As a purchaser of a newly built home, you will have the opportunity to perform an inspection of the home just prior to closing. Too many purchasers fail to recognize the importance of conducting a thorough inspection of the home prior to closing. This column discusses the importance of the inspection, and suggests how a purchaser can conduct the most thorough inspection possible.

Why is it that most people will spend more time inspecting and test-driving a car than they will inspecting a new home? Considering the size of the investment, one would think the opposite would be true. However, too often, purchasers fail to perform a proper pre-delivery inspection and this may result in future problems.

As a purchaser, the PDI, or pre-delivery inspection represents your opportunity to view your home in its completed state. A representative from your builder will take you through what should be a comprehensive inspection of the home. As the purchaser, your objective is to identify any damaged, incomplete or missing items as well as to note anything that is not working properly. It is very important for you to record any incomplete, missing or defective items on the Certificate of Completion and Possession (CCP) form which will be provided by the builder’s representative. In the end, this form will provide both you and the builder with a written record of the inspection. The form will mark the official date of possession. This is important because the possession date establishes when your warranty coverage begins.

The purchaser should also ensure that they put aside enough time to perform a thorough inspection. You should prepare for the PDI by printing a copy of the PDI Checklist which can be found at www.tarion.com

There are some other points to consider when performing the actual inspection. Purchasers should test every tap, toilet, light fixture, window, lock and appliance to ensure that they are all functioning properly. If they do not, they should note this on the form. In the basement, purchasers should carefully examine the walls and the floors for water stains. Any stains could be an indication of a leak. They should also carefully examine the floor, carpeting, drywall and paint for any stains or defects. Many purchasers only examine the interior of the home, but fail to consider the exterior. They should attempt to look at the exterior including the brick, eaves trough, external hose bibs and sliding doors.

Conducting a proper inspection and documenting any deficiencies will go a long way to ensuring that the builder rectifies any problems that the purchaser identifies during its inspection.