What You Need to Know About Your One-Year Home Inspection in The Villages, Florida
Ah, The Villages, Florida. Where golf carts rule the roads, happy hours last longer than a Florida sunset, and your new home might need a little TLC—just in time for your one-year anniversary.
Whether you’re a brand-new homeowner or you're just starting your “pre-tirement” journey (shoutout to our fellow pre-IRs!), one of the most important milestones during your first year in a brand-new home is the one-year home warranty inspection. It’s not the most interesting topic in the world—but trust us—it’s one that could save you hundreds (if not thousands) down the road.
Grab a cold drink, settle into your lanai, and let’s chat about what you need to know from our experience.
🎯 Why the One-Year Home Inspection Matters (Even in a Brand-New Home)
You might be thinking: “It’s new construction. What could possibly be wrong?”
A lot, potentially.
Even the best builders miss things. Sometimes it’s minor cosmetic stuff like a scuffed baseboard or cracking caulk. Sometimes it’s a missing piece of insulation in your guest bedroom wall—true story. Either way, your one-year home inspection is your last big chance to catch issues while they’re still under warranty.
Don't be that person who says, “I wish I had...” while writing a check for something your builder would’ve fixed for free.
🛠️ The Warranty Process in The Villages (It’s a Bit Different)
If you bought a new home directly from The Villages (not a resale or MLS home), here’s how it typically goes:
Pre-closing walk-through – You’ll get a chance to note any glaring issues. Spoiler alert: they won’t fix anything before you close. You can cry into your margarita later.
First week after closing – Submit any immediate fixes through The Villages Warranty Department.
First year – Watch for issues like settling cracks, creaky doors, or electrical quirks. You can submit any major things as you go. If it’s minor, the Warranty Department will probably tell you to wait until your 1 year.
Before the 1-year anniversary – This is your big moment. Schedule a professional home inspection and submit any findings ASAP.
Sounds simple, right? This process is subject to change, so be sure to double check with your sales agent. They can answer all of your questions. If they can’t, ask for a new sales agent! Well, let’s walk through it like a contractor on a caffeine rush.
🧠 Tip #1: Don’t DIY the Inspection—Hire a Pro
We get it. You just dropped a big chunk of change on your dream home. The temptation to skip the $400–$600 inspection is real.
But unless you’re the kind of person who dreams in HVAC schematics and owns your own infrared camera, just hire the professional. It’s worth every penny.
A good home inspector doesn’t just walk around with a clipboard—they crawl through your attic, climb onto your roof, inspect your vent flaps (yes, that's a thing), and can spot thermal anomalies inside your walls that the naked eye would never catch.
We used D’Angelo Inspections—a father-and-son duo who were incredibly thorough and kind enough not to judge Michael for following them around the house.
📅 Tip #2: Schedule Early—Like, Really Early
Don’t wait until the week before your one-year anniversary. By then, the good inspectors may be fully booked.
We made the mistake of waiting until three months out—thankfully, we just squeezed in. Some inspectors only take on a few clients per day to maintain quality. Book at least 3–4 months in advance, especially if you’re eyeing a reputable company. In fact, go ahead and schedule your 1 year inspection right after you close! One less thing to remember later since you will be too busy on the pickleball courts and dancing in the town squares
Oh, and if you’re not living in your Villages home full-time yet? Make sure someone trustworthy can let the subcontractors in afterward. The work begins quickly once the report hits the warranty office.
📞 Tip #3: Prepare for the Phone Tsunami
Once your home inspection report is filed, it’s go time. We’re talking phone calls within hours. The Villages’ subcontractors will be calling, texting, emailing—carrier pigeons may be next.
It’s like Black Friday, but with caulking guns instead of TVs.
While it’s great that they move fast, you’re still in control. If their schedule doesn’t work for you, speak up. You paid for this home. You are the boss.
Want everything done at once? Great! Prefer to space things out over two weeks so you can supervise each fix? Also great! Just don’t let the pressure rush you.
🧰 Our Real-Life Inspection: What They Found
Cue the suspense music: was our house perfect?
Almost. Most of our issues were minor and cosmetic—tiny drywall cracks, a little repainting here and there. No biggies.
But then… the thermal camera came out.
Turns out, we had a missing piece of insulation in our guest bedroom wall. You could actually see it on the infrared image—like a cold spot on a ghost-hunting show. If we hadn’t had a thermal scan done, we never would’ve caught it. Long-term? That could’ve meant higher energy bills or even moisture issues.
That alone was worth the inspection cost.
🔨 The Repairs: A Well-Oiled Machine (Mostly)
Once the missing insulation was confirmed, the repair process went into full swing.
Drywall guy showed up, shoe covers and all.
Cut a perfect hole—on the first try.
Insulation guy popped in, fixed it in under a minute.
Drywall patched, textured (Florida’s famous “orange peel” finish), and painted.
Overspray on a window blind? Oops—but he came back the same day and paid for a replacement himself.
Customer service win!
The only hiccup? One vinyl siding subcontractor who just… showed up. No call, wrong materials, no follow-up. A lone blemish on an otherwise smooth process.
🏠 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Inspector
Choosing the right inspector is like hiring a babysitter—you want someone responsible, thorough, and not scared to check every nook and cranny under the bed. Here are a few questions to ask:
How long is the inspection? (Ours took 3–4 hours. Some say “an hour” – red flag!)
Will you go up on the roof? Or are they just flying a drone and waving from the sidewalk?
Do you inspect the attic, electrical panel, appliances, and sprinkler system?
Do you use thermal imaging?
Can I follow along and ask questions? (You should be able to!)
What’s your availability before my 1-year mark?
Price matters, but don’t pick solely on cost. Saving $50 isn’t worth it if the inspection misses a hidden issue that costs you $500 later.
🧡 Who We Recommend: D’Angelo Inspections
We weren’t paid to say this. We just had a genuinely awesome experience.
Frank and Eric D’Angelo are a father-son team who’ve been inspecting homes in The Villages for years. They only do a few inspections per day to ensure thoroughness. They climbed our roof, crawled through our attic, tested everything, answered every question, and didn’t mind us filming or hovering. They even file the report with The Villages Warranty Department for you!
Bonus: If you’re not happy with the inspection, they have a money-back guarantee (with the caveat that you speak up before they send the report).
Contact: https://www.dangeloinspections.com
⚡ Pro Tips and Fun Extras
Infrared cameras are cool. Literally. Ours spotted a cold spot that saved us money.
Your attic above the garage isn't insulated—and shouldn't be, unless you’re installing a mini-split.
Insulating garage doors (not the attic) helps with heat from the Florida sun.
Subcontractors respond quickly. Be ready.
Treat your inspector like a guest. If they treat your home like it’s theirs, you’ve got a good one.
🔚 Final Thoughts: Don’t Miss the One-Year Window
At the end of the day, the biggest takeaway is this:
👉 Don’t miss your one-year deadline.
The Villages’ warranty system is efficient and well-organized, but you need to act before the clock runs out. Once that window closes, you’re paying for those repairs yourself.
You’ve invested a lot in your home—one last professional inspection could protect that investment for years to come.
💬 Join the Conversation
Have you had your one-year inspection yet? Who did you use? Any tips or horror stories to share?
Drop us a comment below or reach out—let’s keep helping each other navigate life in The Villages.
And if this article helped you, give it a share! Let’s help more neighbors protect their slice of paradise.
Check out our video where we share our experience of our Villages 1 year home inspection.