There is nothing quite like the smell of a brand-new house. The paint is fresh, no one has ever walked on the carpets, and every appliance is sparkling clean. For many buyers in Saline and throughout North Louisiana, choosing new construction feels like the safe bet—a way to avoid the headaches and hidden repairs of buying an older home.
This leads to the most common question we get from new buyers: “If the house is brand new, why do I need to spend money on a home inspection?”
It’s a fair question. But the answer might surprise you. At Fontenot Home Inspection, some of the longest lists of defects we find are in brand-new homes.
The Myth of the Perfect New Build
We trust builders to do good work, but the reality of modern construction is fast-paced. A new home is built by dozens of different subcontractors—framers, plumbers, electricians, roofers—often working under tight deadlines.
Mistakes happen. Things get overlooked. A municipal building inspector only spends a few minutes at a property checking for minimum code compliance. They are not there to ensure quality workmanship or that every system is functioning perfectly.
What We Find in New Construction
When we inspect a new home in Bienville Parish, we aren’t looking for age-related wear and tear. We are looking for **installation errors** and **oversights**. Here are common issues we find in new builds:
- Roofing Issues: Shingles damaged by other tradesmen walking on them, or missing kick-out flashing that will cause water damage later.
- HVAC Disconnects: We frequently find air conditioning ducts in the attic that were never actually connected to the vents in the ceiling, meaning you are paying to cool your attic while your bedroom stays hot.
- Plumbing Leaks: A slow leak under a brand-new sink might not be noticed for weeks until it has warped the cabinetry.
- Missing Insulation: Entire sections of walls or attics where insulation was simply forgotten, leading to high energy bills.
- Electrical Errors: Outlets that are wired incorrectly (reversed polarity) or GFCI outlets that don’t trip when tested.
The “11-Month Warranty Inspection”
If you have already bought a new home and skipped the initial inspection, you have a second chance.
Most new builders in Louisiana offer a one-year workmanship warranty. Once that year is up, any problems become your financial responsibility. We highly recommend scheduling an inspection around the 11th month of living in the home.
We will come in and give the house a thorough check-up. We provide you with a detailed report of defects that you can hand directly to your builder before the warranty expires. This one inspection often pays for itself ten times over by forcing the builder to fix their mistakes on their dime, not yours.
Hold Your Builder Accountable
A new home is likely the biggest purchase of your life. Ensure you are getting the quality you paid for.
Contact Fontenot Home Inspection
📍 New Construction & Warranty Inspections in North Louisiana
📞 +1 318-436-4662
🌐 Schedule Your New Home Inspection