New Construction Walkthrough Checklist: What to Look For
A new construction walkthrough checklist should cover six areas: the exterior and site, doors and windows, interior surfaces, kitchens and baths, the mechanical systems, and the paperwork you’re owed at closing. Go room by room with your builder, operate everything that opens, turns on, or drains, and put every item on one written list that you both sign. That list becomes the punch list, and it’s the document that gets things fixed.
I’ve done a lot of these from the builder’s side. The ones that go well have a client who shows up with a new construction walkthrough checklist and a couple of hours. The ones that go badly are a fast lap through the house followed by three weeks of text messages.
What happens at a new construction final walkthrough?
You and your builder walk the finished house together, usually shortly before closing or move-in, to confirm the work is complete and to list anything that needs correcting. Many builders also use it as an orientation, showing you shutoffs, filters, and how the equipment works.
Come prepared. Bring:
Your plans, specifications, and selection sheets so you can check what was installed against what you chose
Your change orders to confirm each one was done
Painter’s tape to mark items, if your builder is fine with it
A phone for photos, plus a charger to test outlets
A flashlight for closets, cabinets, and the attic access
Time. Plan on a couple of hours or more for a custom home. Go in daylight, and leave the kids and the in-laws at home if you can
New build walkthrough checklist: exterior and site
Start outside. Water is the enemy of every house, so most of this is about where water goes.
Grading and drainage: soil slopes away from the house, with no low spots against the foundation
Roof and gutters: no missing or damaged pieces visible from the ground, and downspouts discharge away from the house
Siding, masonry, and trim: complete, sealed, and painted, with no damage or gaps
Windows and doors: caulked on the exterior, and screens installed
Flatwork: driveway, walks, and patios are complete and drain properly
Hose bibs and exterior outlets: all work
Garage doors: open, close, and reverse when something is in the way
Landscaping and irrigation: installed per your contract, and the controller runs each zone
What to look for in a final walk through of new construction: room by room
Inside, do the same routine in every room so you don’t skip anything. I’d go floor, walls, ceiling, openings, then electrical.
Floors: no scratches, chips, gaps, hollow-sounding tile, or loose transitions
Walls and ceilings: consistent paint coverage, no visible drywall seams, nail pops, or dents from the last trade through the door
Trim: tight joints, caulked, filled, and painted
Doors: every one opens, closes, latches, and locks without rubbing, and has a doorstop
Windows: every one opens, closes, and locks, with no cracked glass, damaged screens, or fogging between panes
Outlets and switches: test every outlet, flip every switch, and make sure each switch controls what you expected
Lights and fans: all fixtures installed, working, and matching your selections
Closets: shelving and rods installed and solid
New construction walkthrough checklist for kitchens, baths, and laundry
Run water everywhere and open everything. These rooms have the most parts per square foot, so they produce the most items.
Cabinets: doors and drawers aligned and operating smoothly, with hardware installed and no damage to the finish
Countertops: no chips or scratches, with tight seams and caulk at the backsplash
Faucets: hot is hot, cold is cold, pressure is good, and nothing drips
Under every sink: run the water for a minute, then look for leaks with your flashlight
Drains: fill and release sinks and tubs to confirm they drain well
Toilets: flush, refill, and sit solid to the floor
Showers: tile and grout complete, glass installed, and water stays where it’s supposed to
Exhaust fans: all work
Appliances: the correct models are installed, undamaged, and each one runs
Laundry: water connections, drain, and dryer vent are in place
What mechanical systems should you check?
Turn each system on and learn where it shuts off. You’re checking that it works and learning your house at the same time.
Heating and cooling: run both modes, feel for air at every register, and find the filters
Water heater: hot water arrives at the farthest fixture
Electrical panel: breakers are labeled in a way a human can read
Safety devices: smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and test properly, and the test buttons on kitchen, bath, and exterior outlets trip and reset
Shutoffs: know where the main water, gas, and electrical shutoffs are
Attic: look at the insulation coverage from the access, without walking around up there
Then the paperwork: appliance manuals, product warranties, paint colors, keys, garage remotes, and your builder’s warranty documents. If you’d like a system for tracking all of this through the whole build, not only the last day, our Home Construction Checklist (Homeowner Edition) covers it step by step.
New construction walk through: how picky should you be?
Be thorough, and be reasonable. Those aren’t opposites. Write down anything that’s incomplete, damaged, not working, or different from your plans and selections. This is the easiest moment to get cosmetic items handled, because once you move in, nobody can prove who scratched the floor.
Where I’d ease up is on things that are within normal tolerances. Homes are built by hand, outdoors, out of natural materials. A good general test is whether you can see the issue from a normal standing distance in normal light. If you need a flashlight held sideways against the wall to find it, it’s probably within tolerance. Ask your builder what performance standards their contract or warranty references, so you’re both measuring with the same ruler.
When you’re done, you should have one written list, with a date for completion and a plan for how each item gets signed off. I explain how that works in my guide to the punch list. Anything that shows up after you move in is handled through your builder warranty.
For what leads up to this day, see the full home construction checklist for homeowners.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a final walkthrough take on a new build?
It depends on the size of the home, but plan on a couple of hours or more for a custom home. If your builder schedules thirty minutes, ask for more time.
Should I hire an inspector for a new construction final walkthrough?
Many homeowners do, and a good builder won’t mind. Schedule the inspection a few days before the walkthrough so the report can feed the list.
Can I close before the walkthrough items are finished?
Often, yes, if the remaining items are minor and you have a written list with dates. How any holdback of money works depends on your contract and your lender, so ask both.
What is the difference between a walkthrough and a punch list?
The walkthrough is the meeting. The punch list is the written list that comes out of it.
BTW, if you want a step-by-step system that takes you from planning all the way to this final walkthrough, grab our Home Construction Checklist (Homeowner Edition) over at the Building Optimal Shop. Proceeds go to benefit, Exponencialistas, my non-profit investing in entrepreneurs transforming their communities in Latin America.