New Home Punch List

Use this New Home Punch List to thoroughly inspect every system during a new construction walkthrough. Free checklist template that covers finishes, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, exterior, and builder handover.

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New Home Punch List



Ceilings

1. Drywall tape joints are invisible in both natural light and with lights on.


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2. Holes for light fixtures and vents are cut to size with no gaps at the cover plate.


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3. The ceiling surface is free of cracks, dents, and tool marks.


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4. Paint coverage is uniform with no thin spots, drips, or roller marks.


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5. Recessed light fixtures are flush, evenly spaced, and all operational.


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6. Skylight frames are sealed, crack-free at the corners, and the glazing opens and locks correctly.


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7. Attic access hatch is properly fitted, insulated on the attic-facing side, and opens without binding.


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Walls And Interior Finishes

1. Drywall joints and screw heads are fully concealed with no visible seams or dimples.


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2. Paint coverage is consistent in sheen and color with no thin patches or lap marks.


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3. Textured surfaces are uniform with no unfinished or mismatched areas.


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4. Wall corners are straight, tight, and free of chipping or cracking.


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5. Tile joints are evenly spaced, fully grouted, and free of cracked or chipped pieces.


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6. Grout lines are consistent in color and free of voids or smearing on tile faces.


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7. Baseboard and trim are fully painted, tight to the wall, and caulked at all floor and ceiling joints.


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8. Trim miters are tight with no visible gaps at corners.


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9. Wall surfaces are free of scuffs, gouges, and construction marks.


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10. All wall-mounted fixtures (towel bars, hooks) are level and securely anchored into blocking.


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Doors And Windows

1. All interior door frames are plumb and square with no racking or twist.


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2. Interior doors open and close smoothly without sticking, dragging, or rattling.


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3. Interior doors latch fully on the first close without lifting the handle.


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4. Self-closing doors return and latch without manual assistance.


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5. All door hinges have their full complement of screws, seated flush with no stripped heads.


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6. Door stops are installed and prevent handles from contacting walls.


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7. All exterior door frames are plumb, square, and free of installation dents or paint overspray.


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8. Exterior doors close, latch, and deadbolt smoothly without excessive force.


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9. Weatherstripping is continuous and compressed evenly around all exterior door perimeters.


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10. Door sweeps are in contact with the threshold with no visible daylight gap.


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11. Exterior door thresholds are sealed to prevent water intrusion.


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12. All window frames are plumb, square, and free of installation damage.


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13. Windows open, close, and lock without sticking or excessive force.


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14. Window screens are installed, undamaged, and fit the frame without gaps.


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15. All glass panes are free of cracks, scratches, and chips.


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16. Insulated glass units show no fogging or condensation between panes.


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17. No light is visible around window or door perimeters when closed.


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18. Sliding, pocket, and bi-fold doors track smoothly and stay on track during operation.


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19. All door and window hardware matches the specified finish throughout.


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Cabinets And Counters

1. All base and upper cabinet doors open and close without binding or rubbing.


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2. Cabinet hinges have their full complement of screws and doors hang level.


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3. Cabinet drawers slide smoothly to full extension and close flush without side play.


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4. All cabinet interiors are free of exposed nails, screw ends, or raw edges.


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5. Cabinet carcasses have no open cutouts at the back that expose the wall cavity.


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6. Upper cabinet moldings are mitered tightly at corners with no visible gaps.


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7. Shelving, closet rods, and laundry fittings are securely anchored and level.


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8. Countertops are level, free of chips or scratches, and have no spans that flex under pressure.


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9. The sink is clamped tight to the countertop and the cutout edge is sealed.


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10. Stone, marble, or tile countertop joints are uniform, fully grouted, and sealed.


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11. Backsplash tiles are fully adhered, grouted to the wall, and caulked at the countertop joint.


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12. All cabinet and drawer hardware matches the specified finish and is tight with no wobble.


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Flooring

1. Hard flooring (tile, hardwood, LVP, stone) is level with no lips at joints exceeding 1/8 in.


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2. Tile and stone floors are evenly grouted with consistent joint widths and no voids.


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3. Floor grout has been sealed where required by the material specification.


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4. No tiles are cracked, chipped, or hollow-sounding underfoot.


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5. Hardwood and engineered flooring shows no cupping, gapping, or squeaking underfoot.


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6. Carpet is stretched tight with no visible seams in traffic areas and no frayed ends.


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7. Carpet direction is consistent throughout each contiguous area.


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8. All perimeter flooring base (wood, vinyl, or tile) is fully adhered with no gaps to the wall.


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9. Flooring transitions between materials are covered with a trim strip, trip-free, and secure.


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10. The floor surface is free of construction damage — no adhesive residue, paint drips, or scratches.


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Kitchen And Appliances

1. Range or cooktop is level, all burners ignite cleanly, and the anti-tip bracket is installed.


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2. Oven heats to set temperature and all controls are functional.


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3. Range hood or microwave exhaust fan vents to the exterior and operates on all speeds.


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4. Refrigerator is level, doors seal fully, and the ice maker water line is connected and leak-free.


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5. Dishwasher is level, the door latch engages, and a full cycle completes without leaking.


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6. Garbage disposal operates without obstruction and the splash guard is in place.


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7. All appliance finishes match the specified package and are free of installation scratches.


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8. Appliance manuals and warranty cards are on-site and ready for handover.


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Bathrooms

1. All shower and tub surrounds are fully tiled, grouted, and sealed with no gaps at fixtures.


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2. Shower pans and tub decks have no flex or soft spots underfoot.


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3. Caulk joints at tub-to-wall and shower-to-floor transitions are continuous and mold-free.


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4. All bathroom fixtures (toilet, sink, faucets, showerhead) are fully operational and leak-free.


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5. Toilets are secure to the floor, do not rock, and the tank fills and stops correctly.


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6. Bathroom exhaust fans operate, vent to the exterior, and are not blocked by insulation.


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7. Mirror, medicine cabinet, and vanity light are level, secure, and undamaged.


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8. Towel bars, toilet paper holders, and robe hooks are anchored into blocking, not just drywall.


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Plumbing

1. Water pressure at all fixtures is consistent and within the normal range (40–80 psi).


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2. All supply lines under sinks and at toilets are free of drips at fittings and shutoff valves.


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3. All drains (sinks, tubs, showers, floor drains) flow freely with no standing water.


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4. The water heater is the specified capacity, set to the correct temperature, and the T&P relief valve is piped to a safe discharge point.


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5. The dryer vent is connected and exhausts to the exterior, not into a wall cavity or attic.


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6. The washing machine supply valves open and close fully and the drain standpipe is secured.


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7. All individual fixture shutoff valves operate smoothly and close completely.


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8. The main water shutoff and zone valves are clearly labeled and easily accessible.


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Electrical

1. The main electrical panel is labeled clearly and accurately — every breaker identifies its circuit.


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2. All circuits have been tested and correspond to their labeled breaker.


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3. All outlets have been verified for correct polarity and grounding.


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4. GFCI protection is installed and functional at all required locations: bathrooms, kitchen, garage, exterior, and within 6 ft of any water source.


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5. AFCI breakers are installed for bedroom circuits per current NEC requirements.


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6. All light switches operate their intended fixtures with no unresponsive or ghost-switching circuits.


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7. All exterior outlets are GFCI-protected, weatherproof-covered, and operational.


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8. The doorbell is installed and operational.


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9. All electrical covers, switch plates, and outlet plates are installed flush with no cracks or missing pieces.


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HVAC

1. The HVAC system has been fully commissioned and tested for both heating and cooling operation.


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2. Airflow is confirmed at every supply register throughout the home.


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3. All return air grilles are installed, unobstructed, and correctly sized for the system.


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4. The thermostat is programmed, calibrated, and responds correctly to heating and cooling calls.


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5. A new filter is installed and the filter access panel closes securely.


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6. The condensate drain line is clear, drains to the correct location, and the condensate pan is dry.


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7. All accessible ductwork joints are sealed with mastic or foil tape.


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8. The system operates without unusual noise, vibration, or odor during a full heating and cooling cycle.


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Exterior And Drainage

1. Final grading slopes away from the foundation on all sides with no evidence of pooling or erosion.


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2. Gutters are installed, pitched to downspouts, and free of debris and gaps at seams.


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3. Downspouts terminate at least 4 ft from the foundation or connect to underground drainage.


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4. The driveway and walkways are free of cracks, trip hazards, and uneven joints.


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5. Exterior caulking and sealants at all penetrations (windows, doors, pipes, wiring) are continuous and weather-tight.


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6. The roof surface, flashing, and ridge cap are free of lifted, missing, or damaged sections.


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7. All exterior hose bibs are operational, vacuum-breaker-protected, and frost-proof where required.


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8. Exterior lighting and any low-voltage landscape wiring are operational and correctly positioned.


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9. Landscaping and fencing are installed per the plan and the site is free of construction debris.


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Garage

1. The garage slab is level, crack-free, and free of construction debris and staining.


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2. The garage door operates smoothly on its full travel in both directions.


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3. The garage door auto-reverse safety feature reverses correctly on contact with a 2 in. object on the floor.


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4. The garage door photo-eye sensors are aligned and the door reverses when the beam is broken.


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5. The wall between the garage and the living space is drywalled and insulated per the fire-separation requirement.


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6. Garage outlets are GFCI-protected and all circuits are labeled at the panel.


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7. The man-door between the garage and the home is a fire-rated assembly, self-closing, and latches without assistance.


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Safety Systems

1. Smoke detectors are installed in all required locations: each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level including the basement.


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2. Carbon monoxide detectors are installed on every level and outside each sleeping area per IRC requirements.


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3. All smoke and CO detectors are powered — hardwired units with battery backup are confirmed operational.


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4. Tempered or safety glass is installed in all code-required locations: shower enclosures, doors, sidelights, and low windows.


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5. Stair handrails and guardrails are continuous, graspable, and anchored without flex at all posts.


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6. All stair risers are uniform in height and treads are consistent in depth with no trip variation.


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Builder Handover

1. All punch-out items from previous walkthroughs are confirmed complete and signed off.


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2. The home has been deep-cleaned throughout with all construction dust, adhesive residue, and debris removed.


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3. All keys, garage remotes, mailbox keys, and access fobs are handed over with spares accounted for.


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4. Operations and maintenance manuals for all installed systems and appliances are organized and handed over.


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5. All warranty documents (builder warranty, appliance warranties, roofing, windows) are signed, dated, and handed over.


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6. All utilities (water, gas, electricity) have been transferred to the owner's account and meter readings are documented.


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7. Builder contact information and the warranty claim process are provided in writing.


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Checklist by GoAudits.com – Please note that this checklist is intended as an example. We do not guarantee compliance with the laws applicable to your territory or industry. You should seek professional advice to determine how this checklist should be adapted to your workplace or jurisdiction.

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