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11th Month Inspections
What is an 11th-month home inspection?
Also known as a builder's warranty inspection, it is a home inspection performed for the owner of a newly-built home during the first year, before the builder's warranty expires. What it is NOT, is paid for by the builder. You, proud homeowner, have to do it. Why? Profits, of course. They already have your money; why would a builder pay for a home inspection, just to find out what else the builder needs to pay for? If you're happy, the builder is happy, too. Besides, if the builder hired a home inspector, there would be an immediate conflict of interest.
The Truth about New Homes
This is often hard for a new home buyer to swallow, but the reality is that over 90% of the issues we find in home inspections are the result of shoddy work. Less than 10% is from a lack of maintenance or damage from an unexpected event. This holds true no matter the price point; even multi-million dollar homes are victims of shortcuts. Sadly, what often happens is that a new home gets resold in 5-10 years, and the inspection often finds expensive repairs needed for things that were wrong since the house was new. Sometimes those problems have grown to a point where the seller suddenly has NO EQUITY. Your home is a huge investment. Don't let pride, stinginess, or wishful thinking get in the way of making it last. When you buy new, the builder owes you a correctly-finished product. But it's up to you to make sure you get it.
Common Defects in New Homes
- Poorly adhered shingles
- Shingles buckled due to cold weather installation
- Exhaust ducts terminated in attic, not through roof
- Vent boots not properly installed
- Roof flashings installed wrong or missing altogether
- Water heater not installed correctly, unsafe condition
- Header flashing missing from windows or doors
- Smoke alarms not functional
- Gas lines not run properly to furnace and/or water heater
- Downspouts not terminated properly
- Siding not installed per manufacturer's instructions
- Site not properly graded
Disclaimer: Any images on this site or mention of builders is NOT meant to suggest any one builder's products are more prone to defects than those of any other builder. The cause of substandard work falls on the shoulders of subcontractors hired by the builders. It is an unfortunate reality in construction that many pieces of work don't get inspected by anyone other than the subcontractor doing the work.