What does the county inspect on a new home in Paulding County?
Paulding County’s Building and Permitting Division issues building, electrical, heating and air-conditioning, and plumbing permits, and its building inspectors carry out the inspections tied to those permits. The office also answers questions about the building, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing codes the county has adopted.
Those inspections exist to confirm permitted work meets code. They are done for the county’s purposes, at stages set by the permits, and the results are not a condition report written for you.
How is a home inspection different from the county’s inspections?
A home inspection works for the buyer. Under the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Standard of Practice, a home inspection is a visual examination of the home’s readily accessible systems and components. The same standard says inspectors are not required to determine code compliance. So the two jobs don’t overlap.
| County building inspections | Independent home inspection | |
|---|---|---|
| Works for | The county, enforcing adopted codes | You, the buyer or owner |
| Question it answers | Does permitted work meet code? | What condition is this finished house in? |
| When | At permit stages during construction | When you schedule it: before closing, and before the warranty ends |
| What you get | Pass or fail on the permitted work | A written report with findings and photos |
| Who chooses the inspector | Assigned by the county | You |
One Davis Home Inspections client described what a new-build inspection found:
Even on a new construction, he identified some issues to bring to the builder’s attention.
(Michelle Davis, Google review, quoted verbatim.) Scott’s reply to that review made the same point from his side:
Builders subcontractors make mistakes, and county inspectors do not always find the issues present, big or small.
(Scott Davis, owner reply on Google, quoted verbatim.)
When should you schedule inspections on a new build?
For most buyers, two inspections cover the important moments:
- After construction is complete, before closing. Schedule it once the house is finished and ready for occupancy, and before your final walkthrough with the builder, so the findings go on the builder’s list while you still have leverage.
- Before your builder warranty ends. Many builders include a one-year warranty period. Check your warranty paperwork for the exact end date, and schedule the inspection with enough time to submit what’s found.
Some buyers also hire a pre-drywall inspection while the house is under construction. Davis Home Inspections does not offer construction-phase, pre-drywall, or code inspections; its new-construction work starts once the home is complete.
What should you do with the report at the builder walkthrough?
Treat the report as your punch list. A few habits help:
- Bring the report and its photos to the final walkthrough, and go item by item.
- Ask the builder to respond to each item in writing, with what will be fixed and by when.
- Keep copies of everything, including the report, the builder’s responses, and your warranty documents.
- Note your warranty end date now, and set a reminder a couple of months ahead of it.
If an item is disputed, your agent can help you decide what to push on before closing.
Why inspect again before the builder warranty ends?
A house changes once people live in it. The first months bring a full cycle of weather and daily use of every system, and some issues only show up after that. A second inspection shortly before the warranty ends gives you an independent list of what’s changed while the builder is still responsible.
This inspection is for a home you already own, so there is no sale deadline driving it. The deadline is the warranty date itself.
Should a new home be tested for radon?
EPA’s guidance for anyone buying a new home is to ask whether radon-resistant construction features were used and whether the home has been tested. New homes are built on the same ground as older ones, so a new house can still have elevated radon.
A radon test can be added to the completed-home inspection. The Paulding County radon guide covers what the local maps show and how testing works during a purchase.