The Ultimate New-Construction Final Walkthrough Checklist

Catch every issue before you sign for your brand-new home.

The final walkthrough on a new build is your chance to catch anything that needs fixing before you close. This checklist is for anyone buying a newly built home who wants to walk in with a plan, instead of wandering room to room hoping to notice things.

It goes room by room and system by system, then finishes with the questions to ask your builder before closing. I'd rather you find a sticky drawer now than after you've moved in.

Kitchens and bathrooms: use everything

Don't just look, test. Run the dishwasher and the disposal, try every burner and the oven, and turn on the exhaust fan. Look under the sink while the water runs, and open every cabinet and drawer to check alignment. In the bathrooms, flush each toilet and give it a gentle wiggle to make sure it's secure, check that tubs and showers drain, try each shower head setting, and look closely at the grout and the seal where counters meet the wall. And make sure the water goes from hot to cold the way it should.

Systems and mechanicals

Run the heat and the air, ask for a thermostat demo, and find out which filters to use and where they go. Learn where the gas and water shutoffs are. At the electrical panel, check that circuits are labeled and any open spaces are covered. Plug something into every outlet (a GFCI tester is ideal), flip every switch, and notice if any switch plate feels warm. Find the water heater, make sure it has a drip pan, and if there's no expansion tank, ask why.

Cosmetic details and the outside

Small things add up fast: nail pops, dents in walls and ceilings, gaps in trim, uneven paint, scratches in hardwood, and ripples or exposed staples in carpet. Check that every door lines up and locks, and that windows open, close and lock smoothly with no clouding between the panes. Outside, look for standing water, check the sod and landscaping, and look over the siding, gutters, roof and foundation. Run the garage door and ask about the remotes.

Questions to ask before you close

The checklist ends with questions that save you headaches after move-in, like who to contact if something comes up after closing, whether the builder comes back to fix nail pops and cracking within the first year, what warranties cover the foundation and grading, and whether there's an active termite bond. Write down everything you find, room by room, so the builder has a clear list to work from.

Common questions about new construction walkthroughs

What should I test during a new construction walkthrough?

Anything you can turn on, open, flush or lock. That includes appliances, faucets, toilets, outlets, switches, the heat and air, doors, windows and the garage door.

What should I ask the builder at the final walkthrough?

Ask who to contact with issues after closing, what the warranties cover, whether cosmetic fixes like nail pops are handled in the first year, and how you'll get your keys and remotes.