Use this on your phone while you walk through your new home with the builder. Go room by room, tap OK or Problem, and take a picture of anything that needs fixing. At the end you'll have a punch list you can text, email or print for your builder.
From the book Don't Close on That New House Yet, a builder and home inspector's guide to the new-home walk-through, by Jack A. Ross.
Private: your checklist and pictures stay on your phone. Nothing is sent to us. It keeps working even if you lose signal inside the house.
What to bring
A roll of blue painter's tape (mark every problem spot)
Your phone, fully charged
A small flashlight, for under sinks, inside cabinets and the attic hatch
A plug-in outlet tester (a few dollars at any hardware store)
Plenty of time. Don't let anyone rush you.
Your punch list
No problems marked yet. Tap Problem on any item and it will show up here.
Buyer signature and date
Builder representative signature and date
Tip: ask the builder's rep to sign and date the printed list, and get a written date for when each item will be fixed.
Builder not fixing what's on your list?
Make the Builder Fix It shows how to get your new-home warranty work done without hiring a lawyer.
Clears every answer, note and picture from this checklist on this phone.
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Please read: This checklist is general education to help you organize your walk-through. It is not a home inspection, and it does not replace one. It does not cover every part of a home or every code requirement, and rules differ from place to place. For a full evaluation, hire a licensed home inspector, and follow your builder's warranty process for repairs.
