What is an 11-month builder warranty walkthrough? It's a top-to-bottom check of your new home about a month before the first-year workmanship coverage ends, so anything the builder owes you gets reported in writing while it's still covered. Most Houston builders back finishes and workmanship for one year, so month 11 is your last comfortable window.

After that, the list of what's covered gets a lot shorter. Most builder warranties step down after year one: systems like plumbing, electrical and HVAC are usually covered for two years, and major structural elements for ten. Nail pops, a door that won't latch, cracked grout or a sprinkler zone that floods the side yard generally fall under that first year. Miss the deadline and the repair is yours. I walk through the tiers and how claims work in Builder Warranty Claims in Texas. This post is the checklist.

When should you schedule the walkthrough?

Around month 10. That leaves time to book an inspector, write the list and get it to the builder before the one-year mark.

The 11-month checklist, room by room

Walk the house with your phone, a notepad and a flashlight. Photograph everything with something for scale, a coin or a tape measure, and note the room and date. I spent years as an insurance adjuster before real estate, and the claims that went smoothly were the ones with dated photos and a clear list. Builders work the same way.

  • Walls and ceilings: nail pops, drywall cracks above doors and windows, tape seams showing through paint.
  • Doors and windows: doors that stick, swing open on their own or won't latch; cracked or fogged window seals; gaps in exterior caulk.
  • Floors: squeaks, grout cracks, tile that sounds hollow when you tap it, gaps where baseboards meet the floor.
  • Kitchen and baths: drips under every sink, loose fixtures, caulk separating at tubs and backsplashes, slow drains.
  • HVAC: rooms that never get comfortable, a condensate line that drips or backs up, and the filter. Write down the date it was last changed.
  • Attic and garage: gaps or thin spots in insulation, water stains on the decking, cracks in the garage slab wider than a credit card.
  • Outside: brick or mortar cracks, missing weep holes, gutters that overflow, and water that stands near the foundation more than a day after rain.

That last one matters most in Houston. Grading and drainage problems are cheap to fix in year one and expensive to fix later.

Should you hire an inspector for the 11-month inspection?

If you can, yes. A licensed inspector will get on the roof, into the attic and under the sinks with tools you don't own, and the report gives your list professional weight. Many Houston inspectors offer an 11-month warranty inspection as a standard service. If you had a pre-drywall or final inspection when you bought, call the same inspector, since they already know the house. (If you're still building, here's what to check before drywall and at the final walk-through.)

How to submit the list so it counts

Check your warranty booklet for the exact deadline and how claims have to be submitted. Some builders want everything through an online portal; others take email. A phone call doesn't create a record. Put it in writing through the channel your warranty requires, attach photos, and keep a copy with the date you sent it. Ask the builder to confirm receipt and schedule repairs. If something is still unresolved and you're weighing legal action, Texas's Residential Construction Liability Act generally requires written notice to the builder at least 60 days before a lawsuit and gives the builder a chance to inspect and offer a repair. That's a conversation for a construction attorney, but your dated list is the start of the record either way.

Then keep going. Set a reminder for month 23 to check plumbing, electrical and HVAC again before the systems coverage ends. If you bought with me, I'm happy to send the reminder. See my new construction page for how I work with buyers from contract to closing and after.

Frequently asked questions

What is an 11-month warranty inspection? It's an inspection of a new home about a month before the builder's one-year workmanship warranty ends, so defects can be reported while they're still covered. Many Houston inspectors offer it as a standard service.

What does a one-year builder warranty usually cover? Workmanship and materials such as drywall, paint, trim, doors, cabinets, flooring and caulk. Many builders then cover plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems for two years and major structural components for ten. Check your own warranty booklet.

When should I submit my builder warranty list? Before the one-year anniversary of closing, in writing, through the channel your warranty requires. Aim to schedule the walkthrough around month 10 so you have time to get it submitted.

Is drainage covered under a builder warranty? Grading and drainage problems, like water standing near the foundation after rain, are often covered in the first year. Report them early, since they can affect the foundation over time.

Does Texas require builders to give a warranty? Texas doesn't have a state-run builder warranty program since the Texas Residential Construction Commission was abolished in 2009. Coverage comes from your builder's written warranty, and the Residential Construction Liability Act sets notice rules before a lawsuit.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Warranty terms vary by builder. Read your own warranty and talk with a construction attorney about legal claims.

Last updated November 2026