What is Blue Taping?

A Blue Tape Inspection is a common step in the process of building a new home. This is one of the final processes as the home nears its completion.

Typically completed during the home inspection, the buyer will meet with the builder to do a walk-through of the home looking for incomplete items or items that require additional attention, repair, or correction. These items are marked with a piece of blue painter’s tape — hence the name.

What is Covered?

Items marked can cover a broad spectrum of work, but most often, they are considered to be small cosmetic blemishes such as

• sheetrock imperfections

• carpet stains

• scuffs on a wall

• misaligned trim

• mismatched paint touch-up,

• uncleaned areas, etc.

What Next?

Once everything has been marked with a piece of blue tape, the builders will commit to addressing each issue and resolving it. This is also the time to discuss final expectations, home warranty information, etc. as offered by the particular builder.

A day or so before the final closing date, when the buyer actually purchases and takes possession of the home, there will be one more final walk-through to confirm that the items found during the Blue Tape Inspection were correctly addressed.

It is not uncommon for some issues to still be outstanding. When this is the case, the builder will generally provide an addendum to the purchase contract that states those items will be addressed within a specific period of time after the buyer purchases and takes possession of the home. Basically the addendum obligates the builder to finish any items that have not been addressed.

What do you help with?

Blue taping can be subjective, which is why these cosmetic deficiencies of the home are not included in a standard home inspection report. Noble Home Inspections, however, is familiar with what a new-construction quality should look like. For an add-on fee, we can assist with blue taping a home to your liking.

Can I also blue-tape?

Yes, and in fact you must! Blue taping is subjective and each inspector has a differing view on what should be considered a cosmetic defect. We do the best we can, but it is necessary for the buyer to also follow-up and complete a secondary blue-tape walk-through to make sure they are happy with the results.