The Shrinking New Construction Checklist: What Builders Are Leaving Out Today
- Cid Herlein
- Aug 3
- 1 min read
If you are buying new construction in Northwest Arkansas, you might want to look closer at your contract. As a home inspector, I am seeing a concerning trend: the price tags on new homes are climbing, but the actual scope of what builders include is quietly shrinking.
Years ago, builders stopped fully finishing garages. Then came homes without garage door openers. But on a recent new construction inspection I performed, the list of missing essentials went even further: no doorbell installed (and none planned), and zero exterior security or driveway lights.
Builders are slowly trimming away the fine details while charging top dollar. When you buy a brand-new home, never assume standard conveniences are included.
👀 Watch out for these disappearing details during your walkthrough:
Exterior driveway and pathway lighting
Standard doorbell systems
Garage door openers and finished garage interiors
Landscaping and finishing touches
Don't let sneaky omissions catch you off guard after closing. Protect your investment with an independent third-party new construction inspection before you sign.
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