| So you finally got the call that you've been waiting | | | | builder to replace the tile. Even though the tile may |
| for several months to receive. You're new home is | | | | not look out of place now, it will break or popup |
| finally complete. Over the past year, you've gone | | | | within a few months. |
| through the motions of building a custom home. You | | | | - Carpeting - Take off your shoes and walk around |
| selected a floor plan, options, upgrades and made | | | | the carpet in the each room of your house. As you |
| customizations. At the same time, you dealt with | | | | walk, check to make sure that the carpet runs flush |
| banks, mortgage and insurance companies, all of | | | | up against the wall. In areas where the carpeting |
| which collected money from you but gave you | | | | touches tile or other flooring, walk along the edge. If |
| nothing in return, yet. Now, after all the chaos, you're | | | | it feels like thorns are under your feel, it usually |
| builder is ready to hand over the keys to you so you | | | | means that you're felling the small nails used to install |
| can move and start enjoying you hard work. | | | | the carpet. There's an easy fix for this that your |
| Before you do, take time to thoroughly inspect the | | | | builder can do for you. |
| property. Building a custom home can be | | | | Most homeowners don't notice many of the |
| overwhelming experience. Take time before moving | | | | imperfections in their new home until moving in. This |
| in to make sure everything is up to par. Having | | | | usually happens because they don't do a thorough |
| mistakes, flaws and forgotten options fixed after | | | | job inspecting, or are put under pressure during the |
| moving in is much more difficult. Here are some | | | | final inspection. The best way to inspect a home is to |
| common things to look out for: | | | | use it as you would when you move in. Here's what |
| Options - Take a copy of your contract and walk | | | | you do. |
| through the house making sure that all the options, | | | | First, sit on the toilet in each bathroom and look |
| colors and styles you chose ended up being installed. | | | | around. You'll probably spend a fair amount of time in |
| This sounds like an obvious thing but these mistakes | | | | this position so make sure you like what you see. |
| can sometimes go months without being noticed. | | | | Are the counter tops in the bathroom level? Does |
| Electrical outlets - Test every electrical outlet and | | | | the tile on the floor and in the shower look even? |
| switch in the house. Go from outlet to outlet and | | | | Does everything else appear to be in order? |
| make sure all are working correctly. Don't assume | | | | Follow this same logic and apply it to each room in |
| that, just because one outlet in a room is working, | | | | the house. Think about how you will use each room |
| that all outlets are working. This will take about 30 | | | | and pretend to do so. Go into the dining room and sit |
| minutes in most homes. | | | | in a chair. Again, look around the room and make sure |
| Plumbing - First, check that each sink in the house | | | | everything looks in place. Go to the kitchen and open |
| gets both hot and cold water. Then, make sure the | | | | every cabinet door and drawer. Make sure the |
| toilets flush correctly. You'll also want to run the | | | | refrigerator door opens all the way, etc. |
| showers in each bathroom to make sure that the | | | | The advantage to doing a thorough inspection of |
| drains operate correctly. | | | | your new home before moving in is that you can |
| Flooring- Make sure the flooring in your home has | | | | have the builder fix everything first. Once furniture, |
| been installed correctly. Here's how you do it: | | | | moving boxes and kids are in the house, small repairs |
| - Tile - Gently tap each piece of floor tile in the house | | | | can become a big deal. Save the stress and get |
| with a broom handle. If it sounds hollow, ask the | | | | everything right before you move in. |