When you reach the stage where your renovation project is finishing, it's not over yet! This article outlines steps for wrapping things up properly at the end of the project.
In the final stages of the project, and ideally before you move in, I recommend checking the following items.
Plumbing
Flush toilets. Make sure none of them constantly run and that they all flush properly.
Run faucets. Leaving them running for a while to make sure nothing leaks below. Sometimes a connection needs to be tightened a bit.
Run showers and tubs and test the hot water. If the water isn’t hot enough, there are a couple of things that can be adjusted:
The temperature setting on the water heater itself can be adjusted.
There are child safety controls on most showers and tubs now. The contractor should be able to remove or turn these off so you get more hot water.
It is much better to test this before you move in, rather than finding out with a cold shower!
Electric
If any LED lights with built-in bulbs were installed, check that the color tone of the lights is all the same. Some of the lights have the option of picking warm or bright light when they are installed, and electricians don’t always make sure they match. It’s easy for them to fix them all to match.
Test light switches, and make sure any dimmers or smart switches were installed where they were supposed to be and that switches turn on and off the proper lights.
Make sure all outlets, (even in the garage) have covers.
All low-volt boxes and electric junction boxes should have covers as well.
Check to make sure that island pendant lights are hung evenly.
Doors and Windows
Test all windows to ensure they open and close properly and lock. Sometimes they are slightly offline and need to be adjusted.
Check that all interior and exterior doors open and close easily. Exterior doors should not have any visible light from the outside around their edges. If they do, either adjustments need to be made, or weatherstripping should be added.
Test all keys and locks on doors. Make sure they easily lock and unlock and that everything is properly aligned.
Kitchen
Check to ensure that kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors are properly aligned and that all drawers open and close easily. It is common for adjustments to be needed on cabinets. Use blue painter’s tape to mark any cabinets or drawers with issues so it is easy for the workers to find and not miss.
Use painter’s tape to mark any nicks on cabinet doors and frames. Most cabinets will come with touch-up kits and the contractor can fix them.
Run appliances. Test the dishwasher, washer, dryer, ice machine in the fridge, etc. This will help ensure that everything is connected properly and that there are no leaks at connection points.
HVAC
Ensure that there are proper HVAC vents in each room. This may sound weird, but I have seen it happen a couple of times where a vent gets buried under drywall and the hole was never cut for it. So if there’s a bedroom without a vent, they may need to cut it open.
Run the AC and check that the condenser doesn’t make any weird noises the first time you run it. If the AC was installed in colder temps, as it gets hotter the level of freon in the condenser may need to be adjusted before it can run properly.
Check the furnace filters. If they are already dirty, you may need to ask your contractor to clean the ducts of construction debris.
Paint and Trim
Look for any dents or nicks on the walls, trim, and doors that need touch-ups. Use blue painter’s tape to mark spots that you find so it is easy for the painter to find them all.
Punch Lists
As the project is ending, you will likely create multiple punch lists (a punch list is a to-do list for the contractor). You will create one before you move in and then will likely find more issues once you move in and have a punch list then too. Your contract may list specific procedures for a final walk-through and punch list creation. If it does not, I recommend testing all of the above items and creating lists before move-in. The more that can be completed before moving in, the easier your move will be!
As you are creating punch lists, create them organized by the categories above. It will make it easier for the contractor to share each list with the appropriate subcontractor.
If possible, avoid creating the final list until you have been moved into the property for a couple of weeks. You may continue to find small items that need to be resolved once you are living in the property. Although most contractors will offer a six or 12-month warranty on their work, it is much easier to get them to complete items right after you move in, rather than six months down the line. So don’t wait too long to provide a list of items.
Depending on the terms of your contract, you may be able to hold back part of the final payment until the punch list items are complete.
Certificate of Occupancy and Final Inspection
If you pulled permits for your project, check with your contractor or your local municipality to see if you need a certificate of occupancy before moving in. The property is likely required to have a final inspection, but occasionally municipalities will allow owners to move in before a final inspection is completed. Your contractor will coordinate the final inspection, and correct any issues found during it. You may hold back the final payment until the final inspection has been passed.
End of Warranty
Mark your calendar for when the warranty on the property will end. A month or so out from the end of the warranty term, notify the contractor of any issues that have come up that are covered by the warranty (assuming they weren’t issues that needed immediate repair). Run through the same list of items above and check doors, windows, faucets, etc to check for anything that needs repair.
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