5 Items To Discuss With Your Contractor During the Final Walkthrough

The time has come! Your custom built home is almost finished. It seems like it’s taken forever! It hasn’t actually; your carefully chosen Washington home builders worked with great speed and efficiency, but you’ve been so excited, so giddy with anticipation, that you absolutely could not wait for the project to be finished.

Now, you’re nearly there. The moment of truth is upon you, when you can enjoy the fruits of all that work and settle into your newly constructed home.

But, first, there’s one more step: the final walkthrough. Even though you’re excited for the work to be done, you want to make sure everything is perfect before the project is officially finished.

Here are 5 things to discuss with your contractor during the final walkthrough:

Ask to see how everything works

In a newly built home, you’ll have a lot of new equipment you have to learn how to use. New water heaters, a new air conditioning system, a new garage door, a new electrical system, and probably many other things. Most of these items will come with instruction manuals that you’ll need to pore through when you can, but you should also make it a point to ask your contractor to walk you through their use.

Most of the technology in a modern home is very simple to use and you should take to it with no issues after receiving a little instruction. Of course, if you do have any questions, the final walkthrough is the perfect time to ask. As an added benefit, you’ll be able to ensure everything is working properly and that you understand where every element in your home is located.

Ask about maintenance and repair

When you are looking through your new home, make sure you have a detailed checklist and pencil in hand. You’ll want to take thorough notes on everything; make sure it’s just how you wanted it.

You’ll also want to make sure it’s in good condition. Of course, in a new home, everything should be brand new; so you’ll definitely need to make sure there is no unexpected damage to countertops, the insides of closets, or any other parts of your new home.

Make sure you discuss with your contractor what happens if any part of your home needs repairs. Reputable Washington home builders will usually have some kind of warranty program, so if something in your new home does get damaged soon after its construction you’ll be able to have it repaired without incurring any major expense.

Of course, these warranties don’t apply to damage caused by the negligence of the homeowners, so make sure to care for your new home. Ask about your contractor’s warranty program and how they will go about making any repairs, should the need arise.

Make sure everything is how you want it

The final walkthrough is your last chance to ensure that everything in your home is how you want it to be, so make sure to keep a detailed record of everything you ordered and double check that it’s all there, just how you asked for it.

Double check that you have carpets where you want carpets, wood floors where you want wood floors, and that everything is the proper color. Inspect the paint jobs in every room, make sure any wallpaper being used matches what you asked for, and don’t forget to check inside of closets and other areas that may be a little more hidden away.

If anything is amiss, or not quite what you asked for, it will be your last chance to ask your contractor to fix it before the process is considered complete. After that, changes can still be made, of course, but it will be much more difficult.

Make sure everything is in good working order

When you are inspecting to ensure everything that your Washington home builders have put in your new home is how you wanted it, you’ll also want to make sure everything is professionally constructed. While a reputable home builder will rarely get details wrong, it’s still important to be thorough and check everything.

Check that the windows are properly sealed and that there are no cracks; check to see that the carpets are tight, without any loose spots or bubbles; ensure that all of the outlets have electricity going to them (bring something with a power cord to test this). Make sure there are not any missed spots in the painting and that nothing is bent, warped, or cracked.

Every time you check an element of your home, make a note of it on your checklist. This can be one of the longest parts of the final walkthrough process because you’ll want to make sure you are extra meticulous and don’t miss any details.

Discuss any legal matters

Well, you’re almost finished! It’s almost time to move into your brand new, custom built home. You have carefully inspected everything, and your Washington home builders have constructed you a house you couldn’t be more proud of! The last elements to discuss are any legal matters.

You’ll want to make sure all of the paperwork is in order. This includes any certificates you might need; for example, you will need a certificate of occupancy from the local municipality to ensure that your new home is legal to live in. You’ll also want to make sure that you have any other certificates that your town government requires. Confirm everything is legal regarding the heating and cooling of your home, and don’t forget to ask your contractor about any details you might have missed.

The final element, then, is to pay your contractor; make sure that the terms of your contract are met on both ends and you can hand over the final check! You are now there! Take a moment to enjoy your brand-new, custom-built home, and then it’s time to begin another big process—moving in!