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Walk through the apartment with the builder or its representative after electricity, water, heating and cooling are available. Operate every accessible fixture and appliance, inspect finishes against your contract selections, and create a dated written record of each defect. Before closing, obtain a repair timetable, warranty paperwork and a chance to verify completed work.
A buyer walkthrough is not a substitute for an independent inspection. It is a practical check of visible work and readily operated systems; it cannot establish the condition of concealed wiring, pipes, structure or inaccessible building equipment.
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Ask the builder to have all utilities turned on. Miami-Dade County’s homeowner guidance specifically recommends checking listed items after utilities are operating, because a dry, unpowered apartment can conceal problems that appear immediately under normal use. Confirm how long the appointment will last and whether the builder’s customer-care representative, site manager or contractor will attend.
Bring the information you will compare
- Your signed purchase contract, plans, specification sheet and finish-selection schedule.
- A room-by-room checklist, notebook and two pens.
- A phone or camera with enough storage and battery to photograph every issue.
- A flashlight for cupboards, service voids and dark corners.
- Painter’s tape or removable labels to mark defects without damaging finishes.
- A small plug-in electrical tester and a tape measure or level if you use them. A tester provides only a basic outlet check; it is not an electrical inspection.
Schedule an independent inspection as early as practical. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises arranging one soon enough to understand the report and obtain any additional specialist inspections before you are committed to a closing timetable. Ask whether the inspector can attend the walkthrough or inspect afterward while access is still straightforward.
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Know what each check can prove
| Activity | What it can establish | What it cannot establish |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer walkthrough | Visible finish quality, operation of accessible fixtures, apparent leaks, missing items and damage. | Condition of concealed wiring, pipes, structure, insulation or inaccessible building systems. |
| Independent professional inspection | A trained assessment of accessible construction, mechanical and water-management conditions, with defects prioritized for follow-up. | Anything hidden, unsafe to access or outside the agreed inspection scope; specialist testing may still be needed. |
| Authority or building-control records | Permits, certificates, inspections and sign-offs required by the relevant jurisdiction. | Proof that every finish or appliance in your particular apartment is defect-free. |
Start at the entrance, doors and windows
Begin at the apartment entrance and work in one direction so no room is skipped. Open and close the entrance door several times. Check that it latches without lifting or forcing, the lock and handle operate smoothly, hinges are secure and seals meet the frame. Look at the threshold for damage or an uneven gap.
Operate every accessible internal door, including cupboards and utility doors. Check that doors do not bind, swing unexpectedly or scrape flooring. Confirm that privacy locks, stops and handles match the specification.
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Open and close each window. Test locks, restrictors and handles; inspect the glass for cracks, chips, scratches or visible distortion. Look around every frame for gaps, damaged seals or missing caulk. Water staining, damp trim or a draft at a closed window should be recorded rather than dismissed as cosmetic.
Compare the installed work with your order
Use your specification and approved plans while standing in each room. Check the location and model of supplied fixtures, the direction of door swings, the number of sockets and the finishes you selected. A substitution may be acceptable only if the contract permits it and the replacement is documented. Photograph labels on appliances or fixtures when the model is important.
Inspect floors, walls, ceilings and joinery
View painted surfaces in daylight and with a flashlight held at a shallow angle. Note incomplete coverage, roller marks, runs, overspray, cracks, dents and unpainted edges. Look at corners, skirting or baseboards, architraves, trim and transitions between different materials. Loose, split or poorly joined trim is a defect even when it is small.
Examine tile for cracks, chips, uneven cuts, hollow-sounding or loose pieces and inconsistent grout. Check stone or manufactured counters for chips, scratches, open joints and a finish that differs from the approved selection. Open every cabinet door and drawer; verify alignment, hinges, runners, handles and soft-close functions. Look inside for missing shelves, exposed fixings or unfinished edges.
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Test the kitchen
Plumbing and sink
Run the hot and cold tap at full and low flow. Check that water arrives at the expected temperature, the flow is steady and the handle or mixer does not wobble. Fill the sink, release the plug and watch the drain. Water should clear without pooling, backing up or producing a persistent foul smell. While water is running, look under the sink for drips at supply valves, traps and waste connections.
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Appliances and ventilation
Switch on each supplied appliance long enough to confirm basic operation: refrigerator power, oven controls and heat, hob zones, dishwasher filling or starting, extractor operation and any washing machine or dryer included in the apartment. Ask the representative to demonstrate unfamiliar controls and provide manuals. Do not dismantle appliances or defeat safety interlocks. Record a missing appliance, incorrect model or damaged panel against the specification rather than accepting a verbal promise.
Check bathrooms and every water outlet
Run each basin, bath and shower outlet, testing hot and cold controls and visible pressure. Observe whether water reaches the shower head without leaks at the riser, hose or mixer. Check silicone or other sealant at baths, shower trays, basins, backsplashes and wall junctions for gaps, separation or incomplete runs.
Flush every toilet. Watch the bowl refill, listen for continuous running and inspect the base and nearby floor for seepage. A slow flush, weak refill, gurgling or water that rises unusually high should be written down. Open accessible service panels only as intended by the design; do not remove fixed panels.
Run outlets long enough to test drainage. Miami-Dade’s checklist calls attention to clogged lines, fixtures and drains, while general buyer guidance also recommends checking visible pressure and leaks. These observations do not replace a plumbing inspection of concealed pipework.
Test electricity, heating and cooling
Lights, switches and outlets
Operate every installed light and switch, including bathroom fans, under-cabinet lighting, dimmers and balcony fixtures where accessible. Plug a small tester or a known-working device into each accessible outlet and note any that are dead, loose, incorrectly positioned or missing from the plan. Keep hands dry and stop if an outlet is hot, sparking or damaged; report it immediately rather than testing further.
Ask the representative to show you the breaker panel, identify each circuit and explain the labels. Labels that do not match the rooms or installed equipment should be corrected before you rely on them during an emergency.
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Run heating and air conditioning through their available modes. Check that air is delivered from each intended grille, controls respond, and the system does not make unusual noises or produce visible condensation. Look around indoor units, pipe penetrations and condensate routes for staining or dripping. Ask which filters the owner must replace and where shut-offs are located.
Some systems are locked out by commissioning procedures or weather conditions. If a full test is not possible, have the limitation recorded and obtain the commissioning or test record and a date for demonstration.
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Bedrooms, living areas and safety equipment
Check flooring transitions, carpet edges, built-in wardrobes and shelving in every bedroom and living space. Confirm that windows and any external doors open to the designed limit and that safety restrictors are fitted where required. Look for damaged glass, gaps at frames and paint or plaster cracks.
Operate the intercom, entry phone, door release, alarm, smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide alarms if supplied. Ask who will program them, which devices are connected to common systems and what the owner must do after handover. Do not assume that a silent alarm proves correct installation; request the commissioning or handover information.
Balcony, terrace, storage and parking
Where these areas form part of your purchase, inspect the balcony or terrace surface, guardrails, doors, drainage outlets and visible seals. Look for standing water, damaged membranes, loose tiles, chipped coatings and gaps around the door threshold. Never climb onto or lean over a guardrail to inspect beyond the safe accessible area.
Check the location and condition of any allocated storage cage, bin area or parking space. Photograph identification numbers and boundaries. Your contract and building documents determine what is included and who maintains it; a general checklist cannot establish those rights.
Ask about the building beyond your apartment
During the unit walkthrough you cannot adequately evaluate the roof, exterior envelope, foundations, fire compartments, lifts, shared drainage or plant rooms. Ask the developer or building manager what inspections, commissioning tests and statutory sign-offs have been completed, where records can be reviewed and which defects are still open.
Confirm how responsibility is divided between the apartment owner, the owners’ association or condominium body and the developer. Request contact details for reporting common-area problems after handover. Local building and fire requirements control which certificates exist and when they must be delivered.
Create a defect record that can be acted on
Use one entry for each issue. A useful record contains the following:
- Room and precise location, such as “main bathroom, left side of vanity, rear joint.”
- What you observed, including whether the problem appeared while a fixture was operating.
- Date, time and photo number.
- Relevant specification, drawing or appliance model.
- Any immediate safety or water-damage concern.
After the appointment, send the numbered list and photographs in writing to the builder or designated customer-care contact. Keep the message, attachments and delivery confirmation with your purchase records.
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Get a repair commitment, not just an acknowledgement
- Ask who is responsible for each item: builder, subcontractor, appliance supplier or building manager.
- Request a target completion date and whether access will be needed after closing.
- Ask how completion will be documented, such as a signed schedule, service report or replacement receipt.
- Arrange a follow-up walkthrough to verify each repair under normal operation.
- For an unresolved or disputed item, refer to the contract, warranty procedure and applicable local notice deadlines before signing a completion or acceptance document.
Miami-Dade County advises notifying the developer in writing about construction defects and retaining relevant documents. That is jurisdiction-specific guidance; in another location, your contract, warranty and local procedure may set different notice methods or deadlines.
Understand the warranties and handover paperwork
Request the builder’s warranty, contractor or subcontractor warranties where provided, appliance and system manufacturer warranties, operating manuals, maintenance schedules and instructions for making a claim. Ask when coverage starts, whether a defect must be reported within a stated period, who pays for access or consequential damage, and how emergency failures are handled.
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The Federal Trade Commission describes general U.S. examples for newly built homes: many components have one year of workmanship and materials coverage; heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems commonly have two years; and some builders offer up to ten years for major structural defects. These are not guaranteed terms for your apartment. Coverage, exclusions and duration are controlled by the actual builder warranty and purchase contract.
An included builder warranty is different from a paid home-warranty service contract. Read the provider, covered components, service fees, exclusions and claim process instead of treating either document as comprehensive insurance.
Use the checklist appropriate to your location
United States
Building, inspection and warranty rules vary by state, county and city. Use the authority materials for the apartment’s location and the exact contract and warranty documents. Miami-Dade County’s checklist is a useful local example of items to operate and defects to report, not a nationwide standard.
United Kingdom
The New Homes Quality Board publishes a “Pre-completion Inspection Checklist (Apartment)” for a buyer conducting a self-inspection. Its resource page lists Code V2, dated March 2026, for homes reserved from March 2, 2026, and Code V1, dated October 2023, for earlier reservations. Check the current version and whether the code applies to your purchase directly with the New Homes Quality Board.
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Decide whether you need an independent inspector
Hire an independent inspector when you want an assessment beyond visible finishes, when the apartment has complex mechanical systems, or when the builder’s timetable leaves little room for correction. Choose someone who is independent of the developer and confirm the written scope, exclusions, report format and insurance before booking.
Attend the inspection if possible. The CFPB notes that being present helps you understand the findings and ask questions. Give the inspector your plans, specification and defect list, but do not ask for a favorable conclusion. A professional report may identify issues that were not visible during your walkthrough and may recommend an electrician, plumber, engineer or specialist survey.
Do not cancel the walkthrough because an inspector is attending. The two activities serve different purposes: you verify that what you ordered is present and usable, while the inspector provides a trained assessment within an agreed scope. Keep both records with the handover documents.
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