Pre-drywall inspection
Also called: pre-drywall walk, phase inspection, new construction inspection, rough-in inspection, framing inspection
An independent inspection of a new house after framing, plumbing, electrical and HVAC rough-in are complete but before insulation and drywall cover them. $200–$400, usually paired with a final inspection before closing. The only look anyone gets at what the walls will hide.
New houses have municipal inspections, a builder’s own quality checks and a warranty, and buyers assume that adds up to a house with nothing wrong. It doesn’t. Municipal inspectors check code minimums in minutes; the builder’s superintendent is managing a dozen houses; the warranty covers defects someone finds and reports. A pre-drywall inspection is the buyer’s own set of eyes on the day it matters most.
The inspector walks the framed house and looks at what will disappear: missing or misplaced hangers and straps, notched or over-drilled joists and studs, headers, sheathing and house-wrap, window flashing, nail plates over pipes and wires, the routing and support of ducts, plumbing slopes and supports, wiring box fill and staples, fire-blocking, and whether the plan’s features are actually there. The report goes to the builder, who fixes items before the drywall crew arrives — the cheapest moment any of it will ever be fixed.
It’s booked through the builder’s superintendent, who sets the window between rough-in inspections and insulation; most builders allow it, and a builder who refuses is telling you something. The pair — pre-drywall at $200–$400 and a final home inspection at $300–$500 before closing — is $500–$1,000. Some buyers add a foundation inspection before the pour and an 11-month inspection before the builder’s one-year warranty expires.