Construction Draw Inspections

What are Draw Inspections?

Draw inspections, also known as progress inspections or completion evaluations, verify the advancement of a construction project—residential or otherwise—for lenders. By cross-checking draw inspection reports against those of a contractor, banks can protect their investments. For example, when an inspector finishes a draw inspection, their report helps confirm that the contractor completed their work before the bank disperses funds or draws.

“The word ‘draw’ comes from the contractor being able to draw on a bank loan,” said Nick Gromicko, founder of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI).

During draw inspections, inspectors detail the:

• amount of work completed for each project line item,
• percentage of necessary materials on site, and
• evidence of observations via photos and reports.

Unlike a standard home inspection, draw inspections are not for finding defects. Bruce Barker, 2021 President of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), explains:

“You are working for the lender and your job is basically [to say] ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Is this component there? Yes or no? You have nothing to do with how well it was installed, what the engineering is, or even if they have the right component. That’s not your job.”