Homeowner guide The 11-month warranty deadline and how to use it.

Start with your warranty documents

Before scheduling anything, find the warranty information provided by your builder. Look for:

• The length of the warranty
• What components and conditions are covered
• Exclusions and limitations
• Procedures for submitting warranty requests
• Documentation requirements
• Reporting deadlines
• Any requirement to notify the builder before the warranty period expires

Why it matters. The phrase "11-month warranty" is common in new-home construction, but the actual terms are set by your builder's warranty documents. The contract and warranty documents control, not the calendar on its own.

Do not wait until the last week

If your warranty period is approaching its first-year deadline, give yourself time to act. Scheduling an inspection too close to the deadline leaves little time to review the report, communicate with the builder, and work out whether additional documentation or follow-up is needed. A better approach is to plan ahead. Consider this sequence:

• Review. Find your warranty documents and determine the applicable deadline and submission requirements.
• Inspect. Schedule your independent warranty inspection with enough time remaining in the warranty period.
• Document. Use the inspection report, photographs, videos when available, and your own observations to create a clear record of the conditions identified.
• Submit. Provide the builder with your warranty requests according to its established process.
• Follow up. Track the builder's response and any corrective work that follows.

Where an inspection fits. We schedule the 11-month warranty inspection a few weeks ahead of the deadline you found in your warranty documents, so the report is in your hands with room to submit the list rather than on the last business day of coverage. Count eleven months from your closing date and put it on the calendar now.

What can change during the first year?

A year of normal occupancy can reveal conditions that were not apparent during the original construction. You may notice:

• Doors or windows that no longer operate as they did at first
• Cracks or movement in finishes
• Changes around trim, flooring, cabinets or other interior components
• Plumbing fixture or drainage concerns
• HVAC performance concerns
• Electrical issues
• Water intrusion or drainage concerns
• Exterior finish changes
• Issues with grading or site drainage
• Other conditions that developed or became apparent after occupancy

Why it matters. Not every condition is necessarily covered by a builder's warranty. Documenting the condition gives you a clear basis for discussing it with the builder and determining whether it falls within the warranty terms.

Look beyond what you can see

A warranty inspection should not be limited to obvious cosmetic changes. An inspection covers accessible components and systems throughout the home and helps identify conditions that may warrant correction, further evaluation or monitoring.

The inspection does not determine whether the builder's warranty covers a particular condition. That determination belongs to the builder and the warranty terms.

Document the condition clearly

When submitting a warranty request, be specific. Instead of simply writing "crack in wall," document:

• What. A crack is visible in the wall finish.
• Where. The specific room and location.
• Evidence. A photograph and, when available, video of the condition.
• Request. Evaluation and correction as appropriate under the warranty terms.

Clear documentation gives the builder a better understanding of what you are reporting and where it is located.

Keep your own records

Keep copies of your warranty documents, inspection reports, photographs, videos, warranty requests, builder responses, work orders, completion documentation and follow-up correspondence. These records create a useful history of what was reported and what was addressed during the warranty period.

What happens after you submit the list?

The builder evaluates each item and determines the appropriate response based on its warranty procedures and the applicable terms. Some items are corrected. Others need further evaluation. Some do not fall within warranty coverage. If a condition is disputed or you are unsure how the warranty applies, review the warranty documents and communicate directly with the builder about its determination.

An inspection report documents what was observed. It does not establish warranty coverage or require the builder to perform a particular repair.

Do not confuse the warranty inspection with a new-home inspection

A warranty inspection takes place after you have lived in the home and had a chance to observe how it performs over time. That makes it different from the inspections performed during construction or before closing. Each serves a different point in the home's history:

• During construction. Documents conditions while important components are still accessible.
• Pre-closing. Documents the home's condition as it approaches completion and turnover.
• Warranty period. Looks at the home after months of occupancy and use, when new conditions may have developed or become apparent.

Together, these inspections give a more complete record of the home's construction and early ownership.

If we inspected during the build. The 11-month visit checks the new findings against your pre-slab, pre-drywall and pre-closing reports, including whether every item on the original list was closed out. If we did not, the 11-month inspection stands on its own. See all four on one timeline.

The bottom line.

Your warranty period is an opportunity to address conditions that have developed or become apparent during the first year of ownership. It is not something to think about for the first time at month 11.

Know your deadline. Read your warranty. Inspect early enough to act. Document clearly. Submit your requests through the builder's process.

The goal is simple: do not let an important deadline arrive before you know what needs attention.

Because even a new home deserves a second set of eyes.