New Construction | Taking possession
The Walkthrough and the Deficiency List
One appointment, usually an hour, that determines what the builder fixes without argument and what becomes your problem.
The short answer
The walkthrough is where you record every defect in writing before you take possession. Be exhaustive and specific. Anything not on the list is harder to pursue later, and the warranty sub-limits mean some items have only twelve months of coverage.
Be exhaustive, and be specific
Write down everything, including things that feel too small to mention. A list is cheap to make and expensive to add to afterwards.
Specific beats general. Scratched glass in the second bedroom window, lower left pane is actionable. Windows need attention is not.
What to actually check
Operate everything rather than looking at it. Doors and windows should open, close, latch, and seal. Taps should run hot and cold. Appliances should turn on.
- → Every window and door: opens, closes, latches, seals, and is not scratched
- → Every tap and drain, hot and cold, checking under sinks for leaks
- → Every outlet, switch, and light fitting
- → Heating and ventilation, running, at the thermostat
- → Floors and walls for damage, and tiles and grout for cracks
- → Appliances, each one switched on
- → The outdoor space, the parking, and any storage that comes with the home
Why the timing matters
Take the list seriously before possession, because afterwards you are working within the warranty and its deadlines rather than a builder's list of things to finish.
The two year materials and labour period has shorter limits inside it, including twelve months for non-common property in a strata unit. Something you noticed at month one and mentioned casually is in a very different position from something recorded in writing.
Is this right for you
Works well if
- ✓ Anyone taking possession of a newly built home
- ✓ Buyers willing to spend a proper hour rather than a polite fifteen minutes
Does not work if
- ✕ You rush it because the builder's representative seems busy
- ✕ You record impressions rather than specific, located defects
Check before you offer
- → That the list is signed and you have a copy
- → What the builder has agreed to fix and by when, in writing
- → The date warranty coverage started, since it sets your deadlines
- → Who to contact for warranty claims, and how
Read next
Common questions
What is a deficiency list?
The written record of defects identified before you take possession, agreed with the builder. Anything not on it is harder to pursue afterwards, so be exhaustive and specific about what and where.
How long should the walkthrough take?
Longer than the fifteen minutes it often gets. You are operating every window, door, tap, outlet, and appliance rather than glancing at them. An hour is reasonable and it is the cheapest hour in the whole purchase.
What if I find something after I move in?
You are then in the warranty rather than the builder's completion list. That is workable, and the sub-limits inside the two year period mean some items have only twelve months of coverage. Report defects in writing as soon as you find them.
Where these figures come from
- BC Housing, new homes registry and warranty
Confirms a builder's licence and a home's 2-5-10 warranty coverage.
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- VanPlex active listings, MLS® data
Active townhouses, half duplexes, and row houses built in the last two years across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
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Every home in this search was built in the last two years, so everything in this hub applies to it. Filter by price, bedrooms, parking, and distance to a station.