Section 06

Your PDI and new-home inspections

Last reviewed October 30, 2026

Before you take possession of a new home in Ontario, you'll walk through it with the builder's representative in a pre-delivery inspection (PDI). It's your chance to record the home's condition before you move in, and it matters for your Tarion warranty. Here's how to do it well.

What the PDI is (and isn't)

The PDI is required as part of Ontario's new home warranty process. The builder's representative shows you how the home's systems work and records any damaged, incomplete or missing items on a PDI form, which you both sign. Importantly:

• The PDI form documents the home's condition. It isn't a warranty claim on its own. You still submit Tarion forms within their deadlines. See the Tarion guide.
• Items on the PDI form show that damage was there before you moved in, which helps if there's a dispute about whether you caused it.
• You can bring someone with you, or appoint a designate if you can't attend. Many buyers bring a knowledgeable friend or a professional inspector.

Before the PDI

• Ask for the PDI date in writing and plan for at least 1–2 hours.
• Bring: your agreement and upgrade list, a floor plan, a phone charger, painter's tape (to mark spots), a notepad, a small level and a flashlight.
• Go in daylight if you can. Scratches and paint flaws are much easier to see.

Room-by-room PDI checklist

Throughout the home

• Walls and ceilings: dents, nail pops, cracks, paint drips, missed spots
• Floors: scratches, chips, gaps, uneven or squeaky spots, damaged tiles or grout
• Doors: swing, close and latch properly; no damage; hardware installed
• Windows: open, close and lock; screens present; no cracked glass or damaged frames; caulking complete
• Trim and baseboards: gaps, splits, missing caulking
• Outlets and switches: test each one (a phone charger is handy); cover plates installed
• Upgrades: everything you paid for is installed as selected

Kitchen and bathrooms

• Cabinets: doors and drawers align, open and close smoothly; no damage
• Countertops: chips, scratches, seams, sealing at backsplash and sinks
• Taps: hot and cold run correctly; no drips; drains flow
• Toilets: flush and refill properly; secure to the floor
• Showers and tubs: chips or scratches, caulking, grout
• Exhaust fans work

Mechanical and basement

• Ask the builder to demonstrate the furnace, air conditioner, HRV/ERV, water heater, sump pump and main water shut-off
• Note the locations of the electrical panel and main shut-offs
• Check basement walls and floor for cracks or dampness
• Confirm smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed

Exterior

• Siding, brick and soffits: damage or missing pieces
• Grading slopes away from the house (final grading may be seasonal)
• Driveway and walkway: cracks or incomplete work (paving is often done later)
• Exterior doors and garage door: operation, weather-stripping, damage
• Exterior taps and outlets

Should you hire a home inspector for a new build?

Many buyers assume new means perfect. In reality, new homes are built quickly by many different trades, and municipal building inspections confirm Building Code compliance at certain stages, not quality of finish. A private inspector can be valuable at three points:

1. At the PDI: to help spot issues before you take possession. Check the builder's policy on who can attend.
2. Before your Year-End Form deadline: by then you've lived through a season or two, and the inspector can catch settling cracks, attic ventilation or insulation issues, grading problems and anything else to include on your form.
3. Before your Second-Year Form deadline: particularly for water penetration, plumbing, electrical and building envelope items under the 2-year coverage.

An inspection at the 11-month mark is probably the best value of the three, because it feeds directly into your Year-End Form.

After you move in

• Keep your Tarion submission windows in your calendar.
• Watch for seasonal issues: condensation in winter, settling cracks, drafts, ice at the eaves.
• Follow the builder's maintenance guide, especially humidity control in the first winter as building materials dry out.
• Report emergencies to the builder immediately.