Your 1 year mark is the best time to catch settling, moisture clues, and comfort issues. Use this Calgary guide to build a clear list, document it well, and get results faster.
Possession day is a snapshot. The 1 year point is a story. After a full cycle of seasons, your home has been through freeze, thaw, wind, sun, and real daily use. That is when the “small stuff” shows up clearly, and when you can separate normal settling from issues that should be corrected.
If you wait too long, you lose leverage. If you do it at the right time, you get the strongest list and the best chance of timely repairs.
A simple rule is to book around month 10 or 11. That gives you time to receive the report, submit your list, and follow up before your 1 year deadline hits. In Calgary, weather can also affect what you can see, so planning ahead helps.
A 1 year warranty inspection is not about nitpicking. It is about identifying patterns and issues that matter:
The best result is a clean, clear list that a builder can act on without guessing.
You will get a better inspection and a stronger report if the home is ready.
Your annoyance list matters. If a bedroom is always cold, or a door sticks every time the temperature drops, that pattern is valuable evidence.
New homes dry out. Wood shrinks. Doors and trim show it first.
Many of these are correctable adjustments. The key is documenting where and how often it happens.
Hairline cracks can be normal. Still, some cracking patterns deserve attention.
Take photos early. If you can show a crack grew, your case gets stronger.
Condensation is not always a defect. It can be humidity habits. But uneven patterns matter.
In Calgary winter, drafts can turn a room into a cold zone fast. List it.
Ventilation is one of the most common new build weak spots. It shows up as fog, peeling paint, and attic moisture clues.
Use a simple tissue test at fan grilles. If the fan cannot hold a tissue, airflow may be weak.
Even a slow drip matters. Water damage does not need a flood to start.
This is where your lived experience helps the inspection a lot. Tell the inspector what you noticed over the year.
Some comfort issues are balancing issues. Some are insulation or air sealing issues. The inspection helps identify likely causes and gives you language to use with the builder.
If attic access is safe and available, attic checks can be very valuable at the 1 year point. Calgary winters can create attic frost if warm moist air leaks up.
Even if the attic looks “fine,” ask the inspector to note ventilation and sealing observations. Those notes can matter later if issues show up.
Exterior issues can become expensive if they are ignored. The 1 year review is a chance to catch them early.
Small gaps can become water entry points during wind-driven rain and melting snow.
Chinook melts can reveal drainage issues quickly. If you saw pooling during a warm spell, mention it.
Hairline cracks can happen. Still, document what you see.
Your list will be taken more seriously when it is organized and easy to act on.
Many builders assign work by trade. If your list is grouped, it moves faster.
If you send a list of 60 tiny cosmetic items, the important ones can get lost. If you focus on the items that affect moisture, safety, comfort, and function, your list gets better results.
It cannot promise the home will never develop cracks. It cannot see hidden parts behind finished walls. It cannot guarantee builder response timelines. What it can do is give you a clear, professional record of conditions at the 1 year mark, which is often what makes follow-up easier.
The 1 year warranty inspection is your best chance to turn “things we noticed” into a clear plan. You get a report that supports your list, you catch moisture risks early, and you improve comfort for the years ahead. If you do one inspection after you move into a new build, this is the one that usually brings the most value.
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