Answers by Chad Roberts

Many builders will tell you it’s not needed because everything is under warranty. In addition, they often make it harder for inspectors to visit, requiring extraordinarily high levels of insurance and supervision by onsite staff. However, it will be much easier and better to handle any items before closing than to discover them later and try to get them approved and completed by the customer service department. Get the inspection. If you’re reading this after closing but before the expiration of your “wall to wall” warranty (often 1 year, depending on your market and builder), get the inspector out and put a list together for the builder.

New carpet and new paint are the biggest bang for your buck. After that, anything you can do in the kitchen within budget will be very helpful. Used stainless steel appliances are much cheaper than new, and buyers expect used appliances anyway!