Checklist
What to check in a new house before the first year ends
Walk a new house before its one-year builder coverage runs out and check the parts that coverage usually includes, from the siding and drywall to the heating, plumbing and wiring.
Satisfy+ Editorial · Published July 9, 2026 · 2 min read
At a glance
- Most parts
- Usually covered for 1 year
- Heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical
- Usually 2 years
- Major structural defects
- Up to 10 years, with some builders
- Before month 12
- A home inspection
Builder warranties usually cover workmanship and materials on most of a new house for the first year, and the systems a little longer. Walk the house and check these parts while the coverage is still in force. The same kind of limited warranty often comes with a major remodel, too. Read your own warranty for its exact periods, since each builder's differs, and mark the end of the first year on the calendar the week you move in.
Usually covered for the first year
- Siding and stuccoWalk all the way around the house from the ground, and look for cracks, gaps, loose pieces and stains.
- DoorsCheck that each one opens, closes and latches without sticking.
- WindowsCheck that each one opens, closes and locks, and feel for drafts around the frames.
- TrimLook for gaps at joints and corners, and pieces pulling away.
- DrywallLook for nail pops and seams showing through. Small cracks are often excluded.
- PaintLook for peeling, bubbling and missed spots.
- A home inspection in the 11th monthAn inspector looks over the visible condition of the inside, the outside and the major systems, without opening walls or taking anything apart. The report, with photos of any defects found, arrives before the one-year coverage ends.
Usually covered for two years
- Heating and coolingNote rooms that don't heat or cool evenly.
- PlumbingLook under every sink for drips, check around the toilets and the water heater for damp spots, and note slow drains or weak flow.
- ElectricalNote outlets that don't work and breakers that trip.
Some builders also cover major structural defects, the problems that make a house unsafe, such as a roof that could collapse, for up to 10 years.
Usually not covered by the builder
- Household appliancesThey usually have their own manufacturer warranties.
- Parts covered by a manufacturer's warranty
- Small cracks in brick, tile, cement or drywall
- Out-of-pocket costs from a defect or a repair, such as paying to live somewhere else while the work is done
Check the new house before the first year ends
- Look up when each part of the builder warranty ends
- Schedule a home inspection in the 11th month
FAQ
How long does a new home builder warranty last?
Usually 1 year for most parts, 2 years for heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical, and up to 10 years for major structural defects with some builders.
When should I have an 11th-month inspection?
In the 11th month after you move in, before the one-year coverage ends.
What does a builder warranty usually leave out?
Household appliances, parts with their own manufacturer's warranty, small cracks in brick, tile, cement or drywall, and out-of-pocket costs such as living somewhere else during a repair.
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026
- Federal Trade Commission. Warranties for new homes (2021)
- International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (trade association). Protect your dream home with an 11th month warranty inspection (2011)
- New build
- Owner
- New owner
