Builders leave the lights on in new construction homes overnight because it helps to see if unwanted intruders are in the home. It offers security and safety for the new build, and anyone working on-site at night.
A new construction home builder invests a lot of money in building a home, and until the closing date – the builder is responsible for the build. The buyer of the new construction/pre-construction does not own the home until the construction is completed, and the closing has occurred. As a result, most builders will do everything they can to limit unwanted intruders from entering the property.
Home builders who are developing a new subdivision will often face numerous issues with unwanted intruders, theft of construction material, damage to properties, and vandalism.
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Theft of Construction Material
In recent years, with the rising cost of construction materials such as lumber; there has been a considerable uptick in theft from construction sites. For this reason, builders will often leave lights on in the homes they are building, as well as outside the homes. This lighting will allow nearby cameras to have better surveillance of the construction site.
Construction sites building new homes have several million dollars worth of equipment, materials, and assets on any given site. Oftentimes, they will use a remote live video monitoring security service such as this company to keep eyes on their possessions and site. This service will have a real human that will be monitoring the site, and when an intruder is caught, they will immediately alert them via microphones and call law enforcement when required.
As you can see, the builders who leave their lights on in a new construction home will do so for security and liability reasons. It has always been said that, when a home has its lights on, it will deter people from trespassing.
Damage to Property
A home builder owns a new build before it has been delivered to the client. As such, the builder wants to avoid having to deal with damage to the property. If an intruder walks into a new construction home and damages the work that has been done in the home – it is up to the builder to put up the cost of the repairs. This can not only delay the delivery of the home but add costs to the builder.
While the lights may be on in a new build at night, it does not mean you as the buyer are allowed to enter the site. It is still considered trespassing, as you have not become the owner of the home yet. If you wish to walk into your new construction home while it is being built, you will need to get permission from the builder.
Lastly, an issue some new construction builders have with intruders is squatters. Squatters are commonly known as individuals who occupy a residential space that they do not own. In winter months, it would make sense for squatters to seek an indoor space that is warmer – such as a near-completion new build home.
These homes would have the heating turned on to prevent the pipes from freezing, so it makes it the perfect space for squatters to occupy. For this reason, as well, builders will leave the lights on so intruders can be spotted.
Who Pays for Electricity During New Construction?
While a new construction home is being built, the electricity costs are paid by the builder. This is because the builder owns the land, and the building while it is in construction. The electricity supplied to the site will be billed directly to the builder/developer.
Once the electricity service has been connected to the home, it will be under the name of the builder. When the home is built and is transferred – it will be changed to the new owner of the new build. There are considerable energy costs that can accrue during construction, especially if the home is being built during the colder months. If windows are open, and there is heating turned on – it can lead to expensive utility costs.
The average cost to wire an 1800 square-feet new construction home is $11,500. The costs of wiring a new construction home are much less because the walls are open and no teardown work is required. Once the builder has their licensed electrician complete the initial connection, there is power to the home.
It’s important to remember that home builders are in the business of making a profit, and the estimated electricity costs of the build are built into the pricing. As such, the homebuyer is in fact paying for these costs overall.