Pre-Settlement Inspection

An independent inspection of a finished new home before closing, carried out for you rather than for the builder. Your inspector evaluates accessible systems and components within the agreed scope, operates components where conditions permit and photographs observed concerns.

It is the third of four new construction stages: foundation and footing before concrete, pre-drywall before walls close, this visit before settlement, and an 11th-month warranty inspection planned around the builder's written warranty and notice deadlines.

Because neither your builder nor the permit inspections your jurisdiction carries out works for you. Those inspections remain a separate part of the build, arranged by the builder, against the code rather than against your interests.

Our inspection is independent of both. It works to the same standard we apply to every home inspection, and it answers only to you. Your builder remains responsible for the work and for arranging the approvals their jurisdiction requires.

A finished appearance does not establish how every component performs. Your inspector evaluates accessible systems within the agreed scope, including operational checks where conditions permit. Observed concerns are described and photographed so you can raise them with the builder.

Allow time before closing to receive the report, review the findings and discuss any response with your builder. Confirm site readiness and access when arranging the visit.

Tell us your settlement date when you book and we will work back from it. Your written report follows the visit by 24 to 48 hours.

No. Each one stands on its own and you can book any of them individually. They cover different things because the house is at a different stage each time, so booking more of them leaves fewer blind spots, but plenty of buyers come to us for this stage only.

If the build has already moved past a stage, that stage cannot be recreated, so tell us where the house has got to when you call and we will tell you what is still open.

The difference is timing. Each visit is a new inspection of accessible systems and components within the agreed scope.

A pre-settlement visit reviews the finished home before closing. An 11th-month inspection reviews conditions after months of weather and use. Conditions such as drywall cracks, sticking doors or changes in grading may develop or become easier to notice after move-in. Check the written warranty and notice deadlines when planning that visit.

A written report by email, with every finding described in plain language and organized by system and location, safety concerns and major defects first. Defects are photographed where they are, so there is no ambiguity about which window, which wall or which fixture needs attention, and the whole thing is formatted so your builder's team can act on it directly.

You can see the format before you book in our sample report.

Across Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, southern Pennsylvania and West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. Check your city, county or ZIP code in our service area, or call and we will tell you.

It depends on the size, age and type of the home, so we do not quote one number for every property. What we can tell you is that you are welcome to be there: walking the property with your inspector is the natural moment to raise anything you are unsure about, how a system works, why something was done a particular way, and what is covered from here.

You can also call your inspector with a question about the report at any point after it lands. There is no cutoff on that.