Code copied!

Brand New Doesn't Mean Defect Free.

Code inspectors check boxes at framing, rough-in, and final. They don't walk the finished home. Across Portland Metro and SW Washington, Russ Motyko brings 12 years on contractor crews and a Certified Master Inspector® credential to every new build. He finds what the builder hopes you won't.

(971) 202-1311 Schedule Your Inspection →
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Russ Motyko, Certified Master Inspector, performing a new construction home inspection in the Portland metro
12+
Years as a Licensed General Contractor
5.0★
Google & Yelp Rating

Builder's Eye. Buyer's Side.

I Built These Homes Before I Inspected Them.

A new construction home in the Portland Metro area being inspected by Trusted Home Inspections
Portland Metro & SW Washington

For 12 years I've worked as a licensed contractor. I've framed walls, set trusses, run wiring, replaced ducts, hung drywall, set tile, and flashed windows. I've also stood on the other side of that job, inspecting a finished build that had pages worth of problems.

That background changes what gets caught. When I see a flashing detail at a window head, I know how it should have been layered. When I open a panel, I know what a clean termination looks like and what a rushed one looks like. When I find a duct that wasn't sealed, I know what it costs to fix and what it costs to ignore.

New construction across Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Ridgefield, and Camas all share the same patterns. Same crews. Same shortcuts. Same defects show up over and over again. After hundreds of new build inspections, I know where to look first.

I hold Certified Master Inspector® certification (top 3% of the industry), Oregon OCHI license #1898, and Washington DOL license #1856. Free thermal imaging on every inspection.

Portland Metro & SW Washington Housing Market

$555,859
Median sale price
31 days
Median days on market
2,262
Homes sold last month
5,850
Homes for sale now
Live Market Data · Updated March 2026
• Source: Redfin Data Center

Code vs. Independent

Passing Code Is Not the Same as Passing Inspection

A city code inspection and an independent home inspection are two different things doing two different jobs. If you're buying new, the difference matters more than anything else on this page.

What It Covers City Code Inspection Independent Home Inspection
Who orders it City or county jurisdiction You, the buyer
Who it serves Public safety, code compliance Your interests only
When it happens Specific phases during the build At or near completion
Scope Pass/fail against minimum code Whole finished home, all systems
Catches work done between phases No Yes
Checks performance, not just compliance No Yes
Thermal imaging included No Yes, no extra charge
Written report for your records No Yes, digital with photos and video
Useful for warranty claims No Yes

The bottom line. Code compliance means the home met the minimum legal bar at the moment the city inspector showed up. It doesn't mean every system was installed right. It doesn't account for work done between visits. And it isn't yours to keep. An independent inspection is the only way to get a complete picture of the house you're about to buy. For a deeper look at what gets covered, see our buyer's home inspection page.

What We Find in New Builds

New Construction Defects Are Common, Not Rare

Hundreds of new construction inspections across Portland and SW Washington. These are the findings that come up over and over. Some are small. Some get expensive once the warranty runs out.

Flashing Defects

Missing or wrong-order flashing at roof transitions, windows, and doors. The most common finding overall. Water damage from bad flashing can take a year or more to show up, well past any urgent repair conversation.

Most common finding

Grading and Drainage

Fresh dirt around new builds is often left sloping toward the foundation, not away from it. In our wet climate, that pushes water into crawlspaces and against foundation walls. Cheap to fix now. Painful to fix after landscaping is in.

High impact if left alone

HVAC Install Errors

Unsealed ductwork. Disconnected exhaust runs. Refrigerant lines run sloppy. These hit your comfort and your power bill from day one. Code inspectors check rough-in, not the finished system.

Hits your power bill on day one

Attic and Insulation

Insulation pulled apart, gapped, or compressed. Bath fans dumping moist air into the attic instead of outside. Missing vapor barrier. Thermal imaging catches all of this when a flashlight wouldn't.

Thermal imaging catches these

Plumbing Install Errors

Missing water heater straps. Pipes hanging without support. Drain slope that won't actually drain. Some of these are minor. Some will leak inside a wall a year from now.

Often missed in rough-in checks

Electrical Defects

Open junction boxes. Missing cover plates. Bonding gaps. GFCI protection missing where code requires it. These are safety items the builder should fix before you take ownership.

Builder fixes these on their dime

Structural Issues

Foundation cracks, anchor bolts that aren't tied in, framing that's out of square. Less common than the items above. Most important to catch while the warranty is still good.

Catch these while warranty is active

Radon

Clackamas County is EPA Radon Zone 1, the highest risk category in the country. New construction doesn't change the geology under the slab. Add radon testing for $150 with your inspection.

Test every home, regardless of age
Real Inspection. Real Findings.

Watch What We Actually Find in a New Build

A real inspection of a brand-new home in Vancouver, Washington. Listed at $445,000. 1,400 sq ft. "Quality finishes throughout." Here's what comes up in under five minutes when a Certified Master Inspector with a contractor background walks the place.

Findings documented in this inspection
Structural beam
Load-bearing beam in the crawlspace had been removed. Cracks already showing through the floor above.
Electrical panel
Loose wire strands not fully seated under the lug in the main panel. Fire and shock hazard.
Rodent access
Damaged crawlspace vent screen. Rodents had already moved in to a brand-new home.
Foundation drainage
Concrete steps poured straight against the siding with no flashing separation. Future rot guaranteed.
Plumbing rough-in
Shower drain unfinished. Water shut-off valve missing an access panel. Just a hole in the drywall.
Caulking and sealing
Incomplete caulk at multiple windows. Cracked silicone. Exposed end grain on exterior boards.

A $445,000 brand-new home. Every finding here is the builder's responsibility to fix, but only if you have a report documenting them.

Schedule Your New Construction Inspection →
The Builder Walkthrough

That Is Not an Inspection

Most builders schedule a pre-closing orientation walkthrough. It's run by a builder's rep, not an independent inspector. The job is to show you how the home works and write down a few cosmetic punch list items. The builder controls what makes the list.

The person running it isn't trained to evaluate whether your home was built correctly. Their job is to help you take the keys to a home that's already been sold. No amount of friendly chat changes the fact that they work for the builder.

An independent inspection puts a licensed pro in the house who works only for you. The job is to find problems and document them in writing, before you sign. Same property. Different purpose. Different result.

Builder Walkthrough vs. Independent Inspection

Builder walkthrough: Run by a builder employee. Their job is a smooth handover, not a critical look at the home.

Independent inspection: Run by a licensed inspector you hired. The only job is to find every problem in the home.

Builder walkthrough: Cosmetic punch list. Structural, mechanical, and install issues are not the focus and often go unmentioned.

Independent inspection: Every accessible system. Roof, crawlspace, attic, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and site conditions. Plus free thermal imaging.

Builder walkthrough: No written report. No photos of defects. Nothing you can use later for a warranty claim.

Independent inspection: Full digital Spectora report. High-res photos, severity ratings, plain-language notes. Useful for the life of your ownership.

Full Inspection Scope

Every System. Every Accessible Component.

Same thorough scope I bring to every inspection. I crawl the crawlspace. I climb into the attic. I run every system I can safely operate. No checklists from the truck.

Roof & Flashing

Shingles, all flashing at transitions and penetrations, gutters, fascia.

Foundation & Structure

Foundation type and condition, cripple walls, anchor bolts, visible framing.

Electrical

Panel, breakers, wiring, GFCI/AFCI protection, grounding, outlets.

Plumbing

Supply lines, drains, water heater strapping, pressure, fixtures.

HVAC

Furnace, AC, ductwork sealing, exhaust venting, distribution.

Attic & Insulation

Full attic entry. Insulation coverage, exhaust fan venting, vapor barrier.

Interior

Every room. Walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, built-in appliances.

Exterior & Grading

Siding, windows, decks, driveway, grading, drainage away from foundation.

Detailed Digital Reporting

A Report Your Builder Has to Take Seriously.

On a new build, your report is leverage. It's the document you hand the builder to get items fixed before closing, and it's the record you keep for warranty claims down the road. Here's what every new construction report includes.

Plain-Language Findings

Written for a homeowner, not a contractor. You'll know what each item means, why it matters, and how to talk to your builder about it.

Photos and Video on Every Finding

Visual proof of every defect, in context. Hard to argue with. Easy to forward to a builder rep or a project manager.

Severity-Rated Items

Safety hazards, major defects, maintenance items, and informational notes. Sorted so you know what to push hardest on.

See a Real Report

Browse a full sample inspection report. This is exactly what you'll get after your inspection, with the same format and same level of detail.

Sample home inspection report from Trusted Home Inspections
View Sample Report

Client Stories

What people say about Russ

Real reviews from clients across Portland Metro & SW Washington.

★★★★★ 5.0 RatingGoogle Reviews ★★★★★ 5.0 RatingYelp Reviews

Transparent Pricing

Simple, Flat-Rate Pricing

No hidden fees, no surprise add-ons. Thermal imaging is included on every inspection.

Starter Standalone Inspection
$395up to 1,000 sq ft
  • Full home inspection
  • Free thermal imaging
  • Roof & crawlspace
  • Detailed digital report
Book Now
Most Common Inspection + Radon
$545up to 1,000 sq ft
  • Full home inspection
  • Free thermal imaging
  • Detailed digital report
  • EPA-certified radon test
Book Now
Best Value Inspection + Radon + Mold
$740up to 1,000 sq ft
  • Full home inspection
  • Free thermal imaging
  • Detailed digital report
  • EPA-certified radon test
  • Mold air sampling & lab results
Book Now

See our full pricing page for all size ranges.

Common Questions

New Construction FAQs

Questions buyers ask most often before booking a new build inspection across Portland and SW Washington. Have a different one? Call (971) 202-1311. Russ answers his own phone.

Yes. You have the right to hire your own inspector on any home you're buying. Most builders across the Portland metro and SW Washington area handle this without any pushback. The right time is at or just after substantial completion, when all systems are installed and running. If a builder tries to limit your access or pick the inspector for you, that's worth noting. Reputable builders don't object because they stand behind their work. New construction is active in Oregon City, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Ridgefield, and Camas, and we inspect new builds in all of them.
Same scope, different focus. On a new build I'm looking hardest at install quality, grading and drainage around fresh dirt, HVAC setup, attic insulation and venting, and how brand-new systems are running. On a resale inspection, I spend more time on age-related wear, deferred maintenance, and system lifespan. The contractor background helps in both, but it earns its keep on new construction because I know what proper install looks like from doing it.
Yes. Radon comes from the ground, not the building. Clackamas County is EPA Radon Zone 1, the highest risk in the country. A brand-new home over Zone 1 soil has the same radon exposure potential as a 50-year-old home on the same lot. Test every home, regardless of age. Radon testing is $150 when added to your inspection. If levels come back high, mitigation can be installed before closing while it's still on the builder.
Yes, more than you'd think. On new construction, the camera shows whether insulation actually got installed where it was supposed to, where ductwork is leaking conditioned air, and where moisture is sneaking through new flashing or fresh window installs. It also catches electrical hot spots before they become a problem. Thermal imaging is included on every inspection at no extra charge. Most other inspectors charge $100 to $250 for it as an add-on.
Most new construction inspections take 2 to 3.5 hours depending on size. New builds are more predictable in layout than older homes, but the scope is the same. I check every accessible system, enter the attic and crawlspace, and run everything I can safely operate. The full Spectora report is delivered the same day in most cases, with high-res photos, severity ratings, and plain-language notes. See full pricing by square footage.
New construction is priced the same as a buyer's inspection. Flat-rate by square footage, starting at $395 for homes up to 1,000 sq ft and going to $795 for homes up to 5,000 sq ft. Use code NEWCONSTRUCTION at checkout for a discount. Free thermal imaging is included at every price point. See full pricing, or book online.
Yes. Use code NEWCONSTRUCTION when booking online for a discount on your new construction inspection. The code is applied at checkout in the scheduler. Book online here or call (971) 202-1311 to mention it over the phone.
Yes. Trusted Home Inspections is veteran owned. We offer a 10% military discount for veterans, active duty, reservists, National Guard, and military families — use code MILITARY at checkout. A discount is also available for first responders including firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and paramedics — use code RESPONDER10 at checkout. Mention your service when you book or call (971) 202-1311.
It depends on what the inspection turns up. If I find moisture intrusion, a damp crawlspace, or bath fans dumping into the attic, adding mold air quality testing is worth it. New construction doesn't mean no mold risk. Framing lumber sits outside in the rain. Concrete takes time to fully cure. Moisture trapped during construction can start mold growth before you ever take the keys. The add-on price is $195 when combined with a home inspection.
If you're still inside the builder's one-year warranty, you have time. An 11-month warranty inspection documents everything that's shown up since you moved in, including defects, install errors, and issues that only became visible after you started living in the home. You get a written report you can hand straight to the builder while they're still legally on the hook. Use code WARRANTY at checkout.

Where We Inspect

Serving Portland Metro & Southwest Washington

Available 7 days a week within a ~35-mile radius of Portland. Not sure if we cover your area? Just call.

~35-mile radius from Portland
Available 7 days a week
Dual-licensed OR & WA
Oregon state-licensed home inspector seal
Oregon Certified OCHI Lic. #1898
Washington state-licensed home inspector seal
Washington Licensed DOL Lic. #1856

Multnomah County home inspections. Portland and the rest of Multnomah County are full of older housing stock, including 1920s craftsman bungalows in SE Portland, Pearl District lofts, and mid-century homes in NE Portland. Older homes mean knob-and-tube wiring, cast iron drains, and aging foundations. I’ve inspected hundreds of homes across Multnomah County and know exactly what to look for in each neighborhood.

Portland Gresham SE Portland NE Portland NW Portland North Portland Troutdale Bethany Sellwood Pearl District Fairview

Don’t see your city? We likely cover it.

View All Service Areas

Don't sign until you actually know the house.

Serving Portland Metro & SW Washington. Available 7 days a week. Use code NEWCONSTRUCTION at checkout for a discount. Military: MILITARY. First responders: RESPONDER10.

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