New Construction
New construction & 11-month warranty inspections
A brand-new house isn't automatically a sound one. We inspect new builds before closing, and again before the builder's one-year warranty runs out — as a former builder who knows where crews cut corners.
New homes have workmanship problems, not age problems
Nothing in a new house is worn out, so the defects are different: flashing installed in the wrong order, missing insulation, a drain with no slope, a bathroom fan that ends in the attic instead of outside. They're installation mistakes, and far cheaper to fix before you close — or while the builder is still responsible.
The city's inspections check that work meets code at set stages of construction. They aren't a check on everything, and the city inspector isn't working for you. We are.
Our inspector spent years building homes, so we know how they go together and where a crew in a hurry takes shortcuts.
- Before closing, from
- $649
- 11-month warranty, from
- $649
Larger homes are quoted before we book. Thermal imaging included — it's how missing insulation and hidden leaks show up in a new house.
(628) 230-0357See a sample reportWhat we inspect
Roof, flashing & exterior
Flashing at windows, doors and where walls meet the roof, and drainage away from the foundation.
Insulation
Thermal imaging across walls and ceilings to find insulation that's missing or compressed behind the drywall.
Plumbing
Drain slope, leaks with fixtures running together, and the water heater's installation and venting.
Electrical
The panel and its labelling, GFCI and AFCI protection, and outlets tested at every accessible location.
Heating & cooling
Supply and return temperatures, duct connections in the attic, and where exhaust fans actually end up.
Finishes & operation
Doors, windows, cabinets and appliances — the punch-list items that are easy to miss at a walkthrough.
Two times to inspect a new home
- Before closing. At or before your final walkthrough, so what we find goes on the builder's punch list before you sign.
- Before the warranty ends. Around month eleven, after a year of weather and settling, problems show up that weren't there on day one: leaks, cracks, sticking doors, fans that don't vent outside. Report them in writing while the builder still has to respond.
About builder warranties
Warranty terms are in your purchase contract. Check how long each part lasts and how claims must be made — usually in writing, before a deadline. Our report gives you a dated, photographed record to send with the claim.
What we find in new homes
Missing or displaced insulation
It shows on thermal imaging as cold patches in walls and ceilings.
Flashing and sealant gaps
At windows, doors and where walls meet the roof — where most new-home leaks begin.
Fans vented into the attic
Bathroom and dryer vents that stop short of the outside and dump moist air where it rots framing.
Grading and downspouts
Soil sloping toward the house and downspouts emptying at the foundation.
Leaks that need running water
Slow drips at new connections that only show when several fixtures run at once.
Punch-list items
Damaged finishes, sticking doors, missing hardware. Small, but the builder fixes them if they're on the list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Closing on a new home, or near month eleven?
New construction and warranty inspections from $649, with a same-day report.