Pre-Settlement Walk Through - Checklist

What Typically Occurs During
The Pre-Settlement Walk-Through
 

Before you go to settlement on a new home, you and your builder will “walk through” the house to conduct a final inspection. The walk-through provides an opportunity for you to spot items that need to be corrected or adjusted. It also allows you to learn how your new home works.

Often, a builder will use the walk-through to inform buyers about:

• The operation of the house’s components.
• The buyer’s responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep.
• Warranty coverage and procedures.
• The larger community in which the home is located.

When you buy a new appliance or piece of equipment, such as a dishwasher, you usually have to read the instructions before you can understand how to use all of the features. With a new house, you will be receiving a stack of instruction booklets all at once. It helps if someone can take the time to show you how to operate all of the kitchen appliances, the heating and cooling systems, the water heater, and other features in the home. Such an orientation is particularly useful considering that when moving into a new home, people often are so busy that they have trouble finding time to carefully read instruction booklets.

Learning about maintenance and upkeep responsibilities is very important. Most new homes come with a one-year warranty on workmanship and materials. However, such warranties do not cover problems that develop because of failure to perform required maintenance. Many builders provide a booklet explaining common upkeep responsibilities and how to perform them.

Should a warranted problem arise after you move in, the builder is likely to have a set of warranty service procedures to follow. Except in emergencies, requests for service should be in writing. This is not because the builder is trying to be bureaucratic. Rather, it is to ensure that everyone clearly understands the service to be performed. The person receiving a service request is not likely to be the person performing the work, and you don’t want to rely on word of mouth for transmission of your service order.

With respect to inspecting the house, an effective way to handle this is with a checklist. The list should include everything that needs attention, and you and your builder should agree to a timetable for repairs.

Many builders schedule two visits during the first year – one near the beginning and the other near the end – to make necessary adjustments and to perform work of a non-emergency nature. You should not expect a builder to rush out immediately for a problem such as a nail pop in your drywall. Such problems occur because of the natural settling of the house and are best addressed in one visit near the end of the first year.

If you have moved to a new home from a nearby area, you probably will not spend much time at the walkthrough talking about the larger community in which the home is located. However, if you are moving to a new community, a builder can often provide a packet of material to help you become acclimated.

WHAT WALK-THROUGH CHECKLIST
ITEMS SHOULD YOU INSPECT?

OUTSIDE

Grading

• Does the ground around the foundation slope away from the house?
• Make sure the water does not pond in swales. To check, water the areas with a hose, if possible.
• Are there signs of erosion?
• Is the shrubbery placed at least 2-3 feet from the foundation?
• If the house has a basement, are the basement window wells clean and graveled?

Roof and Gutters

• Are the shingles flat and tight? Is the flashing securely in place?
• Do the gutters, downspouts and splash blocks drain away from the house?

Exterior Appearance

• Are the windows and doors sealed and protected by weather-stripping?
• Are the trim and fittings tight? Are there any cracks?
• Does the paint cover the surface and trim smoothly?
• Has landscaping been installed according to the terms of your contract?

INSIDE

• Doors and Windows
• Are all doors and windows sealed?
• Do they open and close easily?
• Is the glass properly in place? Are any loose or cracked?

Finished

• Is the painting satisfactory in all rooms, closets and stairways?
• Did the painters miss any spots?
• Are the trim and molding in place?

Floors

• Is the carpet tight? Do the seams match?
• Are there any ridges or seam gaps in vinyl tile or linoleum?
• Are wooden floors properly finished?

Appliances, Fixtures, Surfaces, Etc.

• Do all of the appliances operate properly?
• Are all of the appliances the models and colors you ordered?
• Check all faucets and plumbing fixtures, including to lets and showers, to make sure they operate properly.
• Check all electrical fixtures and outlets. Bring a hair dryer to test the outlets.
• Do the heating, cooling and water heating units operate properly? Test them to make sure.
• If the home has a fireplace, do the draft and damper work?
• Are there any nicks, scratches, cracks or burns on any surfaces, including cabinets and countertops?
• Test the doorbell. Also test the intercom system, garage door opener and any other optional items.

Basement and Attic

• Are there indications of dampness or leaks?
• Is there significant cracking in the floors or foundation walls?
• Are there any obvious defects in exposed components, such as floor joists, I-beams, support columns, insulation, heating ducts, plumbing, electrical, etc.?

Certificate of Occupancy

• Has your local municipality signed off on your house?

Some problems may not be readily apparent during the walk-through. Even a professional inspector might miss a few. Most warranties cover any such problems that are the result of faulty workmanship. However, warranties usually exclude problems that result from owner neglect or improper maintenance.