What's on a new-construction home checklist?
Updated August 2026
The first year in a new build is about the warranty and the settling: log every warranty item as you find it, re-caulk and touch up as the house settles, watch for drywall nail pops and grout cracks, and change the HVAC filter often because construction dust clogs it fast. Builder warranties typically run 1 year on workmanship, 2 on systems, and up to 10 on structure, so schedule the 11-month walkthrough before the first year lapses.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Start a warranty punch list with dated photos | Ongoing | 5 min each · DIY |
| Change the HVAC filter (construction dust) | Every 30 days, year one | 5 min · DIY |
| Locate the main water, gas, and power shutoffs | Week one | 20 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Log nail pops, grout and caulk cracks as they show | As they appear | 2 min each · DIY |
| Re-caulk tubs, trim, and exterior gaps while it settles | As needed | 1 hr · DIY |
| Test every smoke and CO alarm | Monthly | 2 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Do a full walkthrough and submit the warranty list | Month 11 | 2 hrs · DIY |
| Consider a paid 11-month inspection | Month 11 | $300–600 pro |
What neglect costs
The expensive mistake with a new home is letting the warranty lapse with the list still in your head. Cosmetic settling, nail pops, hairline drywall and grout cracks, sticking doors, is normal, and the builder will usually fix it, but only if you report it in writing before the one-year workmanship coverage ends. Miss the window and a $0 warranty repair becomes an out-of-pocket one. Construction dust is the quiet cost: a filter left in 90 days during year one chokes airflow and can freeze the new AC coil, a $200–600 call on a system that is weeks old. If your first season is winter, run the winterizing checklist before the cold to protect the new pipes.
Leave these to a pro
The one pro to hire proactively is an independent inspector for an 11-month warranty inspection ($300–600). They find the defects a builder quietly hopes you miss, attic ventilation, flashing, insulation gaps, HVAC balance, and hand you a documented list that forces warranty repairs while they are still free. It routinely pays for itself several times over. Beyond that, use the builder's own trade contacts for anything structural or mechanical still under their multi-year coverage rather than calling your own contractor and eating the bill.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
What does a new-home builder warranty actually cover?
Most builder warranties are tiered. Workmanship and materials (paint, drywall, trim, fixtures) are covered for about 1 year; major systems such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC for roughly 2 years; and structural elements like the foundation and load-bearing framing for up to 10 years. Cosmetic settling is handled in year one, which is why the timing matters so much. Read your specific warranty booklet, because coverage and the process for submitting claims vary by builder and by state.
Is an 11-month inspection really worth it?
For most buyers, yes. Paying $300–600 for an independent inspector a month before the one-year workmanship warranty expires surfaces defects you would never spot: improper attic ventilation, missing insulation, flashing errors, unbalanced HVAC, and framing issues. You then submit that documented list to the builder while the repairs are still free. A single covered fix, a leaking window or a duct problem, usually costs more than the inspection, so it tends to pay for itself with room to spare.
Are drywall cracks in a new house a problem?
Usually not. As a new home dries out and the framing settles over the first year, you will see hairline cracks at corners, nail pops, and gaps in caulk and grout. That is normal seasoning, and it is exactly what the workmanship warranty exists to correct, so log each one with a photo and date. Watch for the exceptions: cracks wider than a credit card, stair-step cracks in masonry, doors that suddenly bind, or anything paired with a sloping floor, which can signal a real structural issue worth flagging.
How often should I change the filter in a new build?
Every 30 days for the entire first year, and check it more often if any finish work is still underway. Construction leaves fine drywall and sawdust in the ducts and air for months, and it loads a filter several times faster than normal household dust. A clogged filter starves the blower, strains a brand-new system, and can freeze the AC coil into a $200–600 service call. Keep a stack of cheap filters on hand and swap early rather than late while the house finishes shedding dust.