Kansas City New Construction Inspections and Warranties in 2026: What Buyers Should Know

More Kansas City buyers are choosing new construction in 2026 than in any recent year. Metro single family building permits climbed 28% in the first half of the year, and new home sales are outperforming resale, with pending sales up more than 10% year over year. The median new construction price in the metro now sits near $539,000, up about 4% from a year ago. With that much money on the line, the smartest buyers ask the same question I ask on every build: what is actually protected, and what should be inspected before you close?

I am Jason DeLong, founder of Heartland Homes KC at eXp Realty. I have built more than 100 homes, renovated over 150 properties, and guided more than 1,000 transactions across the Kansas City metro. Here is what the Kansas City new construction inspections and warranty process really looks like, stage by stage.

Why New Construction Inspections Matter More Right Now

Builders across the Northland, Liberty, Parkville, and Johnson County are running the busiest homebuilding pace in years, and that pace makes a second set of trained eyes more valuable, not less. Municipal code inspections are pass/fail checks that confirm minimum code compliance; they are not a substitute for an independent review. A third-party new construction inspection typically runs between $300 and $400. For a home near the metro's new construction median price, that is a small price to pay to catch issues before the drywall hides them forever.

What the 1-2-10 New Home Warranty Covers in Missouri and Kansas

Most Kansas City builders back their homes with a voluntary 1-2-10 warranty through a third-party provider. Missouri and Kansas do not mandate a specific new home warranty, so the contract you sign is what matters. The structure is simple. Year one covers workmanship and materials: drywall cracks, trim, paint, flooring, cabinets, and other finish work. Year two covers defects in the delivery of major systems: the plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling that were roughed in before the drywall went up. Years three through ten cover major structural defects in the foundation, load-bearing framing, and roof structure, usually backed by an insurer. Ask your builder for the full warranty document and read the exclusions before you sign anything.

"Treat the warranty document like part of the house. The coverage is only as good as the exclusions you understand before you close, so bring the questions, not the assumptions."
Jason DeLong, Heartland Homes KC

Three Inspections to Schedule Before You Close

The pre-drywall inspection happens after framing and rough plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are in place but before the drywall covers them. It is your only chance to see the bones of the house, and I always attend these walkthroughs with my clients. The final walkthrough happens in the finished home, typically a week or two before closing, and it is where you document the punch list: trim gaps, paint touch-ups, appliance operation, and exterior grading. The one buyers most often forget is the 11-month inspection, scheduled just before the one year workmanship warranty expires. Use it to file every legitimate warranty item at once instead of dribbling claims one at a time.

Next Steps for Kansas City Homeowners

Whether you are buying new construction, selling your current home to build, or downsizing into something easier to maintain, the inspection and warranty stages are where small decisions become big costs. We help Kansas City buyers compare builders, understand incentives, schedule pre-drywall walkthroughs, and negotiate punch lists with the whole picture in view. If you want a builder informed second set of eyes on your new home contract, we are here for you.

Call us at 816-533-3100 or schedule a consultation, or see our full inspections and warranties guide for more detail. Build smarter, Jason