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In this episode, Reuben Saltzman and Tessa Murry are joined by Andrew Harshman of AJF Inspections in Arizona to discuss builder workmanship inspections and the growing demand for detailed inspections of new construction homes. They explore Arizona’s workmanship standards for licensed contractors, how these inspections differ from traditional home inspections, and why homeowners are requesting a closer look at cosmetic and construction defects. Andrew explains how his company structures these inspections, the importance of documenting defects within warranty periods, specialized inspection tools, pricing considerations, builder restrictions, and how inspection companies can create a specialized service around new construction standards.
Here’s the link to Inspector Empire Builder:
https://www.iebcoaching.com/events
Takeaways
Builder workmanship inspections are more detailed than traditional home inspections and focus heavily on cosmetic defects and construction standards.
Arizona has workmanship standards for licensed contractors covering areas such as HVAC, electrical, cabinets, concrete, landscaping, and more.
Some defects must be documented within specific periods, including a 10-day window for certain issues, a one-year window for others, and broader two-year warranty coverage.
A separate workmanship report helps distinguish standards-based findings from recommendations typically included in a regular home inspection report.
These inspections can take two to three times longer than traditional inspections because inspectors document many additional details and cosmetic issues.
Common findings include damaged surfaces, stucco issues, landscaping concerns, improperly positioned light switches, tile problems, shower surround gaps, and electrical equipment that is not level, plumb, or true.
Inspectors may use specialized tools such as gap gauges, tile-tapping tools, and levels to identify workmanship issues that might otherwise be overlooked.
Homeowners should understand that builder workmanship inspections are an additional level of service and are not necessarily included in a standard new construction inspection.
Training a dedicated team and using a separate report template can help inspection companies maintain consistency and efficiency.
Builder restrictions may limit what inspectors can inspect before the homeowner takes ownership, so these limitations should be clearly communicated and documented.
The key takeaway: Builder workmanship inspections can provide significant value for new construction homeowners, but inspectors need clear standards, proper training, specialized tools, and a well-defined scope of service.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Welcome to the Show
01:42 Introducing Andrew Harshman of AJF Inspections
02:04 Andrew’s Background and How He Became a Home Inspector
03:47 What Is Launchpad?
05:28 Finding Andrew Harshman Online
05:51 Why Arizona Is Driving the Builder Workmanship Discussion
06:51 Arizona’s Workmanship Standards for Licensed Contractors
08:19 Warranty Periods and Why Documentation Matters
09:23 Blue Tape Inspections vs. Regular Home Inspections
10:31 Creating a Separate Builder Workmanship Inspection Report
11:38 Comparing Arizona’s Standards to Minnesota
12:08 The Role of the Registrar of Contractors
13:27 Types of New Construction and Warranty Inspections
14:53 Pricing Builder Workmanship Inspections
15:24 What Is a Builder Workmanship Inspection?
16:22 Educating Clients About the Additional Service
17:44 Combining New Construction and Warranty Inspections
18:37 Why Homeowners Are Requesting Workmanship Inspections
19:17 Detailed Standards and Nitpicky Inspection Findings
20:43 Do Inspectors Enjoy Doing Builder Workmanship Inspections?
21:04 The Challenges and Benefits of Detailed Inspections
23:07 Building a Specialized Workmanship Inspection Team
24:37 Separate Report Templates for Workmanship Standards
25:36 Why Keeping the Workmanship Report Separate Matters
26:14 Should a Home Inspector Perform the Workmanship Inspection?
27:14 Applying Broad Workmanship Standards to Additional Defects
28:40 Using Specialized Tools to Measure Construction Defects
29:19 How Builders Respond to Detailed Workmanship Inspections
30:10 Electrical Equipment, Levelness, and Acceptable Tolerances
31:20 Why New Construction Homes Aren’t Always Perfect
32:07 Managing Two Inspection Templates During an Inspection
32:37 Training Inspectors to Know the Workmanship Standards
33:26 Documenting Issues That Fall Outside Specific Standards
34:14 How Many Clients Choose the Workmanship Inspection?
35:13 The Value of Clearly Defining Inspection Services
36:20 The Growing Market for Cosmetic Inspection Services
37:06 Creating Workmanship Standards for Different Builders
37:37 Builder Restrictions and Communicating Inspection Limitations
38:56 Specialized Tools and Techniques for Detailed Inspections
40:01 Closing Thoughts and Where to Find Andrew Harshman
41:02 Final Thoughts and Listener Feedback
