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New Home Pre-Delivery Inspection
After months of work, your builder tells you your new home is finished. Now it's time for you to conduct your pre-delivery inspection.
Plan to conduct your inspection three to five days before you move in. You may wish to hire a private building inspector or engineer to conduct the inspection on your behalf; an experienced professional will be much more thorough, looking for areas of concern that you may not have thought about.
If the inspection reveals any work that has not been performed to your satisfaction, record it in a written pre-delivery inspection report. This report is your only official record of the flaws you discovered and the ones your builder agrees to correct. The builder should fix minor issues (such as scratches and incomplete paintwork) before you move in. He may correct other issues after you've moved in.
New Home Pre-Delivery Inspection Checklist
Exterior:
- Grading should slope away from the house for proper drainage.
- Sod should be rolled and watered.
- Siding should be evenly placed and securely nailed.
- Brickwork should be clean and evenly spaced.
- Caulking around windows, doors, garage door, electrical outlets and fixtures should be complete and clean.
- Paint and stain on all surfaces and trim should be consistent in colour and adequate in coverage.
- Shutters, fascia and soffits should be securely attached.
- Shingles should be clean, with no lifting corners.
- Garage wall adjoining the house should be built with non-combustible materials.
- Garage door should function properly.
Interior:
- Basement should be clean, with no cracks in walls. There should be a floor drain at the lowest point. Joists should be good quality wood.
- Doors should be well fitted, with doorstops installed where needed. Outside doors should have secure locks.
- Windows should be lockable and open smoothly.
- Walls should be smooth and even with no cracks, visible seams or nail marks.
- Paint should be applied evenly and in the correct colours.
- Floors should be properly installed, with a minimum of squeaks and springiness. Carpets and other floor covering should be properly installed, with smooth seams. There should be no cracked tiles, and no gouges in hardwood floors.
- Ceramic tiles should be grouted evenly.
- Faucets and plumbing fixtures should operate properly and show no chips or scratches.
- Counter tops and fixtures should be properly caulked.
- Instructions and warranty cards for appliances and equipment should be available.
Overall:
- Upgrades and options should be as you ordered them, with the correct materials, installation and colours.
- All parts of the home, including ductwork, attic, closets and windowsills, should be clean of construction debris.
After your pre-delivery inspection, your builder will submit a Certificate of Completion and Possession.
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