New Construction in Paradise, CA

Compare complete homes, not just asking prices

One builder’s price may include fencing, landscaping, solar, appliances, and a finished driveway; another may leave some of those costs to the buyer. Request a written inclusion and exclusion list for each home you compare. Note allowance limits and the installed price of any upgrades you want.

A model home or rendering can show options that are not included. Identify the exact home, plan, finishes, and lot improvements covered by your agreement, including what happens when a material is unavailable.

Verify the paper trail and occupancy

Ask for approved plans, permits, final inspection records, and the applicable occupancy authorization. Verify unresolved conditions with the permitting agency. If changes were made during construction, ask whether the approved documents reflect them.

For a home still under construction, build a realistic closing plan with the builder, lender, and insurer. Identify what must happen before funding or occupancy and who bears costs if completion is delayed.

Inspect the home and the ground around it

Discuss an independent inspection even when the home is new. Record punch-list items clearly, with an agreed remedy and timeline. Pay attention to drainage, grading, roof runoff, retaining structures, utility connections, and septic approvals as well as finishes.

Ask which soils or compaction reports apply to the site and whether required work was documented. A new house on a previously developed parcel still needs its own record review; prior use is not a substitute for current approvals.

Know your builder and your warranty

Check the contractor’s license information with CSLB and ask for recent references. Ask how the builder handles warranty requests after move-in and who will respond if a subcontractor issue develops.

Read the written warranty before relying on a sales description. Keep the scope, exclusions, start dates, contacts, maintenance requirements, and claim procedure with your closing records.

Plan for move-in beyond the keys

Confirm permanent utility service, account transfers, insurance start dates, and any exterior work that will continue after closing. Ask what care newly installed landscaping or drainage features require. Walk through the property with the written inclusion list and keep a dated record of outstanding items.