11-Month Warranty Inspection in St. Paul, MN
An independent inspection near the end of your builder's first-year warranty — so defects get fixed on the builder's dime.
An 11-month warranty inspection is a home inspection performed near the end of a builder's typical one-year warranty period. It documents defects and items that have surfaced after a season of use — settling cracks, HVAC performance, finish problems — so the homeowner can submit a warranty claim before the warranty expires.
Why the timing matters
Most new homes come with a one-year builder warranty. Many defects do not appear at closing — they surface after the home has gone through a Minnesota winter and a season of normal use. An inspection at month eleven catches those issues while the builder is still obligated to fix them, instead of after the warranty lapses and the cost shifts to you.
What surfaces in the first year
- Settling cracks in drywall, foundation and concrete flatwork as the home settles.
- HVAC performance issues that only show under a full heating and cooling season.
- Grading and drainage problems that appear after the soil settles and the first heavy rains and snowmelt.
- Finish and trim defects, door and window operation, and caulking failures.
- Attic condensation and air-sealing gaps revealed by the first cold winter.
What the inspection covers
The same systems as a full home inspection — roof, structure, exterior, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, insulation and interior — with particular attention to the workmanship and settling issues that show up after a year. The report gives you a clear, documented punch list to submit to the builder. This pairs naturally with our new construction inspection for buyers who inspected at closing as well.
Local relevance
Minnesota's freeze-thaw climate is unforgiving of small construction shortcuts. Grading that looked fine at closing can direct snowmelt at the foundation; air-sealing gaps that passed a glance can cause attic frost the first hard winter. The 11-month inspection catches these in time to claim them.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly should I schedule it?
Around month ten or eleven of your builder's one-year warranty, leaving time to submit claims before the warranty expires.
What kinds of issues does it catch?
Settling cracks, HVAC performance, grading and drainage problems, finish defects, and air-sealing or attic issues revealed by the first winter.
Is it worth it if I inspected at closing?
Yes. Many defects only appear after a season of use, which a closing inspection cannot anticipate. The 11-month inspection catches those.
Does the builder have to fix what it finds?
If items fall within the warranty terms, yes. The inspection gives you a documented punch list to submit before the warranty period ends.
Price your inspection in minutes
Get an instant quote and book your St. Paul home inspection online — no phone tag, no waiting.