New Construction Home Inspections in Clermont, Minneola & Groveland

Hi, I'm Grant Doutt, owner of Four Corners Inspection Services here in Central Florida. I'm a Certified Master Inspector through InterNACHI, a Certified Commercial Property Inspector, and a Phase 1 Environmental Inspector. I've been doing this since 2019, and I inspect hundreds of homes every year. So when I talk about new construction, it's coming from boots on the ground — not a brochure.

Here's something that happens to us almost every day. We answer the phone and someone tells us they're building a new home. They mention the builder's name, and almost in the same breath they say, "But I'm hearing all these bad stories, I read all these terrible reviews." And now I'm on the phone trying to talk them off the ledge. Because underneath all of it is the same question I get asked all the time: Grant, who's the best builder? Is it Lennar, Ryan Homes, David Weekley? The list goes on and on. And honestly, my answer surprises people every single time.

Here's the thing. Every one of these builders has something going for them — endearing qualities, great floor plans, great locations. But when it comes to the actual quality of your home, it almost always comes down to one thing: people. And as soon as I say that, the stories start. "My new build was so bad. The cabinets weren't level. The doors stick. The garage floor is already cracked. We've got a ton of electrical problems." I hear it about every builder, no matter whose flag is flying at the entrance to the neighborhood.

So let me back you up and give you a different way to look at it. Don't look at it up close — look at it from 1,000 feet. Because when you do, you realize what every new home really is. It's man-made materials and people installing them. That's right: man-made materials and people. And everything comes back to that second part.

There's one person in this whole process who matters so much, and we just assume that because he has the job, he must be good at it. Nothing could be further from the truth. That person might be called the project supervisor, the construction coordinator, the job superintendent. Whatever title the builder gives them, this is the person overseeing the building of your home. And here's what I've found to be true: no matter the name on that flag, if that person isn't totally involved in your home, eight times out of ten it's not going to be a good result.

Now, there's a qualifier here. I'm not talking about the best building company — I'm talking about the best person responsible for building your home. The great ones surround themselves with great subcontractors, and they hold them accountable for the work they perform. And that matters more than you think, because a lot of these subcontractors are hiring people weekly just to fill their crews — which means there's a real chance the person installing something in your half-a-million-dollar home is learning the trade while they're doing it on your house. That's just how things go sideways.

There aren't many companies out there that can honestly say they have seasoned veterans in every single position working on your home. So the work requires even greater scrutiny, not less. And a good, experienced supervisor recognizes that immediately. They hold their subcontractors to a high standard of completion. They don't just accept the work because there's a deadline to meet. Don't get me wrong — deadlines are important, but so is great work. That's what you're paying for, and that's what you're expecting.

And think about what's at stake. The average new home today is pushing half a million dollars. What you expect and what you actually get can be two entirely different things. And like I said, I'm walking through brand-new homes constantly, and regardless of the name on the flag at the entrance to the neighborhood, these truths hold true. The superintendent who is involved every step of the way returns the best results, time and time again.

So the next time someone asks me who the best builder is, here's my real answer: it's not the logo, it's the people. And it's whether anyone was truly watching while your home was being built. That's exactly what I'm looking for when I walk your new construction. I'm Grant with Four Corners. If you're buying new, get a set of eyes on it that work for you.