What to Do After Your Home and Warranty Inspection

At Dwellinspect Arizona, one of the most common questions we receive is: What should I do after getting my home and warranty inspection report? Whether you're dealing with minor fixes or major construction issues, it’s important to know the right steps to take. If your builder is unresponsive or resistant to making repairs, you need a clear strategy to ensure your home is brought up to standard.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to handling your post-inspection process effectively.

1. Contact Your Builder Representative

Your first point of contact should always be your builder representative. The specific person you need to reach out to depends on where you are in the process:

• Before closing – If you haven’t finalized your purchase, you’re likely working with a superintendent or project manager.

• After closing – Once you’ve moved in, the warranty representative is your go-to person for handling repairs.

Most builders schedule a one-year warranty walkthrough before your warranty period expires. This is why a one-year warranty inspection is highly recommended just before this walkthrough—so you have a documented list of issues to present to your builder.

2. Escalate to the Builder’s Corporate Office

If your local representative is unhelpful or delays repairs, escalate the issue by contacting the builder’s corporate office. Sending a detailed complaint with your inspection report attached can often push things forward without needing further action.

3. File a Complaint with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)

If your builder still refuses to address the issues, the next step is filing a formal complaint with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) (roc.az.gov).

• Many builders avoid complaints on their record, so even the threat of filing may prompt them to act.

• If a complaint is filed, the ROC will send an investigator to assess the situation.

• If the investigator determines the builder is responsible, they will issue a written directive requiring repairs within a set timeframe.

Once the builder completes the repairs, request an ROC follow-up inspection to verify the work was done correctly. If issues persist, you may need to push the ROC to issue a citation against the builder.

4. Conduct a Reinspection & Two-Year Warranty Inspection

If repairs were made but you’re still experiencing problems, schedule a reinspection or a two-year warranty inspection. This ensures that any remaining deficiencies are documented and addressed before the statute of limitations on warranty claims expires.

5. Contact Your Local Building Officials

If you're still facing issues, the next step is reaching out to the head building official or chief building inspector in your town, city, or county. They can:

• Review whether the builder followed code requirements.

• Conduct inspections to verify compliance.

• Issue correction notices to the builder if necessary.

6. Consider Legal Action (As a Last Resort)

If all else fails, hiring a real estate attorney experienced in new home construction may be necessary. However, most disputes do not reach this stage, as builders tend to address issues before legal action is taken.

At Dwellinspect Arizona, while we can’t fight your builder battles, we’re always available to clarify our inspection reports for your builder or any officials involved. Our goal is to help you navigate the homeownership process with confidence.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, reach out to us today!