There's a common assumption that a brand-new home doesn't need a home inspection. After all, everything is new — why would anything be wrong? In reality, new construction homes are built by dozens of different subcontractors working on tight schedules, and even on a well-run job, things get missed. An independent new construction inspection in Lafayette gives you a professional, buyer-focused evaluation of the home's visible and accessible systems before you sign at closing. Acadiana Home Inspectors has been inspecting homes across Lafayette and the Acadiana region since 1995.
Do New Construction Homes Need a Home Inspection in Louisiana?
Yes. A new home is assembled by framers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC crews, roofers, and finishers — often under deadline pressure, and often with different crews who never see each other's work. Any one of them can make a mistake, and small oversights are easy to miss when a house is going up quickly. A home inspection is not a statement about your builder's honesty; it's a second set of professional eyes working for you.
Louisiana does not require a buyer to inspect a new home, and a certificate of occupancy only confirms the home passed municipal code checks — it is not the same as a detailed, buyer-focused inspection of the home's condition. Those are two different standards. For an overview of everything a standard inspection covers, see our home inspection checklist.
What Does a New Construction Home Inspection Cover?
A new construction inspection evaluates the same visible and accessible systems and components as any thorough home inspection, with special attention to installation quality and unfinished work. That includes:
- Foundation and visible structural elements
- Framing and attic structure where accessible
- Electrical system, panel, and outlets
- Plumbing supply, drainage, and fixtures
- HVAC equipment and distribution
- Roof, flashing, and exterior drainage
- Insulation, ventilation, windows, and interior finishes
You can learn more about the full service on our new construction inspection page.
What Is the Difference Between a Builder Inspection and an Independent Home Inspection?
The builder's own quality-control inspector works for the builder. Their job is to confirm the home meets the builder's standards and local code — a worthwhile check, but one performed by someone whose employer is the company that built the house. An independent inspector works for the buyer. Our only client is you, and that difference in who we answer to is the entire point.
We document what we find plainly, in a detailed full-color home inspection report, so you can take a clear, organized list of items to your builder before closing rather than discovering them after you've moved in and the crews have moved on. A written third-party report also tends to get a faster, more complete response from a builder than a verbal list of concerns.
When Should I Schedule a New Construction Home Inspection in Lafayette?
The most important time is just before your final walkthrough and closing, so any findings can be addressed while you still have leverage and the builder's crews are still on site. Many buyers also schedule a pre-drywall inspection earlier in the build, when framing, wiring, and plumbing are still visible behind the walls. Scheduling early also means you can reserve a slot that fits your closing date — book through our online scheduling page or by phone.
What Happens If Problems Are Found During a New Construction Inspection?
Findings are organized by severity in your report, so you can see what matters most at a glance. You then share that report with your builder and ask them to correct the items before closing — which is far easier to negotiate while the sale is still pending. Our role is to document and explain what we find; the decisions about repairs and timing stay with you and your builder.
What Is an 11-Month Warranty Inspection — and Why Does It Matter?
Most builder warranties run for the first year of ownership. An 11-month warranty inspection is a full inspection performed near the end of that first year — your last clear opportunity to document issues and have them repaired under warranty before it expires.
Settling, seasonal movement, and installation issues often become visible only after you've lived in the home through a full Louisiana cycle — a humid summer, heavy rains, and the soil swelling and shrinking that comes with our clay. Drywall cracks, sticking doors, grading and drainage problems, and HVAC performance issues frequently show up in those first eleven months. Catching them just before the warranty ends means the builder, not you, is responsible for the fix.
Here Is Why You Can Trust Us
Our licensed inspectors — Keith Blanchard (LHI #10752) and Andy Stanford (LHI #10916) — work for Acadiana Home Inspectors, which has evaluated Acadiana homes since 1995, including the new-build boom across Lafayette, Youngsville, and Broussard. We don't rush, we work only for the buyer, and every inspection ends with a detailed full-color home inspection report you can take straight to your builder.