New Build Defect Inspection

Quick answer

What is new build defect inspection?

A new build defect inspection is the walk-through a buyer or professional inspector carries out before or just after the handover of a newly built home, recording every defect, finish flaw, and unfinished item so the builder fixes them under the defects liability period. Punch List & Site Audit captures each item with a photo, room, and description, then exports the PDF on site, so the list reaches the builder before you even leave the property.

Learn more: the best snagging apps.

What teams need from New Build Defect Inspection

Handover teams need a simple way to log defects, track rectification, and verify sign-off.

Capture defects with photos, note the exact location, and share a clean PDF report before the walkthrough ends.

How Punch List & Site Audit fits the workflow

Each defect can carry location, trade, status, due date, notes, and photo evidence in one record.

That keeps PCI inspections consistent and makes PDF reporting fast at handover.

Why crews keep it on site

Instead of paper notes or static spreadsheets, the whole defect list stays live in the field and easy to share.

Builders, consultants, and homeowners review the same structured record from first inspection to final handover sign-off.

How it works

From walkthrough to report in three steps

Punch List & Site Audit keeps capture, assignment, review, and handoff in one iPhone workflow.

Create the project

Start a site, client, or renovation project and keep each job separated with progress counts and search.

Capture every snag on site

Add title, notes, location, photos, status, priority, category, assignee, and due date as you walk — a few taps per item, then Save & Add Another to keep the walkthrough moving.

Generate the PDF before you leave

Turn the list into a client-ready PDF with photos and item details right on site — no laptop, no retyping it later. Pro unlocks clean branded reports, export, and iCloud sync.

Feature proof

Specific proof from the app

Each feature below maps to the actual Punch List & Site Audit workflow: capture, annotate, organize, filter, report, and hand off.

Capture

Add snags without slowing the walk

Record the issue, description, location, and photos in one form, then use Save & Add Another to keep moving.

Title, description, and location fields
Camera and photo-library capture
Rapid repeat entry for walkthroughs

Photos

Mark exactly what needs work

Annotate photos before they go into the report, so subcontractors can see the exact defect and location.

Draw, rectangle, circle, arrow, and text tools
Undo/redo, selectable annotations, and color controls
Annotated images save back to the item

Punch List status, priority, assignment, and due date controls

Accountability

Assign, prioritize, and date the work

Each snag can carry status, priority, category, assignee, and due date so the list is actionable before handoff.

Open, in progress, and closed statuses
Low, medium, and high priority chips
Assignee suggestions and quick due-date choices

Punch List PDF report preview with photos and item details

Reports

Turn the list into a client-ready PDF on site

Generate a PDF with item numbers, status, priority, due dates, assignments, and inline photos right there in the field — so the report is done before you leave, not back at a laptop that night.

Build the report in the field, no laptop required
Pro unlocks clean PDFs and company branding
Share from the iOS share sheet before you drive off

Punch List filter screen for open items and priority

Review

Find the right items fast

Search and filter snags by the fields teams actually use during closeout reviews.

Search title, description, location, category, and assignee
Filter by status, priority, category, and assignee
Grouped open, in-progress, and closed sections

Projects

Keep every site separated

Manage multiple projects with progress counts, project search, import, export, and iCloud sync for Pro workflows.

Project-level progress and open-item counts
Search across project name, client, and location
Pro unlocks project import/export and iCloud sync

Frequently asked questions

When should I do a new home defect inspection?

Ideally right before settlement, or as soon as possible afterwards while the builder's defects liability period and goodwill are strongest. Capturing defects early with dated photos makes them far easier to get fixed quickly.

Can I inspect my own new home, or do I need a professional?

Plenty of buyers inspect their own home with a phone and a methodical room-by-room walk; others hire a professional inspector for a more thorough report. Either way, a photo-backed PDF defect list carries more weight with the builder than written notes.

How many defects are normal on a new build?

Anywhere from a few dozen to several hundred depending on size and build quality. Punch List & Site Audit scales from a one-bedroom unit to a large house without slowing down as the list grows.

How do I send the defect list to the builder?

Generate the PDF on site and share it by email or message straight from your iPhone, photos and all, before you even leave the property. No laptop and no retyping the list that evening.

What should each new build defect include?

A room or location, a short description, at least one clear photo, and the responsible trade where you know it. Consistent fields make the builder's response faster and give you a clean record for the defects liability period.

Related Guides

Run defect lists and handover inspections from your iPhone

Download Punch List & Site Audit on iOS. Capture snags with photos, mark up what needs fixing, and produce a clean PDF report right there in the field — no laptop, no typing the list back up at the office that night.

Download on the App Store