Have you recently purchased a new home? Don't forget to get a 11 Month Warranty Inspection.

Purchasing a brand-new home is very exciting time, and if you have you probably assume everything with your home is perfect. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, newly constructed homes can have the same issues as older homes. Weather these issues are due to builder errors, shoddy materials or just natural settling of the house, the truth is that new construction can have significant defects. Fortunately, most new construction has a warranty, and you can help protect yourself and your investment by following these three steps.

1.Understand your Builders Warranty

Every great builder knows that a house needs to live through a full year of seasonal change before it's really done. That's because changes in the weather can reveal, or cause, all kinds of issues that may not have been apparent when the keys were first handed over to you. For example, heavy spring rains could wash away soil from the foundation or seep into a poorly sealed basement. And in winter, ice dams could from behind an improperly installed gutter and damage roof shingles, and so on. This is why most builders offer a one-year warranty on their new construction homes. They want to ensure the homes they build are solid, and they know they may need to come back to remedy an issue within that first year. Every warranty differs, so it pays to read the fine print up front. Most major systems are covered but there are certain things that are not, be sure to check your warranty to know what is covered on your home.

2. Know your Warranty Dates.

Once you know what's covered you also need to know for how long. Nothing is guaranteed forever, and the vast majority of builder's warranties last for just one year. That covers the crucial first time through each season and is the limited coverage you'll usually get on labor and materials - that is, most items in your new home. Some warranties will cover structural defects to framing, foundation and the like for an even longer period of time, so it's important to know what your warranty covers and for how long.

3. Get your home inspected before the warranty expires.

Many homeowners are in the honeymoon period with their new house during the first year. And rightly so but be sure to mark your calendars for your 11-month warranty inspection and schedule that inspection with me well in advance of your warranty's expiration date. So, what is an 11-month warranty inspection? Well, it is a full home inspection complete with the delivery of an inspection report which will detail any defects found, just like the report you would get when purchasing any home. This report will identify any issues that may be covered with your warranty, allowing you to contact the builder and get these things repaired at no cost to you and before they become major problems in the future. The small price of an inspection can save you thousands of dollars in the long run and having the peace of mind that your new home is in good shape will leave you stress free about one of the largest purchases that you will ever make. So be sure to contact me before that warranty expires and get your new home inspected.