You just moved into your brand-new home. Everything looks perfect — fresh paint, new appliances, clean finishes. It's easy to assume that because the home is new, it doesn't need an inspection. That assumption can be very costly.
What Is an 11-Month Warranty Inspection?
Most new construction homes come with a one-year builder's warranty. This warranty typically covers defects in materials and workmanship discovered during the first year of occupancy.
An 11-month warranty inspection is a professional home inspection performed before that warranty expires — giving you the opportunity to identify defects and submit them to your builder for repair while they are still legally responsible.
Why New Homes Still Have Problems
New construction does not mean perfect construction. Builders are often working under tight timelines with large crews, and mistakes happen. Common issues found in new homes include:
- Improper grading — Soil graded toward the foundation instead of away, causing water intrusion
- HVAC installation errors — Ducts that are improperly connected, undersized, or leaking
- Plumbing deficiencies — Slow drains, improper venting, or missing cleanouts
- Roof defects — Improperly installed flashing, missing sealant around penetrations
- Insulation gaps — Areas where insulation was skipped or improperly installed
- Structural issues — Improperly fastened framing, missing hangers, or settling cracks
Municipal inspectors check for code compliance — but they do not perform the kind of thorough, room-by-room evaluation that a licensed home inspector does.
The Cost of Waiting
If you miss the warranty window, you are responsible for repairs that your builder would have fixed for free. Depending on the issue, that could mean thousands — or tens of thousands — of dollars out of pocket.
An 11-month inspection from InspectShield typically costs a fraction of what a single repair would run after the warranty expires.
What Thomas Smith Looks For
With a background in quality control inspection for the precast, prestressed concrete industry, Thomas Smith understands structural integrity at a deep level. He knows where builders cut corners, where municipal inspectors may have missed something, and what defects tend to show up in the first year of occupancy.
Your InspectShield report will be detailed, photo-documented, and delivered the same day — giving you exactly what you need to submit a formal warranty claim to your builder.
Serving Middle Tennessee New Construction
InspectShield provides 11-month warranty inspections throughout Middle Tennessee including Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Franklin, and Smyrna.
Do not let your builder's warranty expire without taking advantage of it. Contact InspectShield today to schedule your 11-month inspection.