Some of the strategies that I use will be since the new homw is a newly built constructions, it often does not have a burn in period of use. The inspector is money well spent. But as one of my mentor pointed out is that the best way is to talk to the people who just moved into the newly built home by the same bulder on the same project. Ask if they found anything wrong or what they discovered. Also wait until the 11 month after move in/ Hopefully by then you live in to test everything out, then bring an inpector in. This way the documents is official and with the professional eyes will help you document and point out the items that you'd have missed.
Just my .02 cents.
