New Construction Home Inspections in Orlando & Central Florida

A brand-new home should not automatically be assumed to be defect-free. New construction involves dozens of trades, contractors, supervisors, suppliers, and inspections throughout the building process.

Even with a reputable builder and municipal inspections, items can be missed, installed incorrectly, damaged by later trades, or covered before anyone notices. At 5 Star Building Inspections, our new construction inspections are designed to give buyers an independent evaluation of the home before important components become concealed and before you take ownership of the property. We provide both pre-drywall inspections and final new construction inspections throughout Orlando and Central Florida.

Why Inspect a Brand-New Home?

New does not always mean properly installed.

During construction, we regularly find concerns such as:

Cut, drilled, or damaged framing members
Improperly notched studs or structural components
Missing or displaced insulation
Improperly installed roof coverings or flashing
Damaged roof materials
Incomplete electrical work
Loose or improperly installed plumbing components
HVAC installation concerns
Missing fire blocking
Improper penetrations through framing
Damaged trusses or engineered components
Incomplete exterior sealing
Drainage or grading concerns
Missing fasteners or connectors
Improperly installed doors and windows
Damaged finishes and fixtures
Safety concerns
Incomplete builder punch-list items

Some defects are relatively minor. Others can become expensive problems after drywall, insulation, flooring, roofing, or other finishes conceal them.

An independent inspection gives you another set of experienced eyes before those conditions become your responsibility.

Municipal Inspections Are Not the Same as a Home Inspection

Building departments perform important inspections during construction, but municipal inspections and private home inspections serve different purposes.

Code inspectors are generally verifying specific stages of construction for compliance with applicable requirements. They are not performing the same comprehensive evaluation a buyer receives from an independent home inspector.

At 5 Star Building Inspections, we work for you—the buyer.

Our goal is to evaluate the property from your perspective and document visible defects, incomplete work, installation concerns, safety issues, and items you may want the builder to address before closing.

Pre-Drywall Inspections

See the Home Before the Walls Are Closed

A pre-drywall inspection is performed after many of the major structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC components have been installed but before insulation and drywall cover them.

This is one of the most valuable opportunities to inspect a new home because many important components will never be this visible again.

During a pre-drywall inspection, our inspectors evaluate readily accessible areas such as:

Wall and roof framing
Trusses and structural connections
Studs, joists, beams, and headers
Plumbing supply and drain lines
Electrical wiring and boxes
HVAC ductwork and mechanical components
Window and door installation
Roof structure
Exterior wall components
Fasteners and connectors
Fire blocking where visible
Penetrations through framing
Areas prepared for insulation
Other visible construction details

This is also when concerns such as damaged framing, excessive notching or drilling, missing structural connections, improperly routed plumbing or wiring, and construction damage may be easier to identify. Once drywall is installed, many of these components are concealed.

Why Pre-Drywall Inspections Matter

A pre-drywall inspection gives the builder an opportunity to address documented concerns while the affected areas are still accessible.

Correcting a framing, wiring, plumbing, or insulation issue before the walls are closed can be significantly easier than discovering the same condition after the home is finished.

Our inspectors provide a detailed, photo-documented report so you have a clear record of the conditions observed before construction moves to the next stage.

Final New Construction Inspections

Inspect the Finished Home Before Closing

A final new construction inspection is typically performed when the home is substantially complete and before your final walkthrough or closing. At this stage, we evaluate the completed home and its major readily accessible systems and components.

A final inspection may identify:

Roofing installation concerns
Damaged or missing roof components
Electrical defects
Plumbing leaks or installation issues
HVAC performance concerns
Missing insulation
Exterior sealing defects
Window and door problems
Appliance installation issues
Drainage concerns
Interior finish damage
Safety concerns
Incomplete construction
Missing components
Builder punch-list items

Even homes that look beautiful during a walkthrough can contain issues that are easy to overlook without a systematic inspection.

New Construction Roof Inspections

The roof deserves particular attention on a new home. A roof can be brand new and still have installation defects, damaged materials, flashing concerns, improperly completed penetrations, or other issues caused during construction.

One challenge with new construction is that many builders do not allow independent home inspectors to physically walk on the roof. That can limit what a traditional inspection company is able to see from the ground or roof edge.

At 5 Star Building Inspections, we can use drone technology when appropriate to help overcome that limitation. High-resolution aerial images allow our inspectors to closely document visible roof conditions without physically walking on the roof or violating builder access restrictions.

Drone inspections can be especially valuable for:

Tile roofs
Multi-story homes
Steep roof slopes
Large or complex roof systems
Builder-restricted roofs
Areas that cannot be safely accessed

This allows us to provide a more complete visual evaluation of the roof while helping protect the newly installed roofing materials from unnecessary foot traffic.

Finding roofing concerns before closing gives the buyer an opportunity to document them and bring them to the builder’s attention while the home is still under construction and before ownership transfers.

Insulation and Energy-Related Concerns

Missing, displaced, or improperly installed insulation can affect comfort and energy efficiency while remaining difficult to identify after construction is complete.

During appropriate stages of a new construction inspection, our inspectors look for visible insulation concerns and other conditions that may affect the building envelope.

At the final inspection, thermal imaging can also help identify unusual temperature patterns that may indicate missing or inconsistent insulation or other conditions requiring further evaluation.

We Use Thermal Imaging on Every Inspection

5 Star uses thermal imaging on every home inspection, including final new construction inspections. Infrared technology can help our inspectors identify temperature differences associated with conditions such as:

Missing or inconsistent insulation
Potential moisture intrusion
HVAC performance concerns
Overheating electrical components
Unusual temperature patterns

Thermal imaging is not a replacement for an experienced inspector, but it provides another valuable tool for evaluating a newly constructed home.

Independent Inspection Before You Close

The builder built the home. The municipal inspector represents the local building authority.

Your home inspector works for you.

An independent new construction inspection gives you an opportunity to have the property evaluated by someone whose responsibility is to provide you with an unbiased assessment of the visible condition of the home.

The goal is not to create conflict with the builder. It is to provide clear documentation so concerns can be discussed and corrected before they become much more difficult to address.

Our Team Approach Saves You Time

At 5 Star Building Inspections, we work in coordinated inspection teams.

For larger homes and luxury new construction properties, we may send three to five experienced inspectors who divide the property by systems and areas while communicating throughout the inspection.

This allows us to provide a detailed evaluation while significantly reducing the amount of time buyers, builders, and real estate professionals need to spend at the property.

Our team approach also gives us greater scheduling flexibility, which can be especially valuable when builder walkthroughs and closing dates are approaching quickly.

Same-Day, Photo-Documented Reports

New construction timelines move quickly, so you need your findings quickly.

Our clients receive a detailed, photo-documented inspection report the same day as the inspection.

The report clearly identifies observed defects, incomplete work, safety concerns, and items that may need further evaluation or correction.

That gives you a practical document you can review with your builder before your walkthrough or closing.

Should You Get Both a Pre-Drywall and Final Inspection?

For the most comprehensive evaluation of a new home, we recommend considering both inspections.

A pre-drywall inspection evaluates components that will soon be concealed.

A final inspection evaluates the finished home and checks systems and components after construction has been completed.

The two inspections serve different purposes and complement each other.

A home can have properly installed framing at the pre-drywall stage and still develop finish, roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or installation concerns before completion. Likewise, a final inspection cannot fully evaluate framing and other components that are already behind finished walls.

What About the Builder’s Warranty?

Many builders provide a warranty period after closing, but identifying concerns before you take ownership is generally preferable to discovering them after you move in.

5 Star also provides 11-month warranty inspections for homeowners approaching the end of their builder warranty period.

An 11-month inspection can help identify defects or performance concerns that became apparent during the first year of occupancy so they can be documented before the applicable builder warranty expires.

Why Choose 5 Star for New Construction Inspections

With more than three decades of combined experience and over 17,000 inspections completed, 5 Star Building Inspections provides the experience, technology, and team approach needed to evaluate new homes throughout Central Florida.

Our clients benefit from:

Pre-drywall inspections
Final new construction inspections
11-month warranty inspections
Coordinated inspection teams
Three to five inspectors for larger homes when appropriate
Thermal imaging on every final home inspection
Drone roof inspections when appropriate
Same-day inspection reports
Detailed photo documentation
Greater scheduling flexibility
Continued support after the inspection

A new home is a major investment. Give yourself the opportunity to identify concerns before they are hidden and before you close.

Schedule Your New Construction Inspection

Whether your new home is still in the framing stage or nearly ready for closing, 5 Star Building Inspections can help you better understand the condition of the property before construction moves forward or ownership transfers to you.

Honest. Thorough. 5 Star.

Call (407) 732-4021 or schedule your new construction inspection online today.