Inspections & the builder walkthrough
New home inspection checklist: what to look for
A brand-new home can still have brand-new problems. This guide explains why buyers should get an independent inspection on a new build, how the pre-drywall inspection, final inspection, and builder walkthrough differ, and exactly what to look for at each one, in plain language, from a team that represents buyers, not builders.
Why should you still get an inspection on a brand-new home?
New homes come with builder warranties, and most builders do a fine job. But a warranty is a promise to fix things later; an inspection is a chance to catch them before you close, when the fix costs the builder time and money instead of your patience. Framing mistakes, missed nail plates, unsealed penetrations, and finishing flaws all happen on new builds, and they are far easier to address before the drywall is up or before you take the keys.
The builder's own quality-control people walk the home too, and their work matters. Your independent inspector answers to you alone, which is the same reason you bring your own agent: the buyer's side deserves its own set of eyes. The team schedules independent third-party inspections at the right milestones and joins the builder walkthrough with the punch list in hand, so nothing waits until after closing to be discovered.
Honest note: inspection standards, warranty terms, and builder timelines differ from one community and one contract to the next. The checklist below is a practical guide, not a legal standard. Confirm your builder's warranty and your inspector's scope in writing, and ask the team to review both before you sign.
What's the difference between a pre-drywall inspection, a final inspection, and the builder walkthrough?
Three different checks happen at three different moments, and each one sees things the others cannot.
The pre-drywall inspection
Scheduled before the interior walls are closed up, while framing, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are still visible. This is the one chance to see behind the walls: proper framing and fasteners, nail plates over pipes and wires, venting routed correctly, and insulation that will actually be installed and inspected.
The final (third-party) inspection
Done as the home nears completion, usually a few days before closing. The inspector checks the finished systems, fixtures, and surfaces: everything from the roof and siding to outlets, plumbing, appliances, and grading. The report becomes your punch-list source.
The builder walkthrough
A guided walk with the builder (and your agent) close to closing, where you check the home against the contract and your inspection report, item by item. Anything not done, damaged, or missing goes on the punch list, and the builder agrees to complete it, usually before or shortly after closing per the contract terms.
What should you look for at each stage?
At the pre-drywall stage, the inspector's job is the structure and the systems behind the walls: framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and insulation. At the final inspection and walkthrough, the focus shifts to the finished home: foundation and grading, interior finishes, windows and doors, plumbing and electrical, HVAC, appliances, and the roof and exterior. These are the categories the team walks with buyers, room by room:
Foundation and grading
Cracks in slabs and pads, ground sloping away from the home, and drainage that carries water off the house rather than toward it.
Interior finishes
Paint and caulk touch-up, trim and molding, cabinets and drawers, counters and tile, flooring seams, and doors that close and lock the way they should.
Windows and doors
Windows that open, close, and lock, screens in place, weatherstripping sealed, and doors that align without rubbing, gaps, or drafts.
Plumbing and electrical
Faucets, showers, and toilets that drain and run cleanly, no leaks or damp spots, and every outlet, switch, and light working and properly grounded.
HVAC
Registers in every room that blow steadily, a thermostat that responds, ducts sealed, and filters clean and installed.
Appliances
Every included appliance present, installed, and running, with all accessories, handles, and trim pieces accounted for.
The practical walkthrough checklist
Print or save this page and take it to your final inspection and builder walkthrough.
- Cracks in the foundation, garage slab, or porch pads wider than a hairline
- Grading that slopes toward the home instead of away from it
- Exterior gaps around windows, doors, vents, and the roofline
- Roofing material that looks uneven, lifted, or damaged
- Siding, trim, and stucco that is dented, scratched, or misaligned
- Windows that do not open, close, and lock cleanly, or fog between panes
- Doors that rub, swing on their own, or leave gaps when closed
- Cabinets, drawers, and hardware that bind, wobble, or sit crooked
- Countertops, tile, and backsplash with chips, cracks, or uneven grout
- Paint, caulk, and trim touch-up in every room, including closets
- Plumbing fixtures that drip, drain slowly, or lose pressure
- Water stains, damp spots, or musty smells in the garage, attic, or utility room
- Electrical outlets, switches, and lights that do not work or feel loose
- HVAC registers that blow weakly or unevenly, and thermostat that responds
- Appliances that run, cycle, and connect properly, with all accessories present
- Gutters, downspouts, and exterior drains that are attached and clear
Which issues belong on the punch list, and which are warranty items?
The punch list is for things that are incomplete, damaged, or simply not done right, and they should be corrected by the builder before you close, or promptly after per your contract: missing trim, scratched counters, a door that does not latch, an outlet that does not work, a leak, or a window that will not seal. These are finish and function problems, and the walkthrough is the moment to put them on paper.
Warranty items are a separate category: things that are properly built now but could fail or wear later, such as a structural defect, a component covered by the builder's structural warranty, or a manufacturer warranty on systems and appliances. Cosmetic preferences are different again. A paint sheen you simply do not like, or a cabinet style you wish you had picked, is not a defect; fix it in the design center before construction, not on the punch list afterward.
The honest rule: if it is broken, unfinished, or damaged, it belongs on the punch list. If it might fail later, it belongs in the warranty paperwork. The team reads your builder's warranty cover to cover so you know which is which before you sign anything.
When should you raise concerns with the builder?
As early as you spot them, and always in writing. Discovery points and preference corrections should be raised during the pre-drywall and design phases, while the house is still easy to change. Finish defects belong on the punch list at the builder walkthrough, with photos and a clear description of each item. Anything serious, like a structural concern or an active leak, should be raised with the builder immediately and confirmed in writing, with your inspection report attached.
The team's role here is simple: we help you say it in the builder's language, keep the paper trail straight, and hold the builder to what was promised. The full buying process from the buyer's side explains where inspections and the walkthrough fit in the overall timeline, and the FAQs cover how inspections and warranties work on new builds.
Bring your own eyes
We walk every new home like it's our own
The team coordinates your pre-drywall and final inspections and joins the builder walkthrough with the punch list in hand. One call before you visit a model keeps your representation in place, usually at no cost to you.