This week we got to see the mostly-completed inside of our home for the first time ever! To catch up on our moving journey, you can read part 1 here! Part 2, about narrowing down our neighborhood, is available here! And for more on our new home & going to the design center, part 3 is here!
Before the Walk-Through
First, we settled a day and time on the walk-through, coordinated with the builder. We also hired an independent contractor (HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS) who did his own inspection a couple days before we did. He had a drone, so he was able to get a view of the roof and gutters and find some things that we would not be able to see. He sent us over a report, which we then forwarded to the home builder to review.
We also joined a couple of neighborhood Facebook groups! This is helpful so that we can find out about companies for pest control, fences, window treatments, etc. It’s always great to have personalized recommendations!
Right before we left the hotel for the house, we made sure to have a couple documents pulled up on our laptop, which we brought with us to the walk-through. First, we pulled up the inspection report from the independent contractor. We also pulled up the options sheet that had all our upgrades on it so we could double check and make sure we got everything we paid for!
What to Bring With You
As mentioned earlier, bringing a copy of any independent inspection reports is a good idea, and if you paid for any upgrades, bringing that is also helpful! Since we get no reception at the new house, and internet isn’t set up yet, we pre-loaded it onto our laptop so that we had it ready to go.
Bring something to take notes with – pen and paper, or your phone is fine. The home builder gave us some information on suggested cleaning and maintenance for various surfaces, and went over important warranty information. Don’t forget a camera! A phone camera is more than likely fine, but feel free to bring a fancier camera if you’d like!
What Happens at a Walk-Through
This was our second walk-through. The first was just before drywall was put in, and more about seeing the interior structure of the home and to get some general updates.
This walk-through was scheduled about 2 weeks before estimated closing, and the home was nearly complete when we saw it. This one was to find any errors, any paint scratches, grout and tile issues, etc.
Of course, every builder will have a different timeline, so make sure to check with your builder for specifics!
At our walk-through, we went through both the exterior and interior of the house. We had 2 home builder representatives with us (both contractors). They explained features of the home, certain things to look for (relating to electricity, HVAC, internet, etc.) and helped us tape up areas of concern. Blue tape was for paint scratches or other paint issues. Green tape was for drywall and other non-paint issues. Most of what we found was cosmetic (for example, a broken paver tile on the back porch, several areas that needed paint touch up, etc.). The independent contractor found some other issues that we wouldn’t know to look for (such as a roof tile that wasn’t completely secure).
We also went through warranty information – builder-provided warranty, as well as third party warranties (such as for the appliances and HVAC). This is where it’s helpful to take notes! Finally, they gave us information on cleaning various surfaces in the house, as well as information about sealing the grout & countertops (the builder doesn’t do that for us, because some homeowners don’t want their grout and counters sealed).
How Long Does it Take?
For us it took a little over an hour and a half. We had some downtime where my husband was reviewing the upgrades sheet to make sure we got everything, so I took that opportunity to ask the contractors about cell providers, internet providers, etc. Of course, they’re local to the area and have been using their cell phones to communicate with others on the build site, so they’ve got some insight as to what companies are the best for the area! They also gave me some intel on places to look for furniture, light fixtures, ceiling fans, etc.
Final Thoughts
Some other things to consider throughout a new build process are:
- Appliances – what’s included and what’s not! Microwave, stove, oven, and dishwasher were all included. Fridge & washer/dryer were offered as an upgrade through the builder, but they charge quite a bit for appliances and don’t have a great selection. We opted to buy from Home Depot/Lowe’s, but keep in mind that delivery times may take longer than normal due to COVID-related shipping constraints.
- Things you need to do after closing – pest control, window coverings, screen on porch, fence for backyard, etc. Some things may be offered through your builder as an upgrade – window coverings, for example. Other things you’ll need to do on your own. I highly recommend either chatting with neighbors or joining a neighborhood Facebook group to get some intel on companies and vendors the locals recommend! You can start setting up appointments with various companies prior to closing, so they come out right away and you can get the ball rolling.
- Moving pod delivery – if you have your belongings in a moving pod, make sure to schedule the delivery of it so you’re not waiting around for days after closing!
- Furniture purchases – if you’re buying new furniture, similar to appliances, double check on delivery times. Things are taking longer thanks to COVID.
- HOA policies – double check HOA policies on anything you want to add or change about the house. Our HOA has rules on fences, screened porches, etc.
Next Steps
Non-house related stuff is next: setting up doctor appointments, DMV appointments, etc. That takes some time. I already have an appointment with an OBGYN and I have several recommendations for pediatricians. We also toured the preschool our son will be attending starting in August!
The next step in the process is the actual move, which for us means driving across the country. We leave in a few days, wish us luck! We do have one more walk-through the day before we close, to ensure everything we wanted to have fixed is fixed.
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