All You Need to Know About a PDI Pre-Delivery Inspection

Your condo is finally ready for interim occupancy. However, before you or anyone else gets to occupy the units, there’s one vital step that you shouldn’t overlook: pre-delivery inspection (PDI).

Typically, PDI is the stage where you get to inspect your newly finished home for the first time before interim occupancy begins.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the basics of a pre-delivery inspection.

What Is a Pre-Delivery Inspection?

To begin with, let’s first understand what PDI is, where it takes place, who attends, etc.

Pre-delivery inspection (PDI) is one of the most important and exciting stages in the homeownership journey. It’s when you get a chance to comprehensively inspect your newly completed home for the first time before it can be officially occupied.

The key purpose of PDI is to take note of anything in your new home that’s missing, incomplete, damaged, or not functioning properly, etc.

Typically, PDI takes place a week or two (or more) before the builder hands over the keys to you. It involves a formal walk-through of your finished home accompanied by your builder-appointed third-party inspector while comprehensively inspecting and analyzing all the indoor and outdoor aspects. During this inspection, any missing, damaged, or non-functioning items are noted down on a PDI form. The PDI form serves as a record of the state of the home when the builder handed it over to you.

What to expect at your PDI appointment

Closer to your upcoming interim occupancy date, the builder’s Client Services department will contact you for your PDI appointment. Upon arrival at the appointment at the PDI office, you will be provided with construction boots to wear during the appointment – remember, the building is still under construction as not all condo units are complete just yet.

The PDI office can be outside the building in a construction trailer or inside the condo building in the area designated for the builder’s construction team. Along with the boots, you will also be required to wear a hard hat. You will check in at the PDI office, and a PDI officer will take you to your condo unit.

Nowadays, all documentation and note-taking is done electronically, usually on the inspector's iPad. At the start of the inspection, the inspector will share the builder’s care package with you, which will have tips on taking care of your new condo and appliances. You will walk through the entire condo looking for damages or scratches on the floor, painting errors on the walls, checking the electrical outlets and appliances, and more. The inspector will stick colored Post-it notes on areas that need to be looked at, take pictures on the iPad, and make notes on file as well. This should take you around an hour from start to finish. This completed PDI on the Tarion form will be emailed to you for your records.

Keep this form to follow up with the builder on work that needs to be finished. Typically, most smaller items are looked after prior to the condo’s occupancy. Some major items may take longer and will be addressed after you or your tenant moves into the condo.

Who attends the Pre-Delivery Inspection appointment?

The PDI is attended by you (the purchaser) and the builder’s representative. You may also decide to involve your own home inspector and sometimes a friend or family member for a second opinion on the state of things. If you hire a home inspector, you’ll pay for their fees.

If you are considering inviting a friend or family member for the PDI, remember you shouldn’t take this as a chance to showcase your new home to them because this inspection requires a lot of attention, so it’s best to avoid distractions. They should serve as additional eyes to point out any issues.

How Does the PDI Benefit the Home Buyer?

Here’s how the PDI benefits you:

• If you notice any defects in your new condo during the PDI, it will be easy for the builder to perform the necessary repairs.
• You get the opportunity to know how different appliances in the condo operate and how to properly look after them.
• The PDI also hints at the improvements and modifications that may need to be done on the property in the future and their estimated costs.

Why Is It Important to Conduct a PDI?

The main purpose of conducting a PDI is to take note of anything in your new condo that may be damaged, missing, or malfunctioning. The PDI provides an opportunity to record your condo’s condition before moving in.

Any information recorded on the PDI form serves as a record of the condition of your home as of the date of the PDI. For example, if you make a warranty claim of a missing item on your property, the PDI will be checked to ascertain if the item was still missing before you moved in.

Tips on Conducting a PDI

Here are a few tips for conducting a successful pre-delivery inspection:

Take your time. This is your investment. Take as much time as needed to analyze it comprehensively. Don’t let the builder rush you. Get to the PDI appointment early and be well-prepared with your checklist.

Although it is necessary to examine every room, the bathroom and the kitchen need most of your attention. The kitchen and the bathroom are some of the high-traffic rooms, and for which much attention to detail is needed.

Be careful with the details. Remember to open and close every door, flush every toilet, and turn on every faucet. Anything could have been installed incorrectly. Feel free to point out the defects.

Bring someone with you. More eyes are better. The other person can spot a missing part that you couldn’t have spotted.

If you missed something during PDI and only notice the ‘deficiency’ after taking possession, you can fill out the 30-day Tarion form to raise the issue.

Quick PDI checklist

Here are some of the key things you should check out during the PDI:

• Are all the lights functioning properly? Turn them on and off.
• Are the interior finishing and paintings done to your satisfaction?
• Do the floors have any scratches, dents, loose, or missing tiles?
• Are the cabinets and storage spaces properly aligned and functioning correctly?
• Are there any signs of leakages under the kitchen and bathroom sinks?
• Do all the toilets flush well (quickly enough with no leaks)?
• Are the shower heads and drains functioning well?
• Are all the doors and windows opening and closing properly?
• Is the siding perfectly fitted?
• Are there any nails and screws sticking out of the wall?
• Are the handrails on stairs sturdy and secure?
• Is the exterior trim complete, perfectly fitted, and properly painted?
• Is the caulking completed around all windows, doors, and other openings?
• Are there manuals with operation and maintenance procedures for the appliances?
• Are all the appliances perfectly installed and functioning optimally?

You can also use the Tarion PDI checklist for a more detailed guide on a PDI checklist.