Ontario pre-delivery inspection (PDI) checklist — what to check before you close

The pre-delivery inspection (PDI) is Ontario’s mandatory pre-possession walkthrough of your new home, conducted with your builder before you take occupancy — and the PDI form you complete during it is the first official document in your Tarion warranty process. Anything you note on the PDI form is formally recorded as a pre-existing defect, giving you a stronger footing to have it repaired under warranty.

If you treat the PDI as a casual tour of your new home before moving in, you are likely to miss defects that will be harder to claim later. This guide explains exactly what the PDI is, what it does legally, and gives you a detailed room-by-room checklist to work through on the day.

What is the PDI?

The PDI is a meeting with your builder’s representative at your new home, typically scheduled one to two weeks before your closing date. It is a mandatory step under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act and the Tarion warranty process. Unlike a casual builder walkthrough, the PDI has specific legal significance:

• Items noted on the PDI form are recorded as pre-existing defects before you take possession
• This documentation establishes that those defects existed at the time of handover — protecting you from a builder who might later argue a defect was caused by you after possession
• The PDI also starts your practical familiarity with the home’s systems — your builder should demonstrate how the HVAC, water heater, electrical panel, and other systems operate

The PDI is not the same as a home inspection conducted by an independent inspector. A home inspector examines the building’s structural and mechanical systems in technical depth. The PDI is a visual and functional review — more like a thorough walkthrough with formal documentation. You can and should hire an independent inspector separately, either accompanying you at the PDI or visiting the home at an earlier stage of construction.

The PDI is Ontario’s equivalent of what other jurisdictions call a pre-handover inspection or final walkthrough. In Australia, this process is called the practical completion inspection (PCI), and it operates under similar logic: defects documented before possession are the builder’s problem; defects that appear to have arisen after possession may require you to prove they were pre-existing.

What the PDI form does

The PDI form is a Tarion document. You will receive it from your builder at the PDI. It lists areas of the home and provides space to document defects you observe during the inspection.

At the end of the PDI:

• Both you and the builder’s representative sign the form
• You keep a copy — do not leave without one
• Your builder keeps a copy
• The form becomes part of your Tarion warranty record

If you dispute an item — for example, if the builder’s representative says something is acceptable but you disagree — write “noted under protest” next to your signature rather than leaving it blank or crossing it out. This preserves your right to raise the issue without implying agreement.

Do not let the builder’s representative rush you through signing. You are entitled to take the time you need to review what you’ve noted.

Common mistakes at the PDI

Signing too quickly. Builders have a commercial interest in getting through the PDI efficiently. You have a different interest. Take your time, work through your checklist methodically, and do not sign until you’ve inspected everything.

Not photographing everything. The PDI form provides space for written descriptions, but photographs are stronger evidence. Every defect you document in writing should also be photographed — showing the location, the defect, and a reference for scale.

Skipping mechanical systems. Most buyers spend time on visible finishes and skip the furnace room, electrical panel, and HRV. These systems are harder to assess casually, but failures in them are expensive and can qualify as Year 2 warranty defects.

Assuming the builder will remember verbal conversations. Any defect you discuss verbally but do not write on the PDI form may not exist in the warranty record. If it matters to you, write it down.

Not testing every switch, tap, and appliance. The PDI is the moment when the builder is with you and has an obligation to demonstrate that the home’s systems work. If the dishwasher won’t turn on or a bathroom fan makes a grinding noise, that needs to go on the form now — not after possession.

What to bring

• The Tarion PDI checklist (available on Tarion’s website) — bring a printed or digital copy to cross-reference with the builder’s PDI form
• Your contract and finish specifications — to verify that the correct finishes, fixtures, and appliances were installed as agreed
• A bright flashlight — to check inside cabinets, along wall-ceiling joints, and in mechanical spaces
• A phone camera — photograph every defect you note on the form
• A plug tester or phone charger — to spot-check electrical outlets
• Enough time — a thorough PDI takes two to three hours; do not schedule it immediately before another commitment

Room-by-room PDI checklist

Exterior and site

• Grading: the ground should slope away from the foundation on all sides — water must not pool against the house
• Driveway: no cracking, no significant settlement, finished to the agreed spec
• Walkways and steps: no cracking, trip hazards, or incomplete sections
• Foundation walls visible above grade: no wide cracks (hairline cracks may be acceptable; cracks wider than 3mm or with displacement warrant documentation)
• Exterior cladding: no visible gaps, damage, or sections not yet finished
• Exterior paint or stucco: consistent coverage, no missed sections
• Gutters and downspouts: correctly pitched, downspouts extending well away from the foundation
• Roof visible from ground: no missing shingles, flashing sealed at all penetrations
• Exterior doors: close fully, weatherstripping present and continuous, deadbolts engage cleanly
• Windows: open, close, and lock correctly; no chips in glass; screens fitted and undamaged
• Exterior lighting: fixtures installed and operational
• Hose bibs: present and operational

Garage

• Garage door: opens and closes via remote and wall switch without grinding or hesitation
• Garage door auto-reverse safety function: place a 2x4 flat on the ground under the door path — the door should reverse on contact
• Garage floor: no significant cracking or settlement
• Fire separation wall between garage and living space: drywall complete with no gaps, taped and finished correctly
• Any storage or utility connections in garage per contract: present and complete

Kitchen

• Cabinetry: all doors and drawers align and close flush; soft-close mechanisms operational on all units
• Cabinet interiors: no debris, damage, or moisture
• Countertops: no chips, cracks, or unfinished seams; overhang consistent throughout
• Backsplash: grout complete and consistent; no hollow tiles (tap each one with a knuckle)
• Sink: properly mounted, no gaps at countertop junction, caulk continuous
• Kitchen faucet: hot and cold correctly oriented, no drips, adequate pressure
• Under-sink plumbing: no leaks, correct drainage pitch, supply lines fully connected
• Dishwasher: runs a full cycle, door seal intact, no water under unit
• Range/oven/cooktop: all burners or elements operational, oven heats, controls function
• Range hood: fan operational, light works — verify it is ducted externally if that was specified
• Refrigerator (if included): cooling operational, all compartments present
• Garbage disposal (if included): operational, no leaks at connection
• All electrical outlets functional; GFCI outlets present within required distance of the sink
• Pantry or additional storage per contract: complete

Bathrooms (repeat for each)

• All tiles: tap every tile with your knuckle — hollow sound indicates inadequate adhesive bond
• Grout: complete, consistent colour, no gaps
• Tub surround and shower pan: caulk continuous and unbroken at all material transitions (tile-to-tub, tile-to-floor, tile-to-trim)
• Shower screen or door: correctly hung, no chips, opens and closes without binding
• Shower head and hand-held (if applicable): operational, correctly positioned
• Toilet: flushes fully, cistern refills and stops, seat and lid fitted, no movement at the floor
• Faucets: hot and cold correctly oriented, no drips at the spout or handles
• Exhaust fan: hold a piece of tissue near the grille — you should see it drawn toward the fan; verify it is ducted externally
• Vanity cabinet: doors and drawers aligned and undamaged, interior clean and dry
• Under-sink plumbing: supply lines connected, no drips
• Mirror or medicine cabinet: properly mounted, no chips, hinges operational
• GFCI outlets: present at all bathroom circuits and functional

Bedrooms

• Doors: open and close without binding, latches engage, privacy locks (if applicable) function
• Windows: open, close, and lock correctly; screens fitted
• Closet doors: slide or swing smoothly, tracks secure and straight
• Closet organiser or shelving (if included): complete and properly mounted
• All electrical outlets functional and in the correct positions per electrical plan
• Ceiling light or fan (if specified): installed and operational
• Paint: consistent coverage, no roller holidays, no drips at trim junctions
• Flooring: no squeaks, no gaps, carpet laid evenly with no lifting at edges

Basement

• Concrete floor: no wide cracks or heaving (hairline shrinkage cracks are common and may be within tolerance, but document them)
• Foundation walls: no active moisture, no staining indicating past water entry
• Windows: operational, properly weatherstripped
• Floor drain: present and unobstructed
• Rough-in plumbing (if basement is unfinished): capped and in the correct location per plan
• Egress window (if required by the Ontario Building Code for a bedroom): correct size and operation

Mechanical room and systems

• Furnace or air handler: operates in heating mode (set thermostat to call for heat, verify warm air from all registers within a few minutes)
• Air conditioning (if included): operates in cooling mode
• All supply and return registers present, unobstructed, and with operable dampers
• HRV (heat recovery ventilator): operational — confirm the unit runs and air is moving through the ventilation system; the HRV is an Ontario Building Code requirement in new homes
• Water heater: operational, correct capacity per contract, temperature set appropriately, TPR (temperature-pressure relief) valve installed and undamaged
• Electrical panel: breakers labelled, all in correct position, no open knockouts, panel cover in place
• All circuits labelled accurately — verify a few by toggling breakers and confirming correct fixtures respond
• Smoke detectors: present inside and outside each sleeping area and on every storey, test button confirms operational
• Carbon monoxide detectors: present on every level where there is a sleeping area and adjacent to garage, test confirms operational (CO detector is an Ontario Building Code requirement)
• Main water shut-off valve: located and demonstrated to operate correctly
• Gas shut-off (if applicable): located and demonstrated
• Sump pump (if present): operational, discharge line routed correctly away from the foundation

How to handle the PDI form

Work through the form methodically, noting every defect in writing. For each item:

• Write a clear, specific description (“grout missing in 3 tiles to left of shower drain, approx. 3cm gap each”)
• Note the room and location within the room
• Photograph the defect before moving on

When you reach the signature section:

• Sign only what you have personally verified
• If you note a dispute — for example, if the builder’s representative contests whether something is a defect — write “noted under protest” beside your signature on that item
• Do not leave without a signed copy of the completed form

Anything not noted on the PDI form can still be raised through your 30-Day Form (within 30 days of possession) or Year-End Form (before your first anniversary). The PDI form is the first opportunity in the Tarion process, not the only one. But defects you note on the PDI form have the clearest pre-possession documentation, making them the simplest to claim.

After the PDI, your builder is required to address the items noted on the form. If items are not repaired before your closing date, they should carry forward as outstanding warranty items. Follow up in writing — noting the outstanding PDI items and requesting a written timeline for repair — within the first week after taking possession.

Key takeaways

• The PDI is Ontario’s mandatory pre-possession inspection under the Tarion warranty process — it is a formal step with legal significance, not just a tour of your new home
• Defects documented on the PDI form are formally established as pre-existing before you take possession, giving you stronger grounds for warranty claims
• Bring a checklist, your contract specifications, a flashlight, a phone camera, and allow two to three hours — do not rush
• Test every appliance, faucet, exhaust fan, outlet, smoke detector, and the garage door auto-reverse during the PDI; verify the furnace, HRV, and hot water system operate
• Sign the PDI form only after completing your inspection; write “noted under protest” for any disputed items, and leave with a signed copy of the completed form
• Items missed at the PDI can still be raised on your 30-Day Form or Year-End Form — but PDI-documented defects have the clearest pre-possession record and are the easiest to pursue under warranty