t come with unexpected headaches. If you have questions or need help with buying a home, feel free to reach out to me at (225) 304-6363 or darren@agent225.com. You can also visit Agent225.com to learn more about how we can help you buy your dream home.