PDI Checklist

The inspection is your chance to catch problems before they become your responsibility. Once you take possession, it is much harder to establish that a scratch, leak, or misaligned fixture was there on day one. Walking the home with the builder and recording what you find means you have a shared record to work from. It also confirms that the options and upgrades you paid for are actually in place, that operating systems like faucets, lights, and appliances function, and that finishes are free from the sort of damage that is easy to miss on a quick walk-through.

A good pre-delivery inspection is systematic. You work through the home room by room and system by system, rather than wandering and hoping you notice things. That means checking the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, interior finishes, and exterior in turn. In each space you are asking two broad questions: does this function, and is it free from damage? Function covers lights, outlets, faucets, hot water, drainage, flushing, ventilation, door and window operation, and appliance connections. Condition covers scratches, chips, dents, gouges, cracked or misaligned tiles, uneven paint, water stains, and missing or damaged hardware. Beyond the fixtures themselves, you confirm the paperwork side too: that all options and upgrades have been installed, and that user guides and warranty information have been provided.

Go through the home methodically and test things rather than just looking at them.

- Start with the kitchen. Confirm the lights work and that the GFCI outlet near the sink functions. Check countertops and backsplash for scratches, chips, and other damage. Confirm cabinets are aligned, open and close properly, and are free from imperfections. Test the sink faucet, hot water, drainage when the basin is filled, and look under the sink for water stains or evidence of leaking. Confirm the dishwasher is properly connected and that built-in appliances have no scratches or dents. Check the range hood fan and light, and make sure user guides and warranty information are provided.
- Move through each bathroom. Test the lights, the GFCI outlet near the sink, and the bathroom fan. Check that floor tiles are not missing or damaged and that mirrors are free from scratches and chips. Check cabinet doors and drawers, then the toilet: no scratches or chips, the bowl secured to the floor, flushing works, and no leaks around the base. Repeat the sink checks you did in the kitchen. For the shower or tub, confirm the caulking is done properly, the shower head and drain work, the tub is free from damage, the shower door opens and closes properly, and the tiles are undamaged.
- In the laundry room, confirm the dryer is venting outside and that the water hook-ups are connected to the correct hot and cold inlets.
- Across the interior, check floors and carpet for damage, and listen for excessive squeaking or springiness when you walk. For ceramic tile, look for cracks, chips, or gouges, tight seams with no gaps, aligned joints with proper grouting, and staining or shade variation. On walls and trim, look for uneven paint coverage and drywall free from dents and gouges, and confirm trim including baseboards and door and window casings is aligned, secure, and finished. Test that doors are well-fitted, open and close properly, and latch and lock firmly, that exterior doors are sealed with weather-stripping and have a tight seal, and that any exterior door leading to the garage has an automatic closer. Check that closet doors are secure and open and close easily.
- Finish with the exterior, then confirm that all options and upgrades have been installed and are complete.

Record a result for each item as you go, so nothing is left to memory.

The PDI checklist gives you an ordered set of items covering the kitchen, countertops, cabinets and drawers, sinks, appliances, bathrooms, the laundry room, interior floors, carpet, walls, doors, windows, stairs, closets, and the exterior. Instead of relying on recollection, you work down the list and record a result for each item. It also prompts you to capture the practical details of the visit itself, such as when the inspection was conducted, who prepared it, and the location. The result is a consistent record of the home's condition that the builder and the purchaser can both work from.

The builder's representative and the purchaser, working through the home together before move-in.

No, you can begin with the builder's representative and the purchaser walking the home together and recording results, and the checklist helps you keep that walk-through systematic.