11-month and builder warranty inspections in San Diego
A complete inspection of a newly built home, timed before the builder’s first-year warranty expires, while covered defects remain their responsibility.
New construction reading
Field notes from the inspectors.
What the first-year builder warranty covers
Most new homes in San Diego County come with a first-year warranty. For those twelve months the builder pays to fix defects in workmanship and materials, which is most of what turns up in a new build: drain connections never properly sealed, roof flashing cut short of its overlap.
Finding those defects is on you. Builders act on claims put in writing before coverage ends, and nobody sends a reminder. An inspection around month eleven leaves time to read the findings, file the claim and settle any argument over scope while the warranty still holds.
My husband and I recently purchased a new home and had it inspected by San Diego Home Inspection.
A full home inspection, performed to the usual standard
A warranty inspection is a complete home inspection rather than a limited review. We examine the roof, exterior, foundation and slab, attic, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, windows, doors and the visible structure to the same standard we would apply to a property in escrow, along with any add-ons arranged for the visit, such as a camera survey of the sewer main, the pool and spa equipment, or infrared scanning of walls and ceilings.
How we work sets out the time spent on site and the way the report is prepared, and none of that is altered by the age of the property. What differs is the timing of the inspection and the party responsible for the repairs that follow.
Findings documented to support a warranty claim
The benefit of the inspection is largely financial. A cracked shower pan or an undersized return duct is not the result of anything the owner has done, and eleven months into occupancy it should not become an expense they carry.
The report is therefore prepared with the claim in mind. Warrantable workmanship is separated from routine maintenance, and each item is photographed, described in everyday terms and located within the property. Findings presented in that form are considerably more difficult for a warranty representative to attribute to normal settlement.
The report can then be submitted to the builder as a punch list, with the original trades returning to correct their own work. Items that fall outside the warranty are recorded in the same document, so the condition of the property is set out in full either way.
From booking to report
1
Schedule at Month 10
Call in month ten or early eleven.
2
The on-site inspection
Inspected like any resale, plus your add-ons.
3
The report, ASAP
Builder defects split from your maintenance.
4
Builder Submission
The original trades fix their own work.
Charged as a standard home inspection at the posted rate, arranged before the twelfth month.
Home inspection
- Single family, from$475
- Condominium unit, from$395
- Townhome or attached, from$425
- Raised foundation+ $150 / $245
ADD $150 for all raised foundation type properties under 2,000 sq ft, $245 over 2,000 sq ft
Add-ons
- Sewer Camera Inspection (standalone)$475
- Sewer Camera Inspection (with home inspection)$299
- Pool & Spa Inspection (standalone)$475
- Pool & Spa Inspection (with home inspection)$375
- Concrete Slab Survey (with home inspection)$40
Warranty inspections: common questions
Why is it called an 11-month inspection instead of a 12-month inspection?
Builder warranties generally run for one year. Carrying out the inspection in month eleven leaves a margin in which to receive the report and submit written claims before coverage ends. An inspection arranged in month twelve leaves very little room for either.
My home is brand new and looks perfect. Do I really need this?
New properties commonly develop first-year issues as the structure settles and the systems come into regular use, among them drywall cracking, nail pops, plumbing leaks and imbalanced heating and cooling. Several of these are not apparent during a short builder walkthrough, yet are clearly warrantable once they have been documented.
Can I just use the builder’s own warranty walkthrough?
The builder’s representative acts on the builder’s behalf. An independent inspection by a certified, licensed professional produces objective, photo-documented findings that are harder to set aside, which strengthens the owner’s position when covered repairs are requested.
What if the inspection finds problems outside the warranty?
Those findings remain useful. An issue identified early can be addressed before it develops further, and the report distinguishes warrantable defects from maintenance items, so it is clear which matters belong with the builder and which the owner should arrange directly.
How long does a warranty inspection take?
The duration varies with the size and complexity of the property, though it is best treated as comparable to a standard buyer’s inspection. Digital reports are normally issued the same day, so a claim can be prepared without delay.
What is an 11-month builder warranty inspection?
It is a full home inspection carried out before the builder’s one-year warranty expires, so that defects are recorded while responsibility for repairing them still rests with the builder. The inspection is conducted by an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector and covers the property throughout, and the report is written to be submitted to the builder.
Who needs an 11-month warranty inspection and when should I schedule it?
It applies to anyone who purchased a newly built home carrying a one-year builder warranty, and it is best arranged at around the eleven-month mark. New construction across San Diego County frequently settles within the first year, and the defects that follow are worth documenting while their repair remains the builder’s obligation.
What’s included in an 11-month warranty inspection?
We assess the accessible areas of the property: roof, exterior, foundation and slab, attic, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, windows, doors, insulation and visible structure. Thermal imaging, sewer camera scoping and pool and spa inspections are available as add-ons. Pest treatment and engineering testing fall outside our scope, though we can refer you on for termite work and other specialist assessments.
Inspections for new construction
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