Should I get a home inspection even on a newer Colorado Springs home?

Yes. I recommend an independent inspection on every home, including a brand-new build. Building inspections from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department check that construction meets code at set stages, and the builder runs its own quality checks, but no one has lived in the home or used its systems day to day. An outside inspector, plus a sewer scope, can catch problems before you close, while they're easier to get fixed. It doesn't replace the builder's warranty. It helps you use it.

Why newer homes still have problems

With a previously owned home, someone has lived there. They've ironed out many of the kinks, or at least know what they are.

A new build is different. There's a flurry of activity during construction, with many trades working on a tight schedule, and it's nearly impossible to catch everything. Builders try, but nothing is guaranteed. That's part of why new homes come with a warranty period: once you start living in the home and using everything, you find out some things weren't 100% ready. You fix them and work through it.

A home that's only a few years old sits in between. It's had some use, but it can still have construction issues nobody has found yet, or issues the first owner lived with.

What city inspections and the builder's checks cover

In Colorado Springs and the rest of El Paso County, the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department reviews plans, issues permits, and performs inspections. Different inspectors look at different parts of the build at different stages, checking that the work meets code.

Beyond that, you're largely relying on the builder's superintendent or its quality assurance process. That's valuable, but it isn't the same as living in the home. No one has run every faucet and drain for weeks, cycled the heating and cooling through a season, or used the home the way you will every day.

An independent inspector works for you. Their job is to look at the home the way a buyer would and report what they find before you sign the closing paperwork.

The sewer line: the one I'd never skip

My favorite example is the sewer line, especially when it runs under the driveway or the front yard. The line gets installed, and then heavy construction trucks drive over that ground and can crush it. Nothing looks wrong from the surface.

A sewer scope runs a camera through the line from the house to the street, so you can see whether it's intact. I'm not saying a builder won't fix a damaged line. They likely will, though it isn't guaranteed. But first it has to be found, and ideally before closing or well before the warranty period runs out.

What to plan for on a newer home

• A general home inspection, even on new construction.
• A sewer scope, for the reason above.
• A radon test. Colorado's standard purchase contract strongly recommends one before you buy, and a new home can have radon too.
• Well and septic inspections if the home isn't on city water and sewer. See buying a home with a well or septic system.

On a resale home, the inspection is part of the contingencies in Colorado's standard contract. See the contingencies to keep.

New construction: timing and the builder's contract

Builders usually use their own purchase contracts rather than Colorado's standard form, so it's worth reading how the builder handles outside inspections before you sign. It's worth asking when your inspector can come in, and whether the builder allows an inspection before the drywall goes up as well as before closing.

After you move in, the warranty period is your window to report problems. Some buyers schedule a second inspection before the first-year warranty ends, so anything that's shown up with use gets reported in time. It's worth keeping copies of your inspection reports and photos for warranty claims.

Isn't it a waste of money on a new home?

An inspection costs money, and a new home may come back mostly clean. But you're making a large purchase, and the inspection lets you make a more informed decision before you close and sign the paperwork. Finding a crushed sewer line or a plumbing leak before closing, while the builder is still focused on finishing your home, is usually easier than chasing it later.

What could change the answer

• A builder's contract may limit when or how an outside inspector can access the home.
• A home with a recent, documented inspection still may have changed since, especially after a hailstorm.
• Some issues, like settling or drainage, only show up after a season or two of use.
• Homes outside the city may have wells, septic systems, or private roads that need their own inspections.

When to talk with a professional

A licensed home inspector and a sewer scope provider evaluate the home. A structural engineer, roofer, or HVAC contractor can follow up on anything the inspector flags. For warranty questions, the builder's warranty documents and customer service team are the first stop, and a real estate attorney can help if a dispute comes up.

Sources

• Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, About PPRBD
• Colorado Division of Real Estate, Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate (Residential), for use on or after January 1, 2026 (§ 10.3 inspection; § 10.13 radon)