Congratulations! You've made your decision; you've chosen your new home and your
builder. So what needs to happen next? Once you have a firm contract and you
have selected the features that will go into your new home, it is time for the
builder to turn your dream into reality.
You will undoubtedly want to
visit the building site from time to time during construction to check the
progress of your home. Professional builders welcome your participation and
enthusiasm; however, for safety reasons you should not enter the actual
construction site unless by special appointment-an unauthorized site visit may
also contravene the local labour code with respect to construction safety and
the builder's liability.
Questions or concerns arising from a site visit
or a drive-by should be addressed directly to the builder. The tradespeople on
the site each have their own area of expertise and will not be able to discuss
your home's progress with you. Nor are they able to make changes without the
approval of the builder.
Before you take possession of your new home, the
builder will invite you to "walk through" the house to conduct a pre-occupancy
inspection. Three to five days before closing is best-when construction is
substantially complete but there is still time for the builder to remedy any
minor imperfections. Anything that is not to your satisfaction should be noted
for a pre-delivery inspection report. Minor items such as scratches and
incomplete paint work will be rectified before your move-in day. Other items
will be corrected after you are settled.
The following checklist will
help you to inspect your new home.
Exterior
- Grading-should be sloping gently away from the house.
- Sod-was it rolled when laid?
- Wood, vinyl or
aluminum siding-should be even and nailed securely to the walls.
- Brick-should be evenly laid and clean, with weep holes
intact. - Caulking-check around windows, doors, garage door,
electrical outlets and fixtures. - Paint and stains-inspect
for even coverage and proper colour. - Trim, shutters, fascia
and soffit-must be proper colour, of good quality and securely
fastened. - Shingles-are they clean, of proper colour and
with no lifting corners? - Garage-should feature
non-combustible materials on the wall adjoining the house (for instance, gypsum
board with sealed joints); the garage door should open and close
properly.
Interior
- Basement-should be clean; no cracks in the walls; a floor drain in the
lowest part; "healthy" looking wooden joists (a minimum of splitting);
instructions and warranty cards for equipment (furnace, heater, HRV,
etc.) - Doors-must be well-fitted and well-hung; secure locks
for outside doors and door stops. - Windows-must open
smoothly; lockable. - Walls-should be smooth and even; no
cracks, visible seams or nail-pops; right colour; even paint coverage; no gaps
at electrical switches and plugs. - Floors-minimum of squeaks
and "spring"; smooth seams on carpet and other floor covering; even grouting
between ceramic tiles. - Plumbing fixtures-no chips or
scratches; faucets operating properly; caulking around counter tops and
fixtures. - Upgrades and options-correct materials and
quality; proper installation; right colours. - General state
of cleanliness-no construction debris; clean heating ducts; etc.
You might want to hire a private building inspector or
engineer to conduct the inspection for you. Look in the phone book under
Building Inspection Services.