Buying new build vs old

I’m wondering what are your opinion about new builds? I initially thought they were great because under warranty from builders, no negotiations needed, no chain, etc. But I recently read on the sub of my area an engineer for a large development blowing the whistle on the builders doing all sorts of crap, which would lead the people buying houses that would be near impossible to sell when it would be discovered. So now I’m wondering. Also is there anything one can do prior to buying a new build to check that everything is up to standard?