New Southern Arizona homes are built fast, and First Defense Building Inspection in Tucson checks them at the stages that matter. Owner Kief Manning holds Arizona BTR license #76157, is a licensed drone pilot, and works as a disaster relief inspector, so he knows how buildings fail. Buying a new home in the Tucson area? Call (520) 505-1423 before the builder’s schedule gets ahead of you.
Building or buying new? Call (520) 505-1423 or Schedule an inspection. More detail is on our pricing and services pages.
What we inspect
We offer inspections at four points in the life of a new home. You can book one or all of them:
- Slab inspection: the foundation before it is covered, looking at the pour, cracks, and visible plumbing and rebar conditions where accessible
- Frame or pre-drywall inspection: framing, connections, roof structure, rough electrical, rough plumbing, and ductwork before insulation and drywall hide them
- Final inspection: the finished home, including the roof, stucco, windows, doors, electrical, plumbing, cooling, appliances, and cosmetic items for a punch list
- One-year warranty inspection: a walk-through before your builder warranty runs out, to catch problems that showed up after you moved in
Who it is for
This service is for buyers of production homes and custom homes in Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Vail, Sonoita, Benson, Arizona City, Casa Grande, and Maricopa. Builders have their own inspectors and the city or county checks code, but neither one works for you. A third-party inspection gives you a list you can hand to the builder. It is also useful for owners whose home is almost a year old and who want to use the warranty while they still can.
What the report includes
Each report has photos, plain-language findings, and next steps. For a final inspection, we organize the findings into a punch list you can send to the builder’s warranty or customer service contact. We describe what we saw and where, so the builder can find it and fix it. We do not negotiate with your builder, but we can explain any finding to you in more detail.
Southern Arizona issues we see
New does not always mean finished properly. In this area we commonly see:
- Roof flashing and tile or foam details that are ready to leak in the first monsoon
- Stucco cracks and gaps at windows, trim, and wall transitions
- Lot grading and drainage that sends water toward the house
- Ductwork that is loose, poorly sealed, or crushed in the attic
- Missing insulation, loose fixtures, and unfinished electrical connections
- Production-home punch list items such as misaligned doors, sloppy caulking, and paint touch-ups left undone
Many of these are simple to fix before closing and much harder to get addressed afterward. If you are buying a resale instead, see our Tucson home inspection page. Homes with pools can also get a pool and spa inspection.
How to book
Call as early as you can. Slab and frame inspections have to be done before the builder moves on to the next stage, so tell us your lot, your builder, and the expected construction dates. For a final inspection, book before your closing walk-through. We take calls seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also email FirstDefenseInspection@gmail.com, or write to 8987 E Tanque Verde Rd, Ste 309 #156, Tucson, AZ 85749.
Call (520) 505-1423 or Schedule an inspection.
See our pricing page for cost details and our inspection services for the full list.