Mistakes
Million dollarMistake 02 of 7
Signing without your own inspection rights
If the contract does not allow your inspector, the answer later is no.
Spottable if you know where to lookDifficulty to spot: 3 of 5
Why it happens
- Contracts are signed in a rush, at the design table, with a deadline attached.
- Buyers assume municipal inspections cover quality. They cover code minimums.
Warning signs
- No clause naming third-party inspections.
- "We don't allow that" delivered verbally, never in writing.
- Option and change deadlines are undated.
Questions to ask
- Where in this contract is my right to a third-party inspection?
- At which stages may my inspector be on site?
- What is the written deadline for structural options?
Cost if ignored
$5k–$40k in defects found after closing
Repairs move from the builder's schedule to your budget once you have the keys.
Try it
Your sales contact says inspections are "not a problem" — but the contract is silent.
What do you do before signing?