New Construction Home Inspections & 11-Month Warranty Inspections
A brand-new home still deserves a second set of eyes. Our team inspects newly built homes for buyers before closing, and comes back near the end of your first year with an 11-month warranty inspection, so you can send the builder one clear list while the work is still covered.
Schedule Online · Call 816-343-9562
Both inspections are priced the same as our standard home inspection: starting at $329. You’ll see your exact price, based on the home’s size, in our online scheduler, and all of our rates are on the pricing page.
Two inspections for new homes
1. New construction inspection, before you close
When the builder says the house is finished, we inspect it the same way we inspect any home you’re buying: roof, attic, structure, exterior and drainage, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, insulation and ventilation, windows, doors and built-in appliances. You get a photo report, usually the same day, that you can take to your final walk-through and hand to the builder’s superintendent.
The goal is simple: get items fixed while the builder’s crews are still on site, before you sign and move in.
2. 11-month warranty inspection, before your first year is up
Builder warranties typically cover workmanship and materials for 1 year and HVAC, plumbing and electrical for 2 years; some builders cover major structural defects for up to 10 years (FTC, Warranties for New Homes). By month 11, your home has been through its first seasons: the framing has dried, the soil around the foundation has settled, and the heating and cooling have run hard. That’s when small problems show up, and it’s the last good chance to report them while they’re covered.
The 11-month inspection is a full home inspection, not a quick look. If we inspected the home before closing, we’ll also check whether the items on that first report were fixed.
What we find in new homes
New doesn’t mean perfect. These are the most common real defects in the new or nearly new homes we’ve inspected across the Kansas City area (homes inspected the year they were built or the year after):
- Grading that’s flat or slopes toward the house: 40 of 84 homes (48%). In 15 of them it was bad enough to rate a Major Concern. Fresh backfill settles, and a yard that drains away from the house on move-in day can be holding water against the foundation a year later.
- Roof shingle problems: 32 of 84 (38%), such as damaged shingles, exposed nails, foot-traffic wear and shingles that were curled or not lying flat, 4 of them rated a Major Concern.
- Engineered wood siding issues: 30 of 84 (36%), most often gaps between boards, plus unpainted areas and siding with too little clearance to the ground, a hard surface or the roof. Composite siding swells when it stays wet, so those gaps and edges matter.
- Egress window wells without a cover: 27 of 84 (32%). An uncovered basement window well is a fall hazard and lets rain and leaves pile up against the window.
- Electrical items: missing or non-working GFCI protection in 17 of 84 homes (20%) and open junction boxes or missing covers in 15 (18%).
- Plumbing leaks: 10 of 84 (12%). Half were a leaking drain under a sink; the 5 rated a Major Concern were leaking drain pipes, a water heater and other active leaks.
None of these are unusual for a new build. Builders and their trades are busy, and things get missed. A written list with photos makes them easy to fix.
City inspections vs. your inspection
Local building departments inspect new homes during construction for code compliance. Those inspections are important, but they aren’t a buyer’s inspection of the finished house, and the inspector doesn’t work for you. Code is a minimum standard. Our job is to look at the whole finished home on your behalf and tell you, in plain English, what needs attention.
When to schedule
- New construction inspection: once the home is complete and the utilities are on, a few days before your final walk-through. That leaves time for the builder to make repairs before closing.
- 11-month warranty inspection: around month 10 or 11 after closing. Check your warranty documents for the exact start date and claim deadline, then book early enough to send your list in writing before it expires.
Sending your list to the builder
- Read your warranty first. Coverage, exclusions and claim steps vary by builder. The FTC notes that builder warranties usually don’t cover household appliances, small cracks in brick, tile, cement or drywall, or components covered by a manufacturer’s warranty (FTC).
- Put your request in writing, following the instructions in your warranty, and keep a copy. The FTC says you may want to send your letter by certified mail and request a return receipt, so you have proof the builder got it.
- Attach our report. The photos and locations make each item easy for the builder’s warranty team to find.
- Keep a record of every call, email and repair visit.
Neither Missouri nor Kansas has a statutory new-home warranty; your coverage comes from your builder’s written warranty, and both states require written notice to the builder before a construction-defect lawsuit. This is general information, not legal advice; talk to an attorney about your situation.
New Construction Inspection Pricing
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| New construction inspection (before closing) | Starting at $329, same as a home inspection |
| 11-month warranty inspection | Starting at $329, same as a home inspection |
| Radon test | Starting at $150 with an inspection |
| Sewer camera inspection | Starting at $200 with an inspection |
| Termite inspection | Starting at $80 with an inspection |
Your price depends on the home’s size and the services you choose. See what gets inspected and all of our pricing.
Your inspection team
- Bryan Standley, owner, Certified Master Inspector® and InterNACHI certified, leads our team of inspectors.
- Tylor Standley and Aiden Finlan, InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspectors, so we can usually fit your inspection before the builder’s walk-through or your warranty deadline.
- Laura Jarrell, office manager, handles scheduling and questions before and after your inspection. Meet the team.
- We don’t work for builders and we don’t sell repairs, so our report has no sales angle.
Where we inspect new homes
We inspect new construction across the Kansas City metro on both sides of the state line, including Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Raymore, Belton and the Northland in Kansas City, MO. See all the areas we serve.
How we counted: based on a sample of 84 new or nearly new homes we inspected through October 2026, mostly new-construction and 11-month warranty inspections, from Inspect KC’s own inspection records, not national averages.
New Construction Inspection FAQ
How much does a new construction inspection cost?
The same as our standard home inspection: starting at $329. An 11-month warranty inspection is priced the same way. Your exact price depends on the home’s size, and you’ll see it in our online scheduler.
Do I need an inspection if the city already inspected the house?
We recommend it. City inspections check code compliance during construction, and code is a minimum. Our inspection looks at the whole finished home for you, and in our new-home inspections we regularly find grading, roofing, siding, electrical and plumbing items that still needed attention.
When should I schedule my 11-month warranty inspection?
Around month 10 or 11 after closing. Check your warranty documents for the start date and the claim deadline, and leave enough time to send your list to the builder in writing before coverage ends.
Is the 11-month warranty inspection a full inspection?
Yes. It covers the same systems as a home inspection, and if we inspected the home before closing, we also check whether the items on that first report were fixed.
Will the builder fix everything on the report?
That depends on your warranty. Builders decide what is covered under their written warranty, and some items, like small cracks or appliances, are often excluded. Our report gives you clear photos and locations so you can make your request.
Can I attend the inspection?
Yes. We encourage it. Come for the last part of the inspection and we’ll walk you through what we found.
When will I get my report?
Usually the same day, by email link, with photos and plain-English notes you can send straight to the builder.
Ready to Schedule Your New Construction Inspection?
Book online in minutes or call our office. We’ll help you start life in your new home with confidence.