Arrange new home pre-drywall inspection access early enough to examine completed work while it is still visible. Get permission in writing and leave time for the visit, report delivery and a builder response. Buyers and their agents should not assume booking an inspector reserves that window or authorizes them to halt construction.

Confirm builder inspection permission in writing

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) assigns the client responsibility for scheduling with the builder or owner and obtaining entry permission. Its voluntary inspection standard does not create a contractual access right. ASHI, June 2018 edition

Before signing, seek clear inspection terms in the purchase agreement or an authorized addendum. If already under contract, review the agreement, inspection provisions and builder’s written site-access requirements. Confirm these points:

Ask separately whether the builder will leave relevant work exposed while findings are reviewed and corrections checked. Record any agreement and its end date; permission to inspect does not by itself establish an agreement to pause construction.

If access or contractual remedies are disputed, consult a local real estate attorney before relying on a claimed right to enter, delay work or cancel.

Set pre-drywall inspection timing by completed work

Once access is arranged, confirm what will be ready to inspect. ASHI’s timing benchmark includes installed foundations, structural framing, plumbing and electrical rough-ins, windows and exterior doors. Inspection timing, section 2

Have the inspector specify the required stage for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning work too. “Rough-in” refers here to the pipes, wiring, ducts and related work installed before finishes.

For visibility inside walls, request a visit before insulation obscures the work. InterNACHI’s standard, updated March 6, 2025, limits the inspection to accessible components and excludes concealed defects. InterNACHI’s pre-drywall standard

Have the builder and inspector confirm:

• Readiness: Which systems will be installed, which remain incomplete, and which areas can be examined safely.
• Concealment: The planned insulation and drywall dates, including any earlier covering of individual areas.
• Contingency: How an incomplete job, changed schedule or denied entry will be handled, including rescheduling fees.

An early appointment may leave unfinished work unexamined; a late one may leave completed work hidden. Ask the inspector to explain the coverage lost in either case before accepting a changed date.

Coordinate the visit with local permit inspections. Johnston County, North Carolina, for example, requires framing and rough-in approvals before its insulation inspection, while requiring insulation behind certain exterior-wall fixtures earlier. That is a local sequence, not a nationwide scheduling rule. County guidance, updated September 19, 2024

Distinguish the inspection, code approval and walkthrough

The independent inspection, government inspection and builder walkthrough serve different purposes. Clarify what each will cover and keep its records.

Independent inspection: Agree on the new construction inspection scope before paying. InterNACHI describes a visual, noninvasive examination and excludes determining code compliance. Ask which components, photographs and follow-up services your inspector’s agreement includes. Scope and exclusions

Government inspection: This serves the jurisdiction’s enforcement responsibilities. Johnston County, for example, identifies enforcement of state and local laws and ordinances as its function. Obtain the actual permit inspection results and outstanding correction notices rather than relying on “it passed inspection.” County department responsibilities

Builder walkthrough: Obtain its agenda and ask who records concerns. Confirm whether it addresses selections, component locations or construction conditions, and whether your independent inspector may attend. A walkthrough invitation does not by itself establish approval for a separate inspection.

Agree on report delivery and correction tracking

Get a written fee quote covering the initial visit, report turnaround, cancellation and any reinspection. Work backward from the agreed concealment date, allowing time for the inspector’s report, your submission, the builder’s response and any authorized follow-up.

ASHI requires a written report describing significant deficiencies, explanations where needed, recommendations, and identification of designated components that were present but not inspected and why. Reporting requirements, section 3

Send the complete report through the agreed channel and retain proof of delivery. Track each finding separately, recording:

• Report item number, location and photograph reference.
• Requested action and date submitted.
• Builder’s response: accepted, disputed or awaiting evaluation.
• Promised completion date and evidence supplied.
• Verification status: observed on return visit, documented only, or unresolved.

Keep the original finding alongside the response. If the builder disputes it, request the technical basis and send that to the inspector. Ask whether photographs are sufficient to evaluate a correction or whether another visit or specialist is needed.

Preserve this file for the final inspection and later warranty notices. Our buyer preparation guides and new-construction coverage address related purchase and building decisions.

Confirm that the inspection window is workable

Before confirming the appointment, seek four clear answers: authorized entry, sufficient completed work, visibility of the intended components, and an agreed timetable for the report and response. If one remains uncertain, request a revised arrangement and ask the inspector to identify what can still be evaluated.