During a new-build apartment walkthrough, check both the visible finish and whether included fixtures and systems work. Compare the apartment with the written plans and specifications, record each defect with its location and photographs, and send the list to the builder in writing. Turn on utilities before testing anything that depends on them, and use the actual contract and warranty—not a general checklist—to understand your rights and deadlines.
Prepare before the walkthrough
Bring the purchase documents, approved plans, specifications, and any written list of included appliances, fixtures, parking, storage, and amenities. Compare what you see with those documents. New York’s Attorney General advises buyers to rely on written offering-plan promises rather than sales representations or renderings: Before You Buy a Co-op or Condo.
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Arrange for water, electricity, heating, and cooling to be available before checks that depend on them. Miami-Dade County says, “These items should be checked after all utilities have been turned on.” Its checklist is useful, but the procedures and legal rights it describes apply in its local context: Newly Constructed Homes.
You can inspect the apartment yourself or consider hiring an independent building professional. Miami-Dade recommends having a knowledgeable building-trade representative; the UK New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) also provides a checklist for buyers doing their own inspection. Neither source establishes that one approach is mandatory everywhere. Consider the professional’s qualifications and inspection scope, timing, report detail, utility availability, cost, and how your contract treats inspection findings and closing.
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For UK buyers, the NHQB lists Code V2 (March 2026) for homes reserved from 2 March 2026, and Code V1 (October 2023) for homes reserved earlier. Check the applicable code and the relevant documents for your home: NHQB Resources.
What to check inside the apartment
Doors, windows, cabinets, and finishes
- Open and close every door, window, and cabinet. Note sticking, poor fit, damage, or missing or incomplete hardware.
- Inspect walls, ceilings, trim, paint, floors, counters, and tile for chips, cracks, stains, or unfinished work. A mark may be cosmetic, but staining can also warrant asking about possible water entry; have the builder explain anything uncertain.
- Look over caulking around windows, doors, and finished areas for gaps or incomplete application.
- Check visible finishes, fixtures, and appliances against the written specifications and included-items list.
Water, plumbing, and drainage
- Run each tap and observe water pressure and how quickly the basin drains.
- Check beneath sinks and around visible plumbing for leaks. Flush toilets and check that drains and fixtures are not blocked.
- Listen for unusually noisy water lines and look at nearby walls and ceilings for marks that could indicate leaks.
Heating, cooling, and ventilation
- Where conditions and the builder’s instructions allow, turn on heating and air conditioning. Check that the equipment operates and look for condensation.
- Check whether heat or conditioned air reaches the rooms. New York’s Attorney General suggests using a thermometer in rooms farthest from the heat source, and doing the same for air conditioning. A room thermometer offers a basic comparison; it is not a professional system test.
Electrical fixtures and supplied appliances
- Test supplied appliances and check that outlets and light fixtures work, where safe and appropriate.
- Do not open electrical panels or dismantle fittings. Report suspected hazards, visibly loose wires, or fixtures without covers to the builder or a qualified professional rather than trying to repair them yourself.
Intercoms and alarms
Check the intercom and alarm operation where provided. If a device cannot be tested during the appointment, note that in your written record and ask the builder how and when it will be demonstrated.
Check what is promised beyond the apartment
Ask what is included in shared spaces, parking, storage, and amenities, then compare the answer with the written plan or offering documents. Marketing material may depict facilities that the governing documents do not guarantee. Ask about outstanding work in common areas and how its completion will be communicated. An apartment walkthrough does not, by itself, certify building-wide systems or shared areas.
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Make a useful snagging list
A snagging list is a written record of defects, unfinished work, or items that do not match the agreed documents. In New York, the Attorney General calls the written defect record from a walkthrough a “punch list.” Terminology and procedures differ by jurisdiction, but a clear written record helps both sides identify what needs attention.
For each issue, record the room or precise location, what is wrong, when you found it, and the remedy or next step the builder agrees to. Take clear photographs where they help show the defect. Send the list in writing, keep a copy, and retain the builder’s response. Miami-Dade advises written notice and proof of delivery for defect complaints. New York’s Attorney General advises putting any post-closing repair commitments into the closing documents. These are jurisdiction-specific examples, not universal legal rules.
Agree how each issue will be resolved
Where the contract and timing permit, ask whether the builder can correct an item before closing or whether it proposes a written post-closing repair commitment. A promise to fix something is more useful when the agreed work and next steps are recorded in the appropriate documents. The effect on closing, available remedies, and required paperwork depend on your contract and local law; get qualified local advice if a disputed item could affect your decision to complete the purchase.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use the actual warranty for deadlines and coverage
Do not assume that every visible mark is covered or that a walkthrough list changes warranty terms. The Federal Trade Commission’s US guidance explains that new-home warranties usually have limited, component-specific terms; appliances and some incidental costs may not be covered. It describes common patterns of one year for many workmanship items, two years for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems in many warranties, and up to ten years for some major structural defects. These are general patterns, not promised coverage or deadlines for your apartment. Read the warranty that applies to your home, follow its claim instructions, note its time limits, and keep copies of claims and correspondence: Warranties for New Homes.
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