Before you take possession of your new home, you and your builder will "walk through" the house to conduct a final inspection. The walk-through provides an opportunity for you to spot items that may need to be corrected or adjusted. It also allows you to learn how your new home works.

A professional builder will use the walk-through to educate owners about:

• The operation of the house's components
• The owners responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep
• Warranty coverage and procedures
• The larger community in which the home is located

When you buy a new appliance or piece of equipment, such as a VCR, you usually have to read the instructions before you can understand how to use all of the features. With a new home, you will be receiving a stack of instruction booklets all at once. It helps if someone can take the time to show you how to operate all of the kitchen appliances, the heating and cooling systems, the water heater, and other features in the home. Such an orientation is particularly useful considering that when moving into a new home, people often are so busy that they have trouble finding time to carefully read instruction booklets. When for example was the last time you looked at the owner's manual for your car?

Learning about your maintenance and upkeep responsibilities is very important. All new homes in B.C. come with a comprehensive warranty on workmanship and materials. However, such warranties do not cover problems that may develop because of the owner's failure to perform required maintenance. Many builders give new home owners a booklet explaining common upkeep responsibilities and how to perform them.

Should a warranted problem arise after you move in, the builder is likely to have specific warranty service procedures to follow. Except in emergencies, requests for service should be in writing. This is not because the builder is trying to be bureaucratic. Rather, it is to ensure that everyone clearly understands the service to be performed. The person receiving a service request is not likely to be the person performing the work, and you don't want to rely on word of mouth for transmission of your service order.

You should not expect a builder to rush out immediately. Such problems occur because of the natural settling of the house and are best addressed in one visit near the end of the first year.

If you have moved to a new home from a nearby area, you probably will not spend much time at the walk-through talking about the larger community in which the home is located. However, if you are moving to a new community, a builder can often provide a packet of material to help you become acclimate.

An effective way to handle the inspection of the house is the checklist. The list should include everything that needs attention, and you and your builder should agree to a timetable for repairs. Builders prefer to remedy problems before you move in, because it is easier for them to work in an empty house. Some items may have to be corrected after move-in. For instance, if your walk-through is in the winter, your builder may have to delay landscaping adjustments until spring.

It is important that you be very thorough and observant during the walk-through. Carefully examine all surfaces of counter, fixtures, floors and walls for possible damage. Sometimes, disputes arise because an owner may discover a gouge in a countertop after move-in, and there is no way to prove whether it was caused by the builder's workers or the owner’s movers. Many builders ask the owners to sign a form at the walk-through stating that all surfaces have been inspected and that there was no damage other than what was noted on the walk-through checklist.

Ask a lot of questions during the walk-through, and take notes on the answers. Never be afraid to appear stupid by asking too many questions. That is how you learn. It is important to view the walk-through as a positive learning experience that will enhance your enjoyment of your home.

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