RL Tips: The Punch List for your First Home
Save yourself from unwanted surprises before the “big move”
Moving into your first home is a milestone. May it be a single detached house, a condo unit or a townhouse – we’re sure that you’ll want the most out of your hard-earned money. After the excitement of moving in, you might begin to see minor oversights such as peeling paint, sagging doors, hollow tiles, and faucet leaks, to name a few. Keep in mind that these problems can be prevented through a proper final inspection.
As a homeowner, you are encouraged to be involved in checking the quality of your home. This doesn’t mean that you have to be at the site every day but being familiar with basic technical knowledge is a must. This will help you understand what your designer or contractor are referring to.
One of the crucial phases in a project is the turnover which involves the final inspection or what we commonly call as “punch listing.” It is a method of crosschecking the existing conditions of a newly turned over unit or project versus what was proposed or agreed on in the contract.
Below is the first part of a basic punch list for final inspection that you may find helpful. Remember, the more intricate the details, the more you have on your list, and when in doubt, always consult with your designer and/or contractor.
What you need:
- Your designer or contractor plus any one of the following: electrician, carpenter, plumber
- A camera (to document your remarks visually)
- Steel tape/ measuring tape (commonly known as “metro”)
- A copy of the floor plan (may be requested from the building/ village administration or your designer)
- A copy of the existing electrical plan
- Tools such as leveling tool, electrical tester, plumb bob (courtesy of your electrician/ carpenter)
How to go around:
- Allocate at least one whole day to go over your entire home.
- Navigate per area starting from the main entryway.
- Start from testing the general utilities: your circuit breaker and main water supply.
- Proceed to the quality of finishes, its installation and conformance to standards.
- Inspect and examine installed items if they are working properly.
- Check the overall cleanliness of the site.
