Start Building Your Home!

Congratulations! If you’ve been following along in this series, you’re at the final step of the process. Buying land and building your dream home is no small feat. And once your house is built and you’re happy with the construction, you can enjoy living on your dream land and in your dream home! 

But first, let’s go over the details of the final step of the process, which is all about what you should do while your home is being built. 

Prepare Yourself for the Building Process

After the contracts are signed and the general contractor is ready to direct crews in to start building, it’s important that you know what is expected of you during the build. Make a communication plan with your contractor. This is important because you’ll want to keep apprised of the progress, problems, or any changes. 

Communication is Key

Would you rather get emails? Text messages? Phone calls? Do you want pictures of progress, or do you want to just be contacted with important information about the process as things arise?

It’s generally best to get things in writing, so you have proof of correspondence. When speaking on the phone, there’s more room for miscommunication. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t do both. You can ask your contractor to call you with regular updates while also sending you emails about changes to the timeline, budget, inspections, or anything else relevant to the building process. Make sure to save everything about your correspondence, even if it doesn’t seem important. You never know what will come in handy later!

It’s a good idea to talk about when would be best to come to the site for walkthroughs during the building process. You’ll want to do this a few times, but you always want to make appointments beforehand. There are safety precautions that you must follow, which may need to be set up ahead of time by the contractor. Plus, arriving unannounced for a walkthrough could halt work and end up delaying construction — maybe even costing you money. 

What To Know About Walkthroughs

Every builder is different, but there are some general guidelines most builders follow in regard to walkthroughs. Before we get into the different walkthroughs, let’s cover some dos and don’ts of walkthroughs:

• Do take pictures.
• Do ask questions.
• Do set aside enough time for the walkthrough (ask the contractor how long, and add a half-hour to an hour, just in case).
• Do bring paper and pen to write down notes, questions, or concerns. 
• Do bring a list of questions with you.
• Do follow all safety precautions.
• Don’t show up unannounced (it’s okay to drive by if you want!)
• Don’t bring pets or kids with you.
• Don’t rush the walkthroughs.
• Don’t arrive late for the walkthroughs.

The Framing Walkthrough

You can expect (or ask to do) what’s called a framing walkthrough. As you can probably guess, this takes place after the framing is up, but before subcontractors come in to install the mechanical components in the walls.

Not only will an inspector have to come in and approve further construction, but you should also take time to ensure that everything looks good or to ask any questions you may have. For this reason, it’s good to have a prepared list of questions at hand. If the communication between you and the general contractor or the construction manager, you should be getting regular updates. 

It’s also a good idea to bring building plans with you. The framing walkthrough often happens alongside an electrician. You can discuss things like outlet placement, light switch placement, and any other electrical features you want in the house. 

The Pre-Drywall Walkthrough

After the framing walkthrough comes the pre-drywall walkthrough. Sometimes referred to as the post-mechanical walkthrough, this takes place after the electrical wiring and plumbing have been installed. 

Once again, bring the relevant plans and communications you’ve received about the mechanical aspects of the home. You may want to take pictures of the wiring and plumbing, as they’ll provide easy reference down the line. 

The contractor will be able to paint you a picture of how the house will function, making sure that any agreed-upon fixtures and features have the mechanics in place. Take thorough notes, because you never know what will be relevant in the future. Once this walkthrough is done, workers will install insulation and drywall, making it much more difficult and time-consuming to access the mechanics of the house. 

The Pre-Close Walkthrough

The third walkthrough you’ll do is called the pre-close or pre-settlement walkthrough. This happens when construction is finished — at least tentatively. All the fixtures should be installed, which includes things like the HVAC system. The purpose of this walkthrough is to check everything thoroughly. It often takes three hours or so and includes checking things like:

• Cabinets
• Countertops
• Carpeting
• Walls
• Flooring
• Tiling
• Windows

Some builders also call this the “blue tape walkthrough” because any problems you find will likely be marked with blue tape. Paint touch-ups are the most common issue, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take your time and inspect anything and everything. The contractor will put these requests on a punch list and call the respective subcontractors to have them fixed — usually within 48 hours.  

It’s also a good time to learn how the house functions. The contractor or construction manager should go over how to operate lights, fixtures, and the HVAC system. They should also discuss with you the proper maintenance practices that come with the house’s various systems. 

The Final Walkthrough

Taking place three to five business days after the pre-close walkthrough, the final walkthrough is very exciting! Everything should be as planned, and when the walkthrough is done, the house will be all yours! 

You’ll want to make sure everything on the punch list from the pre-close walkthrough has been fixed to your satisfaction. Once you’ve done that and you double-check that everything looks good, then you’re done! You can then sign off on the contract and enjoy living in your new home!

Conclusion

Create a clear plan for communication with your contractor or construction manager before building starts. Plan on visiting the site at least twice while construction is underway, and definitely twice after construction is finished. Make sure to save any and all communications between you and your contractor — or anyone else that contacts you about the building process. Get everything in written form, if possible. 

Walkthroughs are very exciting, but don’t rush them. Take your time, ask questions, snap pictures, and make sure everything is how you want it, within reason. And once you’ve done the final walkthrough, it’s time to celebrate your new house on your dream land!