An 11‑month warranty inspection is a full home inspection completed just before your builder’s one‑year warranty expires. The purpose is to document defects, performance issues, and unfinished items while they are still covered under your new‑home warranty program.

Every inspection follows a structured, Alberta‑licensed process that evaluates all major systems in the home:

Exterior

- Roof, shingles, flashing, gutters, downspouts

- Siding, stucco, brick, exterior trim

- Decks, balconies, porches, railings

- Grading, drainage, retaining walls

- Driveways, walkways, garages, carports

Interior

- Walls, ceilings, floors

- Doors, windows, hardware

- Stairs, railings, safety features

- Attic insulation, ventilation, moisture patterns

Mechanical Systems

- Plumbing: supply lines, drains, fixtures, water heaters

- Electrical: panels, breakers, wiring, outlets, GFCIs

- HVAC: furnace, AC, heat pumps, ducting, airflow

- Ventilation: bathroom fans, kitchen exhaust, HRVs

Structural Components

- Foundation, footings, visible cracks

- Basement moisture patterns

- Load‑bearing walls, beams, joists

- Crawlspaces and accessible structural areas

Most builder warranties expire at 12 months, so the 11‑month point gives you enough time to submit a claim with supporting documentation. This ensures issues are addressed before coverage ends.

If we find an issue during your 11‑month inspection, it’s documented clearly in your report with photos, descriptions, and the specific location of the concern. You can submit this report directly to your builder or warranty provider as part of your one‑year warranty claim. Most items identified at this stage are normal first‑year issues—such as settlement cracks, ventilation problems, grading concerns, or workmanship defects—and builders expect homeowners to report them before the 12‑month deadline. Once your claim is submitted, the builder reviews the items, schedules repairs, and confirms completion before your warranty expires.

Yes. Your report is written in a clear, builder‑friendly format with photos and descriptions that make it easy to submit warranty requests.

Your home may qualify for CMHC’s Eco Plus Program if it is CMHC‑insured and meets the definition of a “newly built” energy‑efficient home. CMHC states that newly built means a home that has never been occupied, and for condominium units, it must not have been occupied for residential purposes other than temporary interim occupancy before registration or possession. Eligibility also depends on whether the home meets recognized energy‑efficiency standards at the time of construction. For more details on energy performance and how homes are evaluated, visit our Energy Auditing page.

A standard Home Inspection is thorough, but it does have clear boundaries. These limitations exist to protect homeowners, inspectors, and the home itself. Here’s what is not included:

1. Invasive or destructive testing

- No cutting drywall

- No removing flooring, siding, insulation, or ceilings

- No dismantling HVAC, plumbing, or electrical systems

2. Specialized environmental testing

(Not included unless added as a separate service is booked as an add‑on)

- Mold | VOC | Particle testing

- Asbestos sampling

- Radon testing

- Air quality assessments

- Sewer‑camera scans are not part of a standard inspection

4. Code compliance or permit verification

- Inspectors do not confirm whether past work meets current building codes

- Inspectors do not verify municipal permits

5. Future performance predictions

- We cannot guarantee lifespan of furnaces, roofs, appliances, or plumbing

- We do not estimate future repair costs

6. Areas that are unsafe or inaccessible

- Locked rooms

- Snow‑covered roofs

- Attics without safe access

- Crawlspaces with hazards

- Electrical panels blocked by storage