home inspection
What is a pre-delivery inspection?
Just before you take possession, your builder is required to meet with you to do a thorough walk-through – what’s known as a pre-delivery inspection, or PDI. This is a very important step in the new home buying process, but not everyone understands what it is and why it matters.
This is one of your first opportunities to view your completed home. The PDI should cover the interior and exterior and include a demonstration of your home’s ventilation, plumbing and heating systems.
If you spot any item that is damaged, incomplete, missing or not operating properly, it should be noted on the builder’s PDI form so that you have a record that these conditions existed prior to you occupying the home. If something has not been installed or completed, this should be noted as well.
While inside the home, look for things like chips or cracks in tiles, scratches on countertops or mirrors, damage to floors or walls, and doors and windows that are not secure or do not open and close. When you go outside, check items like the quality of brickwork and siding, whether window screens have been installed, and the appearance of the driveway and landscaping.
When the inspection is over, you will be asked by your builder to sign the PDI Form. Any issues you see and record on this form will hopefully be corrected by your builder right away before you move in.
It’s important to know that the PDI form is not a request for warranty service, but any items that are not corrected by the time you move in should be listed on your 30-day or year-end warranty forms. These forms represent an official request for warranty service. Any items you list that are covered under warranty must be addressed by your builder within a specific timeframe.
The PDI form is also a useful piece of evidence of any problems that existed before you moved in. It can then be used to support your warranty claim.
In short, the PDI is a critical part of owning your new home and is a good first step to take in protecting your warranty. (NC)