New Home Punchlists are Crucial for Homeowner and Builder

Saturday, August 15th, 2009 | Custom Home Construction, General Contractors

Custom home by Asheville general contractor Brock Builders

When building a new home, most homeowners care about staying in budget and moving in on time. One often overlooked but important part of the home building process is the punch list. Any professional general contractor or custom home builder will work with the homeowner to complete the criteria listed on the punch list in order to create a positive relationship with the homeowner.

A punch list is a list of items created by the homeowner and builder toward the end of construction and explains all of the necessary items needed to complete the custom home construction. Typically the builder and a representative for the builder will walk through with the homeowner and possibly the real estate agent (if one is being used) and scan the home for flaws or anything that was not done according to the contract. When determining the flaws, there are two categories in which flaws usually fit: reasonable and unreasonable. The latter affects the quality of the home and can often delay moving into a new home.

While damage is fairly inevitable, most custom home builders will prepare for reasonable flaws and typically do their own walk-through before the official punch list inspection occurs with the homeowner. It is important that the person who prepares the punch list is familiar with the home’s plans and specifications and is not someone who is new to the home.

Just as no two custom home projects are the same, no two punch lists will have the same items. Typically speaking however, the same types of items are inspected and they usually include the following:

Paint and Finish flaws (external and internal)
Missing trim pieces
Inoperable plumbing fixture
HVAC controls
Hardware
Appliances
Inoperable electrical fixtures and outlets
Fixtures and materials that do not conform to specifications

Prior to the punch list inspection, the following items should also be closely examined for any flaws:

Smoke detectors
Lights and outlet testing
Hand rails, guard rails and stair rails
Electrical systems
Stairs
Insulation
Appliances
Plumbing fixtures

Once all of the punch list items have been addressed, it is still important for the homeowner to obtain a list of contractors and building material suppliers in the event a repair is necessary and the builder is unavailable. It is also recommended to acquire a list of design consultants, including the architect, engineers, landscape architect, interior designer, etc for any record keeping.

After the homeowner moves into the home, a truly great builder will not dissolve the relationship and should make him or herself available for any necessary repairs. For example, in certain regions such as Asheville, weather might cause one to use the heating and cooling systems differently than in another region, and this could lead to eventual shrinking or expanding of certain materials. This and other problems are often not known until the home has been occupied for some time and will require a professional builder’s attention.

When choosing a builder for a custom home, remember to consider the relationship not only during the building process, but also after. Word of mouth and referrals are the most important advertising for any builder, so finishing the home on time, in budget, and continuing to make the homeowner happy even after move in, are all crucial practices for any local home builder.

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