What You Should Know About Home Warranty Inspections
You may already know the answer to the question “What is a home warranty?”, but you may not be familiar with the details surrounding a home warranty inspection. No home is perfect, not even a newly-built home, so a home warranty can help to cover repair costs. But in order to get those repairs complete and covered by your warranty, you need a home warranty inspection. Quite often, new construction homes come with the builder’s one-year home warranty to guarantee that materials and systems in your new home are correctly installed and functioning. Read on to learn more about why you may need a home warranty inspection, what it can entail, and when you should get one, especially if you have a newly constructed home.
WHY YOU NEED A HOME WARRANTY INSPECTION
If you have a home warranty, you need a home warranty inspection to assess the need for repairs. These inspections are needed after you’ve lived in your newly constructed home for one year, so you should schedule an inspection 10 to 11 months after you have moved in. A home warranty inspection is not too different from a standard home inspection: its purpose is to identify structural issues and problems with electrical, HVAC or other systems. If the home inspector determines that certain areas need repair, your home warranty may cover the costs, depending on the contract terms.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN A HOME WARRANTY INSPECTION
The components of a home warranty inspection vary based on the contract you have signed with the warranty company, but an inspection typically can include:
- Leaks and water damage
- Carpentry and floors
- Drywall
- Electrical systems
- Plumbing and water systems
- Foundation and drainage
- HVAC
- Roofing
- Paint
- Insulation
- Landscaping
- Windows
- Septic system
- Garage doors
- Exterior siding
A thorough, professional home inspection will hone in on these areas inside and outside the home, or any others listed in the home warranty, to ensure all systems are functioning safely and all materials are properly installed. You can communicate with your home inspector when you schedule the appointment to let them know that the inspection is geared toward home warranty coverage, and your inspector will keep that information in mind when completing the inspection.
WHEN A HOME WARRANTY INSPECTION SHOULD BE COMPLETED
Usually builders of newly-constructed homes may offer a one-year home warranty, so you should schedule a home inspection about 11 months after your move-in date and before the warranty expires. Repairs are often included in the one-year home warranty, so don’t wait to complete those if needed. They won’t be covered after the one-year home warranty expires. Scheduling with a one-month buffer will give you time to inform the warranty company what repairs are needed and plan to complete them in a timely manner.
MORE TIPS FOR HOME WARRANTY INSPECTIONS
Read the warranty contract and learn what types of repairs it does not cover. Some contracts may not cover damage caused by neglect, damage caused by outside forces, general wear and tear, or home appliances.
When you’re ready to schedule an inspection, call South Sound Inspections for reliable, unbiased service that fits your needs, whether you have a newly-constructed home covered by a warranty, or an older home that could use a routine check-up.
