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Checklist: What to Check Before Your Final New-Build Walkthrough

By admin | July 25, 2026 | 12:22 am | No Comments

The final walkthrough — the pre-delivery inspection, or PDI, in Ontario new-build terms — is your last real chance to catch problems before you take possession. Most buyers focus on paint, flooring, and appliances. Fewer think to check the technology infrastructure that’s much harder to fix once you’ve moved in.

This checklist, compiled with input from Toronto-area low-voltage and automation professionals, covers what’s worth verifying before you sign off.

Network and Connectivity

  • Confirm the location of the internet entry point and where the main router/modem is meant to sit
  • Check for any pre-run Ethernet (Cat6) and note which rooms it reaches
  • Test Wi-Fi signal in every room, including basement and any detached spaces like a garage
  • Confirm whether any wired access point locations were included per the builder’s spec sheet

Electrical and Panel Capacity

  • Check the panel’s spare breaker capacity against your plans for future automation, EV charging, or shading
  • Confirm dedicated circuits were installed where promised (home office, media room, garage)
  • Test every switch and outlet, including any marked as “smart-ready” or pre-wired for dimming

Security and Access

  • Confirm any pre-installed doorbell or camera wiring is functional and terminated correctly
  • Check that any smart lock or keypad included in the spec is properly registered and functional, not just installed
  • Ask specifically whether conduit was run for future exterior camera additions, even if none are installed yet

Lighting

  • Verify which fixtures are dimmable and which are on standard (non-dimming) switches — this is easy to miss and expensive to change later
  • Check for any pre-wired lighting control panel locations if the unit was marketed as automation-ready

Documentation

  • Request as-built wiring diagrams or a summary of what low-voltage infrastructure was actually installed
  • Get manufacturer information and warranty documentation for any pre-installed smart devices
  • Confirm who to contact for service on any pre-installed automation equipment — the builder, a subcontractor, or a separate integrator

Why This Matters More Than It Seems

Most of what’s on this list is invisible once walls are painted and furniture is in place — which is exactly why it needs to be checked before possession, not after. A missing Ethernet run or an undersized panel is a minor line item during the walkthrough and a genuine project once you’ve moved in.

For buyers who want a second opinion on the low-voltage and infrastructure side specifically, a short consultation with an integrator such as SmartAV before your PDI can flag gaps that aren’t obvious to someone without a technical background.