re: DR Horton new construction framing finds by home inspector

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I used to work for a parish permit & building inspection department. This was years ago and it is probably different for each parish, but if an inspector knows the contractor there are times when things might get signed off without the inspector going out to the site. If he is busy, he might just glance at the house plans and give the thumbs up.

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Even a conscientious and competent inspector only spends a short period of time inspecting a project.

I have been in the industry my entire career at various levels. When I knew an inspector was coming out I would intentionally leave them some low hanging fruit...almost always not bonding the center tap of a transformer and leaving the cover off the transformer. They find that low hanging fruit and ignore EVERYTHING else. Always. Never fails. about 90% of the time they fail to find even the low hanging fruit. With rare exceptions inspectors are not well trained and are paid nearly nothing compared to what their background and experience is worth in a trade. The AHJ has not liability. The entire process is a dog and pony show meant to provide the consumer some confidence...and it fails in the endeavor as well. What it does is promote poor materials and methods and creates an unfair market for those who will do the right thing.