The final walkthrough is one of the last steps before you close on your new construction home, and it is one of the most important. This is your chance to walk through every room with your builder, ask questions, and make note of anything that needs attention before you take the keys.
If you have never done a final walkthrough before, it can feel like a lot to take in at once. This checklist breaks the process down room by room so you know exactly what to look for and what to expect afterward.
What a Final Walkthrough Actually Is
A final walkthrough is a scheduled appointment where you and a representative from the builder tour the completed home together. It typically takes place a few days before closing.
The purpose is twofold. First, you confirm that the home is complete and functioning as it should. Second, you learn how the home works. Where the shutoffs are, how the systems operate, and what maintenance falls to you once you move in.
Bring a notepad or use your phone. Take pictures of anything you want to discuss. Plan on at least an hour, and do not rush it.
Before You Start: What to Bring
- A list of any questions you have been saving up
- Your phone for photos and notes
- A phone charger or small device to test outlets
- A tape measure if you are planning furniture placement
- Comfortable shoes, since you will be walking the entire property
If you can, schedule the walkthrough during daylight hours. Natural light makes it much easier to inspect finishes, paint, and flooring.
Exterior Checklist
Start outside and work your way in.
- Roof and gutters. Look for anything visibly out of place from ground level. Confirm gutters and downspouts are attached and directing water away from the foundation.
- Siding, brick, and stucco. Check for cracks, gaps, or areas where the finish looks uneven.
- Grading and drainage. The ground should slope away from the house on all sides.
- Driveway and walkways. Look for cracks or uneven sections.
- Exterior doors. Open and close each one. Check that locks and deadbolts work smoothly and that weatherstripping sits flush.
- Windows from the outside. Confirm screens are present and undamaged.
- Exterior faucets. Turn each one on and off.
- Exterior outlets and lighting. Test every fixture and receptacle.
- Garage door. Run it through a full open and close cycle. Test the safety sensors by breaking the beam with your foot.
Interior: Room by Room
Move through the home in a consistent order so nothing gets skipped.
Walls, Ceilings, and Trim
- Check paint coverage in corners and along baseboards
- Look for nail pops, seams, or texture inconsistencies
- Confirm trim is tight to the wall with no visible gaps
- Check that caulking is clean and complete around trim and transitions
Flooring
- Walk the entire floor in each room and listen for soft spots or squeaks
- Check tile grout lines for consistency
- Look at transitions between flooring types
- Inspect carpet seams and edges
Doors and Windows
- Open and close every interior door
- Confirm doors latch without sticking or swinging on their own
- Open and lock every window
- Check that window screens are installed
Electrical
- Flip every light switch and confirm what it controls
- Test outlets in each room with a charger or small device
- Locate the electrical panel and confirm the circuits are labeled
- Test GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, and exterior locations using the test and reset buttons
- Confirm smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and working
Plumbing
- Run every faucet, hot and cold
- Check water pressure at each fixture
- Flush every toilet
- Fill and drain each sink and tub, watching for slow drainage
- Look under sinks for any moisture around connections
- Locate the main water shutoff and confirm you know how to operate it
- Run the water heater through a hot water cycle at a distant fixture
HVAC
- Run the air conditioning and confirm cool air at every vent
- Run the heat and confirm the same
- Locate and check the air filter
- Confirm the thermostat is programmed and you understand how to operate it
- Ask where the condensate line drains
Kitchen
- Open and close every cabinet door and drawer
- Check that hardware is aligned and tight
- Test every appliance included in the home
- Run the dishwasher through a short cycle if time allows
- Check the disposal
- Confirm the range hood or vent is operating
- Inspect countertop edges and seams
Bathrooms
- Test exhaust fans in each bathroom
- Check shower and tub caulking
- Confirm shower doors open and close smoothly
- Look at tile alignment and grout consistency
- Check that towel bars and accessories are secure
What to Do With Your List
As you go, note anything that needs attention. Your builder representative will document these items and put together a plan to address them.
Be specific. “Scuff on the wall” is less useful than “scuff on the north wall of the second bedroom, about three feet up from the baseboard.” Photos help.
Understand the difference between items that need correction and items that are normal characteristics of new construction. Minor settling, for example, is expected in a new home as materials adjust. Your builder can explain what falls into which category.
Questions Worth Asking
- Which items on the list will be addressed before closing, and which will be handled afterward?
- Who do I contact if something comes up after I move in?
- What does the warranty cover, and for how long?
- Where are the shutoffs for water, gas, and electricity?
- What maintenance should I plan for in the first year?
- Are there manuals or documentation for the appliances and systems?
After the Walkthrough
Once the walkthrough is complete and the agreed items have been addressed, you move to closing. Closing is handled through a title company, where you sign the final paperwork and take ownership.
At Paisano Home Builders, every home is backed by a 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty. That coverage gives you a defined process for anything that comes up after you move in, so you are not left wondering who to call.
Building With a Team That Has Been Here Since 1996
The final walkthrough goes smoother when the home was built right the first time. Paisano Home Builders has been building in South Laredo since 1996, working with the same trusted trade partners for decades. That consistency shows up in the details you will be inspecting on walkthrough day.
We build move-in ready homes, semi-custom homes, and homes on your own lot across the Cuatro Vientos corridor.
Visit our model home at 1650 Materia Drive in the Santa Elena Subdivision, or call us at 956-462-7070 to talk through the process.
Welcome Home.
