New Construction Inspection in St. Paul, MN
An independent inspection of a brand-new home — because new does not always mean defect-free.
A new construction inspection is an independent home inspection of a newly built home, typically performed before closing and again near the end of the builder's first-year warranty. Even brand-new homes have defects from rushed schedules and missed steps; an independent inspector who does not work for the builder documents them so they can be corrected under warranty.
Why inspect a brand-new St. Paul home
New does not mean flawless. New homes are built fast, by many trades, often under weather pressure — and the builder's own walkthrough is not an independent review. An inspector who works for you, not the builder, evaluates the home to the InterNACHI Standards of Practice and documents defects while they are still the builder's responsibility to fix. In the St. Paul metro, where infill and new construction sit alongside historic homes, common new-build findings include grading that drains toward the foundation, missed roof flashing details, HVAC balancing problems and incomplete insulation or air sealing.
The two key inspection points
- Pre-closing / final walkthrough inspection: a full inspection before you take ownership, so unfinished or defective work is caught while you still have leverage.
- 11-month warranty inspection: performed near the end of the typical one-year builder warranty, this catches issues that surface after a season of use — settling cracks, HVAC performance, and items that only show under load — in time to file warranty claims.
What we look for
The same systems as any home inspection — roof, structure, exterior, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, insulation and interior — with particular attention to the workmanship issues that show up in new builds: foundation and slab cracks beyond normal curing, drainage and grading, missing kick-out and step flashing, unbalanced or undersized HVAC, and air-sealing gaps that lead to attic condensation in a Minnesota winter.
Local relevance
Minnesota's freeze-thaw climate is unforgiving of small construction shortcuts. Grading that looks fine in summer can direct snowmelt at the foundation; insulation gaps that pass a glance can cause ice dams the first hard winter. An independent inspection catches these before they become your problem.
Frequently asked questions
Why inspect a new home if it passed a city inspection?
Municipal inspections confirm code compliance at specific milestones; they are not a comprehensive review of workmanship and finish quality. An independent inspection serves you, the buyer.
What is an 11-month warranty inspection?
An inspection performed near the end of the builder's typical one-year warranty, so issues that surface after a season of use can still be claimed and corrected.
Do new homes really have defects?
Yes. Fast schedules and many trades mean missed flashing, grading, insulation and HVAC issues are common even in quality new construction.
When should I schedule the pre-closing inspection?
Before your final walkthrough and closing, so any defects are documented while the builder is still responsible for correcting them.
Price your inspection in minutes
Get an instant quote and book your St. Paul home inspection online — no phone tag, no waiting.