Things to look at when buying a newly built house

Worried your brand new house hasn’t been built to code? Experts say some signs of shonky workmanship can be spotted as soon as you open the front door – especially if it bangs into the stairs.

If you have bought a newly constructed home you can check for signs of defects. Picture: Zak Simmonds

In an ideal world, newly built homes should be in excellent condition – but this isn’t an ideal world.

Hipages trade Martin Nguyen from Kubra Building Services says, in Australia, once the frame has been inspected, there are no further requirements for the site to be inspected until the certificate of occupancy.

“During that period is when a lot of things go unseen and not properly inspected,” he says.

“That’s where, generally, a lot of the short cuts stem from.”

So, if you are buying a new home, how can you tell it has been built properly? And what are some of the common problems that buyers find when their home hasn’t been well built?

Once the frame has been inspected, there isn’t a requirement for another inspection until certificate of occupancy. Picture: Getty

BUILDING SHORTCUTS

Once the frame has been inspected, unless the builder or project manager pays for independent inspectors to come at each stage of construction, the property could wind up with some unseen issues.

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“The issues are predominantly from really rushed construction and general cost cutting by a lot of the builders,” Nguyen says. “Waterproofing is an extremely common one – and can have extremely costly effects.”

Builder Martin Nguyen from Kubra Building Services.

Other common examples include uneven flooring, windows not being properly installed and shortcuts in insulation.

If you are building your own home, Nguyen recommends engaging building inspectors at various stages of the construction process, but if you don’t have the budget for each stage, “pre-handover inspection by an independent inspector is critical,” he says.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

If you are buying a new home, make sure you check for signs of water damage, poor structural work and cracking as well as anything that “is too patchy or doesn’t look right,” says co-founder and director of Rethink Residential Mina O’Neill. She recently managed the build of her own home and says waterproofing and good drainage was a priority for her.

“Make sure the floor is even,” she says. “Are there gaps? What are the skirtings like?”

Check the builder’s insurance and whether the warranty is still in place when you buy the house. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Nguyen says buyers should make sure tile lines match and no grout is falling away.

“Open the cupboards and drawers and make sure everything runs smoothly,” he says.

He also suggests testing appliances and opening all the doors, explaining he has come across a buyer who bought a new home where the front door couldn’t be opened all the way because it banged into a nearby stair.

“Or the same thing will happen in the bathroom where they can’t open the door fully because it hits the vanity behind it,” he says. “It happens way too often.”

SIGNS OF A GOOD HOUSE

In contrast, a well constructed house will have clean lines, consistent paintwork and flush joinery as well as doors that open smoothly, Nguyen says.

When buying a newly built home, check the reputation of the builder or developer. Picture: David Swift

“You can just tell when you walk in and it feels really solid,” he says. “There’s no bouncing or squeaking when you walk up the steps.”

The walls are also nice and straight.

“When you look at a wall, maybe just try to have your eye in line with it,” he says. “Make sure that the walls look straight. You’d be very surprised how uneven they are.”

DUE DILIGENCE CHECKLIST

Don’t forget to check these other important things when considering a new home purchase, says director of Rethink Residential Mina O’Neill.

Rethink Residential director Mina O'Neill.

1. The builder’s reputation – longevity of the business and positive reviews are a good sign

2. Building materials – you might also find out where the finishes came from by reading the contract

3. The type of soil on site – this could help you foresee future problems like rising damp caused by sandstone

4. Strata costs – if the property is newly built, strata costs could go up

5. Warranty – get your solicitor to check the contract to make sure this is still intact

6. Pest and building report – don’t forget this important step just because it’s a new property

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Originally published as Things to look at when buying a newly built house