You’re almost ready to settle on your beautiful new home but you have one more very important meeting with the Builder – the Pre-Settlement Walk-Thru. I know you’ve got a ton of things on your mind as you prepare to move in, but this is a very important meeting as you prepare for settlement. I can recall telling my buyers to plan on 2-3 hours for this walk and being given the “are you serious?!” look…I’m serious! You’ve invested quite a bit of time, effort and money into this particular investment so you want to make sure that not only is the house completely finished but that you know how to take care of your new “baby”.
Typically a Builder will hold this walk within 1 week of going to settlement so the house is complete with only a few finishing touches needing to be done. My guess is that you may have seen the house a few times (or every weekend!) since it started construction but now is the time to go over it with a fine tooth comb. Here are a few tips to help you have a successful meeting.
- Bring a notebook and pen! You will be given a great deal of information from the Superintendent and you will want to keep notes for future reference. You will be discussing a variety of warranties, how equipment and appliances work, how to winterize the home, etc. along with many helpful maintenance tips which you will probably want to jot down.
- Bring your selections paperwork to compare what you selected with what is actually in your new home, including any electrical maps you may have done. As many times as the home has been walked thru, it is still possible that something you selected may have been missed and now is the time to note that.
- Carefully look for the cosmetic flaws. Prior to settling on your home, most Builders are going to fix scratches, drywall flaws, finish imperfections and such. Once you move in, the Builder will address drywall nail pops and cracks usually one time within the first year but other cosmetic defects will more than likely not be fixed. The reason: there is no way to prove whether this flaw was present before move in or caused after. Once the Builder has turned over your home to you, it is your responsibility to take care of it.
- Ask questions! If you don’t understand something or are not clear, now is the time to ask. You have an expert on your home at your disposal so use that resource.
You will benefit and learn a great deal by following these simple tasks. The walk-thru should be a positive experience teaching you how your home works and what you need to do to keep it happy and healthy. Relax and enjoy…your next step is owning your new home!
