Welcome New Construction Home Owners
Buying a newly constructed home is a dream come true for many homeowners. A brand new house means that everything is in perfect condition, right?
Not necessarily, even newly built homes can have issues that need to be addressed.
To protect your investment have Delaware Inspections evaluate your new construction home.
The Delaware Inspection Difference
Peace of Mind
Buying a newly built home is a major investment—and one that deserves careful attention. At Delaware Inspections, we specialize in new construction inspections, which make up 95% of our residential business. These inspections are different from those for existing homes, and we treat them as such.
Our thorough, high-value inspections are designed to ensure your home is built to the highest standards, giving you peace of mind from the very beginning. We help you understand how your new home functions, set realistic expectations, and give you the confidence you need to move forward with your purchase. Serving as your advocate we will help you avoid unexpected surprises and ensure your investment is protected.
Pre-Pour Slab Foundation Inspections
Before the concrete slab is poured, it's critical to ensure the foundation is properly prepared. Our pre-pour inspections focus on formwork, reinforcement placement, vapor barriers, plumbing penetrations, and drainage provisions. Identifying issues at this stage helps prevent costly structural problems down the line and ensures the work aligns with industry standards. Once concrete is poured, these components are no longer visible—making this inspection one of the most important phases for long-term performance and durability.
Pre-Drywall Inspections
A pre-drywall inspection ensures that the structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems of a building are installed correctly before walls are enclosed. It helps identify common issues—such as improper framing practices, inadequate installation of components, moisture intrusion, unsealed gaps, or damage—early in the construction process. This provides you valuable information on the home's critical components during a time when they are visible. Once the house is closed in, accessing or even finding these areas may not be possible. Catching problems at this stage prevents costly and time-consuming repairs after construction is complete, not to mention headaches.
Final or Pre-Settlement Inspections
A new construction inspection ensures that a newly built home meets safety standards and quality expectations before closing. It identifies any issues, such as incomplete work, improper installations, or violations, that need to be evaluated and addressed by the builder. This inspection provides an opportunity to catch problems early, ensuring the home is move-in ready and free of costly surprises. Our thorough inspections cover top-down and inside-out, leaving no stone unturned.
Having this information will give you leverage prior to settlement so that your new home is built to the highest standards. There are many items, typically cosmetic, that are not warrantable after settlement.
The Warranty You Paid For
Required by law, whether contractual or implied, builders offer a warranty on newly constructed homes, typically for one year. Implied protection for homeowners serves as a safety-net, ensuring basic construction standards, safety and habitability requirements are met. A thorough warranty inspection can help you identify any issues that may be covered under this warranty, allowing you to have them fixed at no cost to you. Once the warranty expires, many repairs will be out of pocket. Don't let the builder's errors become your problem.
We Represent You
Building codes are in place to ensure that homes are built to a minimum standard of safety and quality by the state and/or county. They are performed with a regulatory focus for compliance. A passing code does not mean the home is violation free, it means no violation was FOUND! While a home inspection is not a code compliance inspection, it provides more detail and is personalized to our client’s concerns. Delaware inspections performs a broader evaluation of the property for quality and functionality.
Don't Skip This Important Step
Included with your inspection report, the Repair Request Builder allows you to easily create an organized list with pictures, videos and locations of defects. This will make it easier to report the defects to the builder and track the repairs as they are completed. Submit all defects and repair requests prior to your warranty expiration to prevent the builder's errors from becoming your problem.
Delaware Inspection's Advantage
As the state's Premier Inspection Company, our easy-to-read, comprehensive reports include high quality images/videos with location tags so you know exactly what and where the defect is. By using the most advanced tools available; aerial drones, thermal imaging, sewer scopes, radon monitors, and moisture detection devices, we provide a more in-depth analysis to identify potential issues that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Additional Services
Sewer Scopes
Water Quality Testing
Radon Testing
Sewer scope inspections are a critical part of maintaining the functionality of your property’s plumbing system. Most sewer line back-ups occur when there are large gatherings at the home, such as holidays and birthday parties. This is the last time you want a back-up to occur. Using the best sewer scope on the market, manufactured by Wohler, each sewer scope inspection includes an HD video of the inspected sections of sewer line. This provides a clear, detailed view inside your sewer lines to detect potential problems before they become costly repairs. Don’t let hidden sewer line issues disrupt your home.
Radon Testing
Water Quality Testing
Radon Testing
Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless, and odorless gas. The second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, it can accumulate in buildings, particularly in basements and lower levels, posing a health risk as prolonged exposure. A short term, 48 hour test using our advanced radon monitors, will record radon levels every 30 minutes. The EPA recommends all homes be tested at move in then every 5 years after or every 2 years if a radon mitigation system is installed. All tests are performed in compliance with state and local regulations. Builders are not responsible for high radon nor are they required to install a passive radon system. If you are in the early stages of building this is something to talk about your builder.
Water Quality Testing
Water Quality Testing
Wood Destroying Insect Inspections
Quality drinking water is vital to your family's health. Our standard test will include: total coliform, e-coli, nitrates, lead, and chloride. The EPA and CDC recommend houses with wells test their water annually. Whether your water comes from a private well or a municipal source, testing provides peace of mind and supports a healthier home environment.
Wood Destroying Insect Inspections
Wood Destroying Insect Inspections
Insects that bore wood (termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and beetles) are common throughout North America. With Delaware's humid climate and sandy soil, these insects are prevalent in all three counties from early spring to late fall. This inspection will examine readily accessible areas for signs of insect activity, prior treatment, and damage.
Insulation Inspections
Insulation Inspections
Prior to drywall installation, we check that the insulation has been properly installed. This includes making sure all wall cavities are filled, there are no gaps or compression, and insulation is fitted neatly around pipes and wires. A proper insulation job is essential for keeping your home comfortable and energy-efficient. Once drywall goes up, it’s hard to spot these issues—so this inspection helps catch problems while its visible and avoid discomfort later.