What Should I Look For During My Final Walkthrough?

The final walkthrough of your new construction home isn’t a formality—it’s your opportunity to make sure everything you paid for is actually delivered.

Builders in Lubbock do hundreds of closings a year, and small details can slip through the cracks. A smart walkthrough can catch them before you’re the one paying to fix them.

Here’s what to focus on before you grab the keys.

1. Verify All Agreed-Upon Features
Start with your contract and selection sheet. Walk room by room to ensure that every finish, fixture, and upgrade matches what you selected.
If you paid for quartz countertops, you shouldn’t find laminate.
If the fridge or blinds were included in the purchase, they should already be installed—or noted for installation before closing.

2. Check Function, Not Just Appearance
Run water in every faucet, flush all toilets, and test every light switch and outlet.
Open and close doors, drawers, and windows to check alignment.
Don’t rush through—builders will fix items you note now, but not after you sign.

3. Inspect Surfaces Closely
Walls, ceilings, flooring, and trim should be free from damage, paint drips, or nail pops.
Look at corners, grout lines, and caulking for consistency. These aren’t minor details—they reveal the overall build quality.

4. Test Major Systems
Ask for the HVAC, water heater, and appliance manuals (and warranties).
Run the A/C and heat cycles, even briefly, to ensure proper function.
Check that your thermostat, garage door openers, and any smart home systems are synced and working.

5. Walk the Exterior
Inspect gutters, grading, fencing, and exterior paint.
Make sure landscaping and sprinklers (if included) are installed and functioning. Improper grading can cause water to pool near the foundation—a fix you don’t want to fund later.

6. Document Everything
Use your phone to take photos and notes of every issue, even small ones. The builder will use this list to create a punch list for final repairs.
You’ll sign off only when those are complete—or when the builder agrees in writing to finish them after closing.

When I walk clients through their final inspection, I act as an extra set of eyes—focusing on the small things that make a big difference over time.

Because once you sign the closing papers, that “new home smell” shouldn’t come with unfinished business.

— Insights from Tess Hernandez, Realtor | Reside Real Estate