new home walk-through tips?

i'm a first-time homeowner and tomorrow is my cherry-popping walk-through. it's a new build 1 BR condo so there shouldn't be too many issues. anything i should keep an eye on besides looking for scratches on the floor and whatnot?



oh, i also need an end table with some damn storage in it if anybody has some suggestions

Just some things I remember from our walk through..

Open and close the windows, make sure they work well. Check for screens.

Check the hot water, see how long it takes for the hot water to come out.

Make sure the handles/knobs that control the water for the shower/bath work correctly, and turn the right way (one of our shower handles was rotated to H for cold, and C for hot..)

If the developer/builder is there, and you have a furnace and central AC (I'm assuming you do with new construction) have them give you a quick demonstration, where the filters are located, humidity controls (important for hardwood floors), etc.. Take notes on that stuff.

Are you having a home inspection? Our condo was new construction as well, but the home inspector guy did come up with a few good points, and made sure the developer knew about them so we could hold him responsible if they didn't fix them.

Walkthrough just before the closing? Did you have the unit inspected professionally already?

good tips on the plumbing stuff. the closing is a week from tomorrow. i've been up in there a few times already and everything was looking good. no professional inspection, though.

Ask the builder for a copy of his final "punch sheet" walk through, then do it yourself. Get everything on paper, and signed off on. Once you close, it's a whole different world, as now they'll have your money.

Make sure you have the electricity tested in each outlet, as well as the breaker.

Find a friend who is a contractor and walk through it with them.

F's suggestion is best. Get someone who knows what to look for.

You should ABSOLUTELY do a professional inspection. New development/construction often has more defects than older stuff.

The builder will do a walk-through, right? With you?
Be picky. Note the nit-noids.

Most of this other stuff should've been taken care of as part of an inspection contingency.

Check to see if all windows are working correctly.

Originally Posted by robin

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Make sure you have the electricity tested in each outlet, as well as the breaker.

You can buy a tester for checking electrical receptacles at Home Depot for a couple of bucks. It sounds pretty lame to go around checking every outlet, but considering the cost of hiring an electrician to come fix an outlet if it's broken ($200+ for his time)... it's worth your while.

Check:
-windows for draughts;
-electrical appliances (fridge, mircowave, etc.);
-heating, cooling, A/C systems;
-walls and ceilings for damp spots and water damage;
-water pressure;
-noise from other apartments (you may be able to have the sponsor add sound isolation insulation in the walls / floor / ceiling);
-important: you should take your own (precise) measurements of the apartment. Here in NYC, the cost of an apartment is largely based upon square footage (other factors are usually secondary). The square footage that you calculate should match exactly what was advertised. On a walkthrough, I found an apartment to be advertised as 200+ sq ft larger than it actually was. You may have additional leverage on you contract price if you find this is the case.

Scratches on the floor should be the least of your problems! Good luck.

Originally Posted by onlinematt

Click to expand...

You can buy a tester for checking electrical receptacles at Home Depot for a couple of bucks. It sounds pretty lame to go around checking every outlet, but considering the cost of hiring an electrician to come fix an outlet if it's broken ($200+ for his time)... it's worth your while.

Check:
-windows for draughts;
-electrical appliances (fridge, mircowave, etc.);
-heating, cooling, A/C systems;
-walls and ceilings for damp spots and water damage;
-water pressure;
-noise from other apartments (you may be able to have the sponsor add sound isolation insulation in the walls / floor / ceiling);
-important: you should take your own (precise) measurements of the apartment. Here in NYC, the cost of an apartment is largely based upon square footage (other factors are usually secondary). The square footage that you calculate should match exactly what was advertised. On a walkthrough, I found an apartment to be advertised as 200+ sq ft larger than it actually was. You may have additional leverage on you contract price if you find this is the case.

Scratches on the floor should be the least of your problems! Good luck.

a. This is by no means going to be comparable to what a trained professional inspector does. They are cheap and available at a days notice.

b. As far as the square footage goes, in case of an actual purchase the measurements should have been taken by the appraiser.

thanks for all the tips. the appraiser did come out and measure everything. i think the main things will be the plumbing and electrical. i'm pretty good at spotting cosmetic flaws so that should be OK.

t-minus 7 hours.....

Good luck! Take a camera too! You might want to have the photos if a dispute ever arises, or just for posterity.