Building inspection one year after house handover?

The headline can be a bit confusing:

we have just canceled the membership with the [Verband Privater Bauherren] - you know, money is tight :oops: and the expert is no longer needed.
Now, in the termination letter (which might be more of an advertisement than anything else), they advise you to still have a building inspection with an expert even after one year of moving in. The contract with the [Verband Privater Bauherren] actually ends only at the end of June.
Well, the tile baseboard has come loose over a few meters, the electrician still has to come back. But those were special services - the general contractor isn’t involved in that anyway.
The plaster is crumbling at transitions inside over a few millimeters, and are the cracks in the walls really settlement cracks? You can at least see the transitions between drywall and stone wall even without glasses... That’s probably a good topic for debate?!

What do you think? Does such a building inspection with an expert after a year of moving in make sense?

Any opinions are appreciated
Yvonne :)

I would only involve an expert if matters are disputed or unclear. The issue with the tile baseboard and electrician is obviously apparent and can usually be clarified directly with the contracting party, unless there is a broken relationship. Cracks at transitions, especially between masonry and drywall, are almost normal. However, if you have cracks elsewhere in the walls, I would possibly have the expert take another look. A single visit won't cost the earth, right? And otherwise, only obvious defects can now be identified, which you, having lived there for a year, probably know even better than the expert can see.

Hello Yvonne,

we have just canceled the Association of Private Builders - you know, money is scarce.

Oh really :D

Now they advise in the cancellation letter (might be more advertising than anything else) to still have a building inspection with an expert even after one year of moving in. Because the contract with the Association of Private Builders only ends at the end of June.

The Association of Private Builders naturally has to distinguish itself from its competitors in the field; that is, in my opinion, legitimate. Is the service "building inspection after 1 year" included in the concluded service or to be paid separately?

What do you think? Does such a building inspection with an expert after one year of moving in make sense?

Honestly?

If you have time/want to chat AND the inspection doesn’t cost extra money, I might let them come. The person who will ring the doorbell then will take important information back for future customers of the Association of Private Builders regarding experience with this or that provider.

If you are getting a bit fed up with the house building adventure AND the doorbell ringing costs money, skip the offer. You have now lived in the house for a year and know the open construction sites – if any at all – better than the employee of the Association of Private Builders. That transitions from drywall to masonry are, in my opinion, "normal"; I am sure there are corresponding statements in your contract. That is – by the way – the main reason why we still recommend textured wallpaper (Raufaser) for the initial move-in; but, as always in life, learning by doing counts ????

You also received a five-year warranty period from your provider. That means: if a warranty case arises within this period – which usually does not include transitions from wall to floor tiles and certainly not electrical installations – your provider is obligated. So there is no need for an "intermediate acceptance" by the Association of Private Builders nor an expert; especially not if there are no warranty works to be carried out as of today.

Just my 2 coins ....

Thank you to both of you :)

Short and sweet: I see it the same way. We have a neutral to good relationship with our construction company and had no contract disputes. The cracks are only visible in good light, probably settlement cracks and our issue since we did not wallpaper (in the contract: Q2, ready for wallpapering) The transitions will be sealed with acrylic by us in a year, as advised by the drywall company, we might wallpaper one or two walls... and the rest: we'll call the craftsmen in due time ;)

Regarding the Verband Privater Bauherren: they offer a list of the SVs, who then write their own invoices independently. So it would be several hundred euros if we call one again (our old expert is now retired)

Sunny greetings Yvonne

P.s. we have VOB