Progress documented, so the next draw can be released
A construction draw inspection is an on-site verification of how far a project has actually progressed, documented on the lender’s required inspection form and keyed to the draw being requested. Lenders and builders use it to keep funding aligned with completed work.
Draw reports are generally delivered within 48 hours of the site visit — much faster than a full appraisal. Timing is confirmed once the assignment has been reviewed and accepted.
What a draw inspection covers
On a construction or renovation loan, funds are released in stages rather than all at once. Before each release, the lender needs independent confirmation that the work claimed on the draw request has actually been completed on site. That confirmation is the draw inspection.
The inspection documents the observed stage of construction, photographs the work in place, and reports it against the draw schedule or line items the lender uses — on whatever inspection form the lender requires. It is an observation and documentation service, not an appraisal, a code inspection, a structural or engineering review, or a certification of workmanship.
Inspection time varies with the project’s size, complexity, and reporting requirements. Because these inspections repeat on a schedule, they work best as an ongoing relationship — the same inspector, the same forms, the same expectations, draw after draw.
Built for the people funding and building the project
Banks & credit unions
Recurring draw-inspection coverage across a construction portfolio, with consistent documentation and dependable scheduling. Institutional clients may pay by direct deposit or established invoicing terms.
Construction lenders
Independent verification before each release, reported on your form and tied to the draw number, so funding decisions have documentation behind them.
48-hour turn time. Reports are generally back within 48 hours of the site visit, so a release isn’t left waiting on paperwork. Timing is confirmed when the assignment is accepted.
Builders & contractors
Timely inspections keep draws moving. Sharing the draw schedule and the lender’s form up front is the fastest route to a same-week inspection.
What to send with your request
- Property address and project type
- Draw number being inspected
- Lender requirements and the required inspection form
- Client and intended-user information
- Requested completion date
- Site access and point-of-contact details
- Any known project complexities
The quote form itself is deliberately short — name, phone, email, and the property address. The details above are easiest to send by email or text once we’re in touch, and the sooner we have them the faster the fee comes back. Requests received during business hours generally get a response the same day.
From request to report
- Request reviewed. We confirm the property is within the service area, the scope is clear, and the schedule works.
- Fee and scope quoted by email, generally the same day. Quotes are free and carry no obligation.
- Engagement confirmed. You receive an engagement agreement outlining the assignment, fee, scope, timing, and payment terms — signable electronically.
- Site inspection. Scheduled once the assignment is accepted — seven days a week.
- Report delivered — generally within 48 hours of the inspection, prepared in TOTAL appraisal software and delivered electronically as a PDF, or through your designated lender, AMC, or institutional appraisal portal.
What a draw inspection is not
Being clear about this up front saves everyone time. A construction draw inspection reports observed progress as of the inspection date. It is not:
- An appraisal or an opinion of value
- A building-code or municipal inspection
- A certificate of occupancy, or any confirmation that one will be issued
- A structural, mechanical, or engineering review
- A home inspection or warranty of any kind
- A certification of construction quality or workmanship
- Legal, tax, lending, or investment advice
Where we inspect
Draw inspections are performed throughout the same coverage area as our residential appraisal work: Nashville and Middle Tennessee as the primary market, with Southern Kentucky as a secondary service area, out to roughly 75 miles from Nashville. Properties outside the standard service area may incur an additional travel fee, quoted in advance.
Need draw inspections covered in Middle Tennessee?
Send the property, the draw number, and your required form. You’ll hear back from the inspector personally — generally the same day.