My wife and I stayed up last night and found a good checklist here for doing a thorough walkthrough inspection. In the event that the link above breaks, I am including the list below.
Doors
•
Open and close all doors. See that doors are well-fitted and operate as
intended.
•
Make sure all six sides are painted – front, back, top, bottom and both ends.
•
Be certain locks, including deadbolts, operate properly without binding, and
that thresholds are adjusted correctly.
•
Look for warping.
•
Hinges should be clean and free of paint.
•
Sometimes doors must be trimmed to fit. Make sure the cut is at the bottom,
that it's straight, and that so much hasn't been cut off that the door is now
hollow at the bottom.
•
Check that locks are well-installed and do not rattle when the door is closed.
•
Check that the exterior doors have been sealed with weather-stripping.
Windows
•
Open all windows.
•
Determine that locks operate properly.
•
Tracks should be lubricated to prevent binding.
•
Make sure screens are in place and not torn.
•
Look for broken panes.
Walls
•
Walk the perimeter of each room, checking floor and ceiling moldings to be sure
they are uniform.
•
Look for gaps that need caulking, protruding nail heads and proper finish.
•
Examine all wall and ceiling surfaces under natural light and, if possible, at
night under artificial illumination. Poor drywall work tends to show most when
the lights are on.
•
Look for visible seams, nail heads that have popped out and other
irregularities.
•
Be sure the walls are square. Otherwise, the tile floor or patterned vinyl
floor will be askew. In such a small space, anything that's out of line will
become a constant source of irritation.
•
Inspect the wall finishes for uneven paint coverage.
Electrical
•
Be sure all wall outlets and switches operate correctly.
•
Test light fixtures, making certain they are attached securely and contain the
correct-wattage bulbs.
•
Locate the main electrical panel and review the function of each circuit
breaker and fuse.
•
Your new home must be equipped with ground fault and arc fault circuit
interrupters (GFCI and AFCI). GFCIs protect bathroom and exterior receptacle
circuits, while AFCIs protect bedroom receptacle circuits. Ask your builder how
to test these devices.
Flooring
•
Tile and vinyl flooring should be clean and free of chips and cracks.
•
Check for missing grout, and be sure molding is installed and painted or
stained.
•
Walk all carpeted areas, checking for loose fits at the edges, ripples in the
middle and squeaks in the subfloor.
•
Walk across all floors. You should hear only a minimum of squeaks and notice a
minimum of spring when walking on the floor. Due to the nature of wood, a wood
floor system will have a certain amount of unevenness.
•
See that floor coverings have a relatively flat surface.
•
Examine seams in carpets and vinyl to ensure they are tight.
•
Inspect ceramic tiles for surface cracks. Joints between ceramic tiles should
be well-filled with grout.
•
Inspect flooring for damage.
•
Examine carpeting for stains or shade variations.
Kitchen
•
Check countertops for scratches and abrasions, a frequent complaint. Counters
are a magnet for toolboxes from every trade.
•
Also make sure the cabinets and appliances are level and properly anchored to
the wall or secured to the countertops.
•
Check all doors and drawers. They should open fully and without binding.
•
Ask for the instruction manuals for every appliance in the house – the range,
refrigerator, dishwasher, furnace, heat pump, water heater, electronic
thermostat, everything.
Bathrooms
•
Look for scratches and nicks in the sink as well as the shower enclosure and
tub. Workmen like to put their toolboxes there as well.
•
Check that the sink and tub stoppers hold water, and that the shower strainer
is fastened securely.
•
Make certain the toilet is securely fastened to the floor. Don't test the
commode by trying to rock the fixture back and forth. That will break a seal
that's correctly installed. Just sitting on it is enough to tell if it is
tight.
•
While sitting there, close the door and take a long, hard look at the walls and
other surfaces to make sure they are acceptable. Flaws show up most when
semi-gloss paint is used, and that's what bathrooms should be painted with, not
flat paint.
•
While you're at it, be sure to see if the toilet-paper dispenser is at the
right distance and height. If it isn't, you may have to be a contortionist to
reach the roll.
•
Check for chips in bathtubs, toilets and sinks.
•
Ensure that all faucets work properly.
•
Check that cabinets are securely fixed to the wall.
•
Examine caulking around tub and shower enclosures and at countertop
backsplashes.
Heating/Air-conditioning
•
Test for cold A/C.
•
Check the furnace and hot water heater.
•
Ask about the capacity, shut-off mechanisms and the type of filtering systems
installed.
•
Review the operation of your heating system.
•
Locate the furnace filters and ask about their care and maintenance.
•
Ensure that heat registers are not located below a thermostat.
•
Check the location and number of cold air returns and make sure they are
unobstructed.
•
Learn the location of any fuel lines (gas, propane or oil) and understand how
to operate any shut-off devices on these lines.
Mechanical ventilation
•
Locate the switches for ventilation and circulation fans (normally placed near
the thermostat).
•
Locate supplemental fans and switches in each bathroom and in the kitchen and
ensure they are operating. Make sure you understand how to achieve proper
ventilation in order to avoid condensation problems which may not be covered
under the warranty.
Plumbing
•
Locate the shut-off valves for the main water supply and the location of other
shut-off valves throughout your home.
Kitchen
•
Check for damage to countertops, cupboard doors, sinks and appliances.
•
Ensure that cabinet doors are properly aligned.
•
Check spaces for standard appliances unless specific measurements were given to
your builder. The space allotted for your appliances should be correct.
•
Test the range hood fan and light.
•
Make sure there are electrical outlets above the counter.
Closets
•
Make sure that doors are secure and that they open and close easily
This list was delivered to the house for the builder to let them know how thorough we are going to be.
Lunch photos:
Pantry door swing corrected.
Exhaust pipes coming from roof are crooked.
Arch holes filled.
Missing glass shade replaced.
Missing magazine rack installed.
Weather stripping missing on all doors. Must be waiting for paint.
Power washing the garage and driveway.
After work photos. Well the house was locked. About the only thing I could see was the stupid downspout going right out in the middle of the yard. What an eye sore and hazard.
T post (the first thing put on our lot) removed.
At the end of the day the house is nowhere near ready for a walkthrough. I expressed to the builder that we don't want to waste time walking through a house that isn't finished. So, it has been rescheduled for Monday.
The builder told me that the electrician will be at the house in the morning to wire the missing light in the master bath and painters would be there Friday and Saturday and final city inspection is tomorrow.
