11th Month
Home Inspection
An 11th month home inspection is one of the most important inspections a new construction homeowner can have. Here are a few reasons why you may consider hiring a professional:
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Identifying Construction Defects: A thorough inspection can help identify construction defects or issues that may have arisen during the first year of occupancy. These could include structural problems, plumbing or electrical issues, or inadequate insulation, among others. Identifying these problems early allows the builder to address them under the warranty.
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Builder's Warranty Coverage: In Virginia, builders provide a one-year warranty on their newly constructed homes. The 11th-month inspection allows homeowners to take advantage of this warranty before it expires. If any defects or issues are discovered, the builder can be notified and required to rectify them at no cost to the homeowner.
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Cost Savings: Discovering and addressing construction defects early can save homeowners significant costs in the long run. If problems are left unattended beyond the warranty period, the responsibility and expense for repairs typically fall on the homeowner. By identifying issues during the 11th-month inspection, homeowners can ensure that any necessary repairs are covered by the builder.
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Peace of Mind: Buying a new home is a significant investment, and having an 11th-month inspection provides peace of mind for homeowners. It allows them to have a professional inspection conducted to ensure that their home is in good condition and any necessary repairs are addressed promptly.
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Documentation: The 11th-month inspection provides homeowners with documentation of the home's condition just before the warranty expiration. This documentation can be useful for any potential legal disputes or negotiations with the builder.
We provide a neutral, 3rd party professional evaluation of:
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construction performance, after substantial completion of construction, within the warranty period (12 months)
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substantial compliance with current building standards
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substantial compliance with manufacture's installation instructions
What is inspected?
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Structural System
Foundation, framing, stairs, crawl space, crawl space ventilation, vapor barriers, Slab, Floors, ceilings, and walls.
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Roof Structure, Attic, and Insulation
Roof covering, ventilation, drainage, flashings, skylights, chimneys, roof penetrations, framing, sheathing, and attic insulation.
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Exterior
Wall covering, flashing, trim, doors, windows, decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches, attached garages, carports, railings, eaves, soffits, fascias, walkways, grade steps, patios, driveways, vegetation, trees, grading, drainage, and retaining walls.
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Interior
Walls, ceilings, floors, steps, stairways, railings, balconies, countertops, cabinets, doors, windows, garage doors, garage door operators, fireplaces, venting, hearths, dampers, fireboxes, solid fuel burning appliances
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Plumbing system
Water supply lines, fixtures, faucets, water drainage (DWV systems), sumps, sump pumps, water heating equipment, fuel storage and distribution systems.
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Electrical system
Service drop, service entrance conductors, cables, raceways, service equipment, main disconnects, service grounding, feeders, conductors, overcurrent protection devices, lighting fixtures, switches, receptacles, ground fault circuit interrupters, smoke detectors, and arc fault circuit interrupters.
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HVAC system
Heating/cooling equipment, energy source, ducting, vents, flues, chimneys, dampers, operating controls, access panels, and covers.
Building standards and construction performance guidelines are based off of (not limited to):
• 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty® Workmanship, Systems and Structural Warranty (US_W.DS.Sv1_12_2018)
One of the most common 3rd party builder provided warranty programs.
Nationally recognized standard for residential construction performance.
• 2018 Virginia Residential Code (Chapter 1 - 11), (Chapter 12 - 24), (Chapter 25 - Appendix Q)
The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, the minimum standard for residential construction.
Additionally, recommendations are noted at the discretion of the inspector based off of best building practices and manufacture's installation instructions.
Sample Reports
Below are sample summary report PDFs of recently conducted (2023) 11th Month Home Inspections. These are not the full report, but rather highlights of the findings recorded on-site.
