The short answer
A walkthrough is a documentation milestone, not the end of due diligence. Keep the signed record and follow the policy’s reporting process.
01 / Field notes
Prepare before the appointment
Confirm permitted independent inspections, walkthrough timing, site-access rules and the documents you should bring. Keep the contract, selections and change orders available so you can compare the completed home with the agreement. Arrange closing funds, insurance, utilities and moving plans with the relevant professionals. If an item is unfinished or a completion issue arises, ask your lawyer about the contract before withholding funds or refusing possession.
02 / Field notes
Document specifically
Record the room or location, item, observed concern and date. Take photos where permitted and keep the walkthrough list that both parties acknowledge. Ask who owns each action and how you will receive updates. Learn shutoffs, ventilation controls, thermostat settings and emergency contacts from the builder. Never test unsafe equipment or access unfinished areas; use qualified inspectors for technical assessment.
03 / Field notes
Separate service from a warranty claim
A builder’s courtesy service appointment is not necessarily a notice to the warranty provider. Save your policy, registration, commencement date and reporting instructions. Alberta’s warranty framework covers different categories over different periods, with definitions and exclusions applying. Use the provider’s required channel and retain submission confirmations; ask the provider how to escalate a concern that has not been resolved.
04 / Field notes
Create a first-year home file
Keep one folder for manuals, photographs, service tickets, inspection reports and maintenance receipts. Calendar policy deadlines with time to act beforehand. Record seasonal concerns as they occur, including relevant weather and whether the issue is changing. Follow the builder’s maintenance instructions, and clarify unfamiliar requirements rather than guessing. For an immediate safety concern, use the appropriate emergency service or qualified professional before routine follow-up.
05 / Field notes
Make a useful deficiency record
Write descriptions that someone else can locate and assess. For example: kitchen, cabinet door beside refrigerator, hinge-side rubbing observed at walkthrough, photo reference attached. Keep separate entries for separate concerns. Record the builder’s response without changing your original observation, and add follow-up dates. A precise log is more useful than a long email combining unrelated issues, and it helps an inspector or warranty provider understand the sequence.
06 / Field notes
Plan the first seasonal cycle
Ask how to manage ventilation, indoor humidity, exterior drainage and seasonal maintenance for the installed systems. Use the home’s instructions and qualified advice rather than a generic setting from a video. Keep photos of concerns as conditions change and report them through the required process promptly. Do not wait for a calendar anniversary or an informal builder visit if a policy deadline is earlier. Never assume a routine maintenance task is included in a warranty service appointment.
Put this into practice
Your next-step checklist
Tick items as you work. Progress stays on this page only; print or save a PDF to keep a copy.
0 of 6 completed
Sources & scope
Practical questions and checklists are REP editorial guidance. The official resources below support the regulatory or technical context. This is general education, not legal, tax, mortgage, engineering or inspection advice. Confirm the rules and documents that apply to your purchase.
How we research