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When Should You Get an 11-Month Warranty Inspection on Your New Home?
Quick Answer: Schedule an 11-month warranty inspection around month 10 or early month 11, before your builder’s first-year warranty expires. This gives you time to identify potential defects and submit repair requests within the warranty period.
Texas continues to see significant new-home construction. In 2025 alone, the state issued 140,002 single-family building permits, more than any other state, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
But even a newly built home can develop problems during its first year. Doors may start sticking, drywall cracks can appear, or an HVAC system may not perform as expected.
Some of these issues may qualify for repairs under your builder’s warranty, depending on its terms.
An 11-month warranty inspection helps you identify concerns while your first-year coverage is still active. And because some builder warranties extend beyond the first year, knowing when to schedule future inspections can be just as useful.
Here’s how to plan around your warranty deadlines.
How Your Builder Warranty Works
Builder warranties don’t all follow the same schedule. Many have separate coverage periods for workmanship, mechanical systems, and structural components.
| Warranty period | What it may cover |
|---|---|
| 1-year workmanship warranty | Items such as drywall finishes, trim, caulking, and certain installation defects |
| Mechanical systems warranty | Covered defects involving plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and related systems |
| 10-year structural warranty | Certain qualifying defects affecting load-bearing structural components |
When to Book Your 11-Month Warranty Inspection
A practical time to schedule your 11-month warranty inspection is around month 10 or early in month 11, if your first-year warranty expires around the first anniversary of closing.
This gives you time to identify concerns, receive your report, and submit any warranty requests before the deadline.
Why Not Book it Sooner?
Some issues become noticeable only after you’ve lived in the home for a while. You might discover a sticking door, cracks in drywall finishes, or a room that doesn’t cool as well as the others.
Seasonal changes can also reveal performance concerns. For example, Houston experienced 90°F or higher on 145 days in 2025; that kind of sustained summer heat gives homeowners a chance to see how their cooling systems perform during regular use.
However, don’t wait until month 11 to report a leak, safety concern, or other problem that needs immediate attention.
Why Not Wait Until the Last Minute?
Your builder may require you to submit warranty claims through a specific process before the coverage expires.
Waiting until the final week leaves little room to arrange an inspection, receive the findings, and prepare your request. Some warranties may also have additional notification requirements.
A simple way to stay ahead is to check your warranty start date when you close and set a reminder several weeks before your first-year deadline.
What Happens During a Builder Warranty Inspection?
A builder warranty inspection evaluates accessible areas of the home for visible defects, installation concerns, and conditions that may warrant further attention.
During the inspection, we check accessible areas of your home, including the roof, attic, interior, exterior, plumbing, electrical components, and HVAC system. You can explore our 11-month warranty inspection checklist for a closer look at what we inspect.
After the inspection, you’ll receive a detailed report with photos to help you document concerns and submit repair requests to your builder. Which repairs qualify will depend on your warranty terms.
And once your builder completes the work, our home warranty inspection services also include repair verification, so you can have the completed repairs checked rather than simply taking the builder’s word for it.
Before Your Mechanical Warranty Ends
Your mechanical warranty may extend beyond the first year and cover certain HVAC, plumbing, and electrical defects.
An inspection can help identify concerns such as:
- Damaged or leaking ductwork
- HVAC drainage or performance issues
- Plumbing leaks or water heater defects
- Damaged or malfunctioning electrical components
For a two-year warranty, aim for month 22. If you have five-year coverage, schedule an inspection before it expires to allow time to report any issues. Always check your warranty terms for exact deadlines.
Before Your 10-Year Structural Warranty Ends
In parts of Texas, expansive clay soils can contribute to foundation movement. According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation bulletin, research estimates that expansive soil damage affects 25% of structures across the United States, with greater financial losses than earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
Some signs worth watching for include:
- Doors or windows that stick or won’t latch properly
- Diagonal cracks near doors and windows
- Gaps between walls, ceilings, or floors
- Cracks in brickwork or uneven floors
Structural coverage is often narrower than homeowners expect. It usually applies to defects in load-bearing components, not cosmetic cracks, so documentation matters.
These signs don’t necessarily indicate structural damage, but they may warrant further evaluation. If your structural warranty lasts ten years, consider scheduling an inspection during year nine. This gives you time to investigate concerns and submit eligible claims before your coverage expires.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Builder Warranty
A little preparation can make the inspection and warranty process easier.
- Report concerns when you notice them: Don’t wait for your scheduled inspection if something needs attention. Follow the builder’s required reporting process.
- Share what you’ve noticed: Tell your inspector about recurring leaks, unusual noises, sticking doors, or rooms that don’t heat or cool properly.
- Keep your paperwork together: Save warranty documents, inspection reports, repair requests, photographs, and correspondence with the builder.
- Check completed repairs: A repair verification inspection can help determine whether the reported work is complete and whether visible concerns remain.
Don’t Let Your Builder Warranty Deadline Sneak Up on You
Your builder’s warranty has an expiration date, and you should know exactly when it is. Checking your coverage early gives you time to arrange an inspection, document concerns, and follow the required claims process.
If your first-year deadline is approaching, schedule your 11-month warranty inspection with GreenWorks Inspections & Engineering.
We’ll help you identify visible concerns and provide a detailed report you can use when discussing potential repairs with your builder.
