When you buy a new house, you’re trusting a builder to complete your home based on the standards and requirements that you agreed to when you signed the contract. The thing is, no one can guarantee that nothing will go wrong or no mistakes will be made.
That’s why the pre-delivery inspection (PDI) exists. This inspection is done to make sure that the newly built home you’re buying has been constructed properly and up to code before you move in.
Key Points
- A PDI is a walk-through of your new home led by your builder and gives you a chance to see your completed home before you move in.
- While the builder’s representative will inspect the home in detail, it’s still a good idea for you to bring your own checklist with you to double-check that issues are uncovered before you move in.
- You may want to bring someone you trust along with you during the final walk-through to point things out that you may miss yourself.
What Is A PDI?
A PDI, or a pre-delivery inspection, is the inspection of a newly-built home and is performed by a representative of the builder and buyer. It’s the first opportunity for the buyer to see their new home fully completed.
Before you officially move in, the builder will take you on a tour of the house to show you the features and explain how specific systems work, such as the furnace, water system, and air conditioning unit.
Who Conducts A PDI?
The PDI must be jointly conducted by you and your builder. You can also bring in an independent home inspector if you wish to have a second opinion or want help conducting the inspection. It is up to you and your independent inspector to survey and test the new home for any issues and then make note of them.
When Does A PDI Take Place?
Typically, you can expect a PDI to be conducted 1 or 2 weeks before your closing date. This provides the builder with enough time to complete any work or fix any issues that were found during the inspection.
This will depend on the builder you’re working with, as some may wait until after you’ve moved in, even though it’s technically a pre-delivery inspection.
Should You Have A PDI Checklist?
We can’t recommend enough that you have your PDI checklist with you while the inspection is being conducted.
Depending on the province you live and the builder you’re working with, there is typically a pre-established list of items that should be checked during your PDI. But, since you’re the one buying the home and ultimately the one who will live there, it’s up to you to be as informed as possible to make sure that your PDI is conducted properly and that you’re aware of any issues need attention.
How To Create Your Own Pre-Delivery Inspection Checklist
A PDI can often be overwhelming for the buyer, and rightly so, as there are dozens of surfaces, systems, and components that need to be checked. This is why we recommend that you break down your checklist into categories based on room type.
Below is a comprehensive example of how your PDI checklist should be organized.
PDI Checklist
| Area To Be Inspected | What To Check |
| For All Areas | – Walls – Paint – Floor – Ceiling – Light – Windows – Staircases – Thermostats |
| Kitchen | -Cabinets and drawers – Sink Countertops – Backsplash – Appliances |
| Bathrooms | – Vanity – Tile – Sink – Mirror – Toilet – Shower/tub |
| Bedrooms | – Custom closet systems – Specific molding or trim |
| Basement | – Heating system – Water system – Air conditioning system – Ventilation – Electrical – Plumbing – Central vacuum |
| Laundry Room | – Plumbing – Appliances – Cabinets – Tile |
| Exterior | – Front door – Windows – Siding/brickwork – Foundation – Driveway – Garage door |
| Outdoor Living Spaces | – Grass Fence – Additional landscaping – Pool – Patio/deck/veranda |
For All Areas
During your PDI, makes sure you examine the following items in all areas of the house, including the exterior:
- Walls – Drywall should have no noticeable marks, indentations, joints, or seams.
- Paint – Were the correct colours used?
- Floor – Have they been installed properly? Are they the right colour?
- Ceiling – Look for defects, cracks, and dents.
- Light fixtures – Do they work? Are they the right ones?
- Doors – Do they open and close properly?
- Windows – Are they well-fitted? Are the window cranks in working order?
- Staircases – Listen for squeaking.
- Thermostats – Is the home too hot or cold?
Kitchen
The kitchen is potentially where you’ll spend the most amount of your time during the PDI. Pay particular attention to any upgrades that you paid for. The following items should be included in your checklist:
- Cabinets and drawers – Open and close all cabinets and drawers. Are there are marks or dents?
- Sink – Does the tap work? Does the sink drain?
- Countertops – Are they even and installed properly?
- Backsplash – Are there any visible caulking or grout issues?
- Appliances – Are they the ones you choose? Do they work?
- Fridge
- Stove/oven
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
Bathrooms
In the bathrooms, it’s important that you devote your attention to the cosmetic details, but also the plumbing. Any issues now could mean major problems in the future:
- Vanity – Double-check cabinets and drawers.
- Tile – Have the tiles been installed properly?
- Sink – Run the water to see if the sink drains properly.
- Mirror – Is the mirror hung straight?
- Toilet – Flush the toilet to make sure it works.
- Shower/tub – Check the water pressure and drain.
Bedrooms
Since bedrooms don’t often have many specific features, make sure you check on the basic things like flooring and walls, as well as any of the following “extras” that your new house might have:
- Custom closet systems – Do they look installed properly? Is it what you paid for?
- Specific molding or trim – Did you have special details added to the bedrooms?
Basement
Since your basement is typically the location of many of the major systems that keep your home comfortable, you likely spend quite a lot of your time here. Check the following during the PDI:
- Heating system
- Water system
- Air conditioning system
- Ventilation
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Central vacuum
It might be difficult for you to determine whether the furnace and air conditioning systems have been installment properly. That’s why having a professional home inspector with you during the PDI will help.
Laundry Room
Plumbing should be your main concern if your home has a laundry room:
- Plumbing – Is there a hook-up for your masher and dryer?
- Appliances – Were appliances included in your package? Do they work?
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Cabinets – Are the cabinets even and properly installed?
- Tile – Do the tiles look nice, with no grout or caulking issues?
Exterior
While you definitely want your house to look great from the outside, it’s also important that everything has been installed properly and works:
- Front door – Is it aligned and does it lock easily?
- Windows – Make sure windows are sealed and open and close properly. Don’t forget to check all the windows on the exterior as well.
- Siding/brick work – Does everything look well-installed?
- Foundation – Is the foundation free of cracks?
- Driveway – Is it level, smooth, and free of cracks and potholes?
- Garage door – Does the go up and down without any issues? Does it stop if there is an object under it?
Outdoor Living Spaces
- Grass – Was sod part of your package?
- Fence – Is the fence solid and do any gates open and close quietly?
- Additional landscaping – Did you pay for plants, trees, or other greenery to be planted?
- Pool – Is all the pool equipment installed and functioning well
- Patio/deck/veranda – Are these surfaces safe and is the railing up to code?
Do I Need A Pre-Delivery Inspection?
A PDI is a great opportunity for you to make sure that the finishing touches have been completed properly and that everything meets the standards that were agreed upon in your contract with the builder.
If you’re purchasing a new build home (a house that hasn’t been lived in before), then chances are you’ll need a PDI. In most cases, your provincial government will require that all new build houses have a pre-delivery inspection.
For example, in Ontario, all builders must register new build houses and condos with the Tarion Warranty Corporation. This entity administers the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, which requires that all new homes have a PDI.
If you’re buying a resale home (a house that has had previous owners), you won’t need a PDI. But, you’ll still need to pay for a home inspection. For resale homes, your bank will require that an inspection is conducted before they approve the purchase of that house.
What To Do During Your Pre-Delivery Inspection
During your PDI, you’ll be taken around your new home by the builder’s representative. It’s your job as the buyer to speak up and point out any issues that you see. If you don’t mention them right away, you’ll be stuck with them once you move in or will have to pay to have them fixed later.
While you can go through the PDI process on your own, we do recommend that you consider bringing along someone you trust, whether that’s a parent, friend, or even a professional home inspector. Even though the builder’s representative may explain everything to you, the person you bring with you can keep an eye out for the smaller details that you might not have the time to look for.
It’s also very likely that you’ll be overwhelmed with information during your PDI and could potentially completely miss a serious or important issue that needs to be addressed. Therefore, having a second set of eyes can often be invaluable.
Final Thoughts
Even though reputable builders have the expertise to construct good quality homes, mistakes and oversights can still happen. That’s where the PDI can really save you. Take some time to come up with your own detailed PDI checklist and bring it with you during your final walk-through to make sure everything is up-to-par before you move in.
