Builders and Communities We Inspect
We inspect homes from the major builders in Fulshear and Katy, including Perry Homes, Highland Homes, DR Horton, Taylor Morrison, Chesmar and Lennar.
Fulshear: Cross Creek Ranch, Cross Creek West, Jordan Ranch, Tamarron, Fulbrook on Fulshear Creek
Katy: Sunterra and the surrounding new communities
We also serve Richmond, Brookshire, Weston Lakes, Simonton, Sugar Land, Sealy and West Houston.
New Doesn't Mean Problem-Free
Most buyers we talk to believe at least one of these. Each one is how small problems become expensive ones.
"The builder's warranty will cover it."
A warranty only helps when you know a problem exists. Many defects stay hidden until well after the warranty ends, and by then the repair is yours.
"The city and builder already inspected it."
City inspectors check for minimum code compliance, and the builder's team checks its own work. Neither one works only for you.
"It's new, so it should be fine."
New homes have problems too. They just haven't had time to show up yet. We find them before you move in.
We work for you, not the builder.
We're independent, and all communication goes through you, so nothing gets lost between the builder, the inspector and you.
Why JLK Stands Out From Other Inspectors
JLK Inspection
Other Inspectors
Code knowledge
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ICC Residential Combination Inspector
ICC certification isn't required for a Texas inspector license.
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Included at the final inspection
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Transparent — foundation, thermal, and sprinkler included.
Sometimes extra-cost add-ons
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When the builder pushes back
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Code references and manufacturer guidelines for the disputed items
Report only — no follow-up or advocacy.
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11-month warranty inspection
Full inspection of the home and we check that each item from our final report was repaired
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Optional Add-Ons for Extra Peace of Mind
What to Expect
Be there if you can. You're welcome at every phase. At the end, we walk you through the home and show you each finding. The walkthrough usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.
We work for you. We don't coordinate with the builder behind your back. All communication goes through you, so nothing gets lost or changed along the way.
See a sample report:
Pre-Pour | Pre-Drywall | Final | 11-Month
Pricing and Scheduling
Phase inspections start at $550. The price depends on your home's square footage. You pay as each phase is completed, so the cost is spread across your build.
Re-inspection of repairs: $350
Payment: Zelle, cash, check, or online payment through QuickBooks
Scheduling: we need 48 hours' notice. Builder schedules change often, so we stay flexible, and there's no fee to reschedule.
How We Help You Get Repairs Made
Finding a problem only helps if it gets fixed. Here's how we take you from inspection to completed repairs, one phase at a time.
Step 1: You get a clear report, fast.
Your report arrives the same day or the next morning, with photos of every finding. Each item answers 3 questions:
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What we saw
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What can happen if it isn't fixed
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Who should fix it
There's no jargon to decode. You and your project manager can read it the same way.
Step 2: You review it with your project manager.
Most builders walk through the report with you on site at each phase and tell you which items they'll fix. Because each item explains the risk and names who should fix it, the builder has to give a reason for any item they won't fix. They can't simply dismiss it.
Step 3: When the builder disagrees, we back you up.
Send us the items your builder won't fix. For each one, we provide the specific building code section or manufacturer installation instructions that apply, so you have written proof to take back to your project manager.
Why we don't put code numbers in the first report: builders often answer a code citation by pointing to an exception somewhere else in the code book, and most buyers can't tell who's right. They also tend to push back on the whole report instead of the one item. By saving code references for the items that are actually disputed, the builder agrees to most of the report first, and the rest gets handled with focused documentation.
Step 4: We confirm the repairs.
Before the next phase covers anything up, we can come back and verify the repairs were made correctly. Re-inspections are $350. At your 11-month warranty inspection, we also check every item from our final report.
Nikki L.
We had an amazing experience with Justin @ JLK Inspection that we wanted to share. …
Christopher H.
Excellent communication throughout the process, from online scheduling through the actual inspection, to follow-up after the report was delivered. …
Ellin A.
We’ve been so grateful to have Justin from JLK Inspection with us throughout our new home build. His detailed inspections and thorough reports gave us the confidence to navigate a really stressful process. …
Phase 4: 11-Month Warranty Inspection
What we inspect: everything we check at the final inspection.
Why the timing matters: after nearly a year of living in the home and a full cycle of Texas seasons, problems appear that weren't visible at move-in. Your builder's 1-year warranty is still in effect, so this is the time to find them.
If we did your final inspection: we go back through that report and check each item, where accessible, to see whether it was repaired. Anything still not fixed goes in your warranty inspection report.
From our inspections: in vented attics, we find leaking HVAC components and supply ducts touching each other. Both cause condensation that can lead to microbial growth, and it often takes a full summer to show up.
Phase 3: Final Inspection
What we inspect:
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Roof and attic
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Insulation and ventilation
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Foundation and visible structure
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Exterior walls, doors and windows
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Interior walls, ceilings and floors
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Plumbing fixtures, drains and water heater
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Electrical panel, outlets, switches and fixtures
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Heating and air conditioning
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Installed appliances
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Safety systems and features
Included at no extra cost:
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Tile floor checks
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A foundation elevation map in your report
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A full thermal scan
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Sprinkler system testing
What surprises buyers in a brand-new home:
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HVAC performance and high indoor humidity, one of the biggest issues we see
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Tile floors and shower surrounds installed incorrectly
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Hidden leaks from the roof or supply lines
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Leaks from missing flashing or caulking
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Construction debris in drain lines that causes backups
From a recent inspection: a bedroom next to the garage had moisture in the walls, and the carpet was wet to the touch. The cause turned out to be pressure washing in the garage. The builder only wanted to dry the area out. We advised our client that leaving wet drywall and insulation in place could hide microbial growth. When the client insisted the drywall be removed, microbial growth was found.
Phase 2: Pre-Drywall Inspection
What we inspect:
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Wall, floor, ceiling and roof framing
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Structural connections, fasteners and supports
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Improper cuts, holes or damage to framing
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Plumbing supply, drain and vent piping
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Electrical wiring and box placement
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HVAC ducts, equipment and condensate drains
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Bathroom exhaust and dryer vent routing
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Fireblocking and required penetration sealing
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Protective nail plates over wiring and piping
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Window and door installation and flashing
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Visible roofing, sheathing and exterior weather protection
What we find most often:
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Gaps in wall and rafter framing
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Beams without proper load transfer
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Notching or boring of load-bearing walls without reinforcement
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Missing fireblocking and missing exterior flashing
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Windows improperly secured or sealed
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Missing nail plates over plumbing and electrical
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Drain lines without proper slope
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HVAC ducts poorly supported, sagging or with too many bends
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HVAC flue touching the roof sheathing
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Damaged or poorly sealed bath exhaust vents
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Missing or inadequate attic ventilation
Why it matters: problems hidden behind drywall take time to show up. By the time you notice them, they're harder and much more expensive to fix.
From a recent inspection: a beam wasn't properly fastened and had already started to separate where the second-level hallway meets the breezeway. Once the drywall went up, it would have been hidden.
Phase 1: Pre-Pour (Foundation) Inspection
What we inspect:
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Foundation forms and layout
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Beam and footing locations and dimensions
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Rebar placement and supports
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Post-tension cables and anchors, if used
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Vapor barrier condition and coverage
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Under-slab plumbing and utility penetrations
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Visible soil and fill preparation
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Anchor bolts and embedded components
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Debris or standing water in the pour area
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What's installed, compared with the engineered foundation plans
What we find most often:
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Post-tension cables not installed correctly: missing chairs, poor anchoring to the forms, or cables lying on the bottom of the beam without support
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Cables with exposed tendon
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Vapor barrier damage, and poor taping or overlap
Why it matters: this is your last chance to make sure the foundation is right. Once the concrete is poured, a repair is difficult or impossible.
From a recent inspection: rebar was missing at the inside corners of the foundation. Post-tension cables were touching plumbing drain lines, and some ran so close to the form boards they could have been left exposed at the outer beams. All of it was caught before the pour, while it could still be fixed.
What We Inspect at Each Phase of Your Build
Most buyers we talk to believe at least one of these. Each one is how small problems become expensive ones.
New Construction Inspections in Fulshear & Katy
You've heard the new-construction horror stories. We make sure your builder got it right, at every phase, before problems get covered up by concrete, drywall or a closing date.
100+ New Construction Inspections | ICC Residential Combination Inspector | TREC #25938-PI
