One of the most important processes when buying a new home is the final inspection (walk through). For many homebuyers, months of anticipation and “new home excitement” make it difficult to walk through their new house and point out any flaws, but it may be the last time a home builder is completely responsible for everything in a home. It’s important that this final inspection involves an inclusive look at the home’s interior and exterior intricacies.
The walk through is the home builder’s opportunity to showcase months of hard work and outline the responsibilities of home ownership to the homebuyer; for the homebuyer, it’s the opportune time to ask questions and address any cosmetic or structural issues that they find. Although it may seem as though the builder wouldn’t want the buyer to find issues, they know that the buyer’s satisfaction is dependent on addressing everything, and delivering a near perfect home. Don’t be shy, become a home inspector for the day.
Everything Looks Good, But Use Your Walk Through As The Time To Be Sure.
Here are some brief items to look for when completing your new home walk through.
Interior of Your Home
1. Does all the plumbing work properly – toilets, drains, faucets, showers etc.?
2. Do all the appliances work properly and do they have any dents or scratches?
3. Are there any scratches in the paint?
4. Do the doors and windows open and close properly and appear to be sealed correctly?
5. Do the cabinets open and close properly and are there any scratches?
6. Are there scratches on the countertops or any larger than usual gaps where materials join?
7. Are the carpet, tile or wood flooring clean and do they look as if they were installed correctly and with care? If there is an upstairs, do the floors make weird noises as they are walked on.
8. Do the heating and cooling systems operate properly?
9. Do all of your electrical components function as they should?
10. Does it look like the stairs are structurally and cosmetically sound?
Exterior of Your Home
1. Does the landscaping look like it is supposed to and does the sprinkler system work properly?
2. Check to make sure the lawn grading moves water away from the home’s foundation.
3. Does the roof appear to have any cracked tiles or damaged shingles?
4. Are there any larger (bigger than 1/8 of an inch) cracks in the home’s foundation.
5. Are there any noticeable “chips” out of the home’s stucco?
For a more detailed explanation of the importance of your walk through, and details about what to expect and look for, read A Comprehensive Guide To Your Final Walk Through by Tim Vargas. Tim is an industry vet that has had the pleasure of introducing thousands of families to their new home.
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serves as a check list ..thanks..
scarletbreezes last blog post..The History of Super Bowl
thanks for the very good article
gemroys last blog post..By Song
Scarletbreeze – thanks for stopping by, certainly a good starting point. Most home builders do a great job of walking buyer’s through homes.
Gemroy – thanks for the compliment, I’m just happy Tim was nice enough to guide us through the process
Thanks! very nice post.
An inspection on a new home is critical. These days you would think that builders would bend over backwards to make a client happy, but when the market is hot, some tend to take a lot of shortcuts.
I agree with Austin Realtor, when I purchased my first brand new home, my friend (not my RE Agent) said it was a good idea to hire a home inspector to inspect my home, even though that only the frame was up, but at least he was able to take photos and document any problems. There were some problems that I my inspector caught early on and the builder corrected.
I heard that since the inspector is a licensed contractor that this can also be a good opportunity to get some idea of how much any repairs may cost. Is that true? Or does the inspector hate it when you tag along and ask those kinds of questions?
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I agree. Hire a home inspector to check things out. I used to be a superintendent for a large builder and it would shock me how some people would just walk-thru quickly and not look at anything. Take your time and make your list. Once you move in, it may be hard for the builder to fix the small items.
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I think that way too many times buyers only look at the monthly mortgage payment and fail to account for everything else that goes with home ownership.
Principal, interest, taxes and insurance are just the beginning. Whether your a first-time buyer or thinking about moving up, you should plan for extra costs that could add up to thousands each year. Give yourself the piece of mind and get a home inspection.