Over the last several weeks, we've focused on every task that you and your builder will need to accomplish in order to make your dream of a custom home come true. Stage seven is when it all comes together—when you wrap up the building process and move into your brand-new custom home.
This step begins when construction of your home is nearly complete and you can see the finish line, but the process isn’t quite over. There are still several important steps you must take in order to ensure everything in the home is complete for move-in day.
These include:
Walking the Home
When your new home is substantially complete, with less than a month of construction to go, your construction superintendent will reach out to you to schedule a pre-walk appointment. This meeting is your opportunity to spot any errors or incomplete items and have them fixed before construction is finalized.
As you walk through the home, pay close attention to every detail, including interior and exterior paint, doors and windows, faucets and plumbing fixtures, flooring, appliances—and everything in between.
Creating a “Punch List”
During your pre-walk meeting, the construction superintendent will note what items you want fixed, creating what’s called a “punch list.” This is a list of things that need to be fixed or tweaked before you move in, while the construction team is still on duty with your home.
Remember: If you want something fixed but it doesn’t appear on the punch list, it may not be addressed before you move in. That’s why it’s vital to do a thorough pre-walk and to be specific about what you want added to your punch list.
As your construction team is working on the punchlist, this is the time when you can put some finishing touches to the exterior of your home such as flatwork, decks, landscaping, etc.
Attending Your Home Orientation
Once every task on your punch list has been completed, you’ll schedule your home orientation. This includes the final walk-through of your new home, during which the construction supervisor will answer any questions you have and explain each system in the home, including heating and air conditioning, appliances, fireplaces, and more. Take some time to review the manuals for these and other systems to ensure you understand how to operate and maintain all of the various aspects of your new home.
During this stage, your builder will also enroll you in your home warranty program. This covers problems that may occur after you move into your new home.
Getting the Keys to Your New Home
Finally, after the walk-through is complete, you’ll receive a certificate of occupancy—and the keys to your brand-new home!
At the end of the custom homebuilding process, our customers are excited to move in and start making their house a home. This is a time to celebrate: You’ve made it through every stage of the site development process, and likely learned a lot along the way. Now, you get to enjoy the rewards of your effort and your investment.
Ready to Get Started?
We hope you have a better understanding of all the steps required to build a house. Although it’s quite a process to create a new home from the ground up, breaking it down into these seven stages helps make the journey more enjoyable. And at Adair Homes, our experience building more than 20,000 new homes means that we have the process down to a science—and we are happy to guide you down the path to your brand-new, custom-built home.
