Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI)

What to Expect When You Inspect

After months of anticipation leading up to the date of occupancy of your brand new home or investment property, your Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) is your first opportunity to step into your actual unit. It is likely that your PDI will occur a few weeks before your occupancy date and as much as this is an introduction to your new property to learn how things work and how to maintain them properly. The objective of this inspection is to create a written record of all items that are incomplete, damaged, missing, inaccessible, not operating correctly or otherwise deficient before you take possession.

Although your experience with the developer of your property may be exceptional thus far, PDI’s are not due to their benevolence but more so a legal right to any new home and condo buyer. PDI’s are governed by the Ontario New Home Warranty Act, which is administered and managed by Tarion. And under the Act, each builder must conduct a PDI with the purchaser of a new build whether it is a house or condominium unit. Aside from the technicalities of this appointment, finally seeing your unit is an exciting phase in your journey to ownership. Still, it is of the utmost importance to handle this phase with great attention and care.

If you’ve purchased a new build and your occupancy date is approaching, you will be hearing from a representative of the builder to schedule your PDI very soon. If you are an overseas investor, for example, and you are unable to attend your PDI, do not worry, you can fill out a form to have a designate attend on your behalf, so you should select someone you trust to be meticulous with this task.

By knowing what to look for during your PDI appointment, how to handle any defects and adhering to document submission deadlines, this process can be seamless. As always, it is essential to be as informed as possible when it comes to each phase of the buying process. Because, after all, your purchase is an important investment that has the ability to stand the test of time if given the proper attention from the very beginning.

What You'll Learn...

What is a PDI
Why You Need a PDI
PDI Checklist
What to Do If You Forget to Highlight a Problem During Your PDI
How a 30-Day or Year-End Form Can Help You

Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI)

Key Points

What Is a PDI?

Why You Should Attend a PDI

When Does a PDI Take Place?

A 30-Day or Year-End Form

PDI Tips

What is a PDI? Let’s Take a Closer Look

At last, the time has arrived for you to take a look at your brand new condominium or townhome. Depending on what phase in the sales process you purchased the unit, it is pretty standard to have waited about four years for this moment. When you sign an agreement of purchase and sale (APS), you are trusting a builder to complete your unit based on the standards and requirements that you agreed to when you signed the contract. While it is never the hope that you’ll have a bad experience when purchasing a new property, no one can guarantee that nothing will go wrong or no mistakes will be made. This is why the PDI exists, to make sure the new build you're purchasing has been constructed properly and to provide you with the assurance that everything is up to code and will function properly once you move in or lease it out.

Because each puzzle piece of your interior is put together by a number of different technicians, from cabinet installers to plumbers and countertop artisans, it is typical for there to be construction deficiencies, incomplete or missing items, error with your choice in finishes and upgrades as well as items that are not functioning correctly.

There may also be cosmetic issues such as scratched paint, wood, floors or finishes that might be worth mentioning as it will be harder for you to prove these deficiencies pre-date occupancy and are the builder’s responsibility.

At this stage, you may also bring in an independent home inspector if you wish to have a second opinion. It is crucial that if you should choose to hire an inspector, that he or she is experienced in PDI’s specific to your property type. Although it is not absolutely necessary to call in your own professional, they should be able to help you identify any items that are damaged, incomplete, missing or not operating correctly. And these items should be noted on the builder’s PDI Form to verify that the issue exists prior to occupancy.

When the inspection is over, you will be asked to sign the PDI Form which in other words is you signing off on the items that the builder promises to fix, free of charge. As previously mentioned, your PDI is typically conducted one or two weeks before your closing date. This provides the builder with enough time to rectify any of the issues that came up during the inspection. Due to the housing demand, it has become more and more popular for builders to continue to address the items on the PDI list well after you’ve moved in even though the process is called a pre-delivery inspection.

The PDI of a unit does not cover common elements like corridors, garbage rooms, lobbies and locker areas. It will be up to the board of directors of the condominium corporation to report and deal with those defects. With that being said, owners should not hesitate to advise the board of directors of the corporation when you notice any issues with the common areas of the building. In fact, it is typical of board members to consult the owners before submitting the building corporation’s PDI for common elements or warranty claims to ensure that their inspections have captured all known defects.

Do I Need a PDI?

Absolutely! If you are purchasing a new build, your property must have a PDI. In most cases, your provincial government will require that all new homes have a pre-delivery inspection. For example, in Ontario, all builders must register new build homes and condominiums with the Tarion Warranty Corporation, as they are responsible for administering the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, which requires that all new homes have a PDI. And just in case you were wondering, resale homes which are residences that have had an occupant before you do not need a PDI. You will, however, still need to have a home inspection done to qualify for most loans from the bank.

During your PDI, you will be taken around your new property by a representative of the builder who will have a checklist of their own to go over. It is your job as the purchaser to speak up and point out any issues you see. If you don’t mention it right away, you might be stuck with it once you move in or you will have to pay to have it fixed later. We do also recommend that you bring along someone you trust, whether a friend or parent or even a professional inspector.

As you will be occupied learning about all the new and fun features of your brand new unit, the person you bring along can keep an eye out for smaller details that you might not have a chance to notice.

Aside from the fact that you are seeing your unit for the very first time, it is entirely normal to feel overwhelmed with information during your PDI. And all the excitement can likely cause you to completely miss a serious or important issue that needs to be addressed. Therefore, having a PDI checklist of your own and a second set of eyes can be invaluable.

All in all, your PDI provides an opportunity to record the conditions of your property before occupancy, so it is imperative to note everything that needs to be addressed on the form. Although the form might seem like another piece of paperwork, it is, in fact, a useful piece of evidence if Tarion has to do a conciliation assessment. This assessment may occur if pre-occupancy damage or missing items remain unfixed even after you move-in. If the issue is not noted on the PDI Form, it may be difficult to establish that this condition existed before you moved in.

Questions About Projects in This Area?

Your PDI Checklist

Depending on the province you live in and the builder you are working with, there is typically a pre-established list of elements that should be checked during your PDI. But, it as always important to be as informed as possible to make sure that your PDI is conducted properly. We cannot recommend enough that you have your PDI checklist with you while the inspection is being conducted.

What to bring to your inspection:

Measuring Tape (to measure spaces where you might be placing new furniture.)
Camera or take pictures with your phone which are date & time stamped
Notepad and pen / Electronic device to make notes
Agreement of Purchase and Sale to reference.
Floor plan
Someone you trust

During your inspection, you should identify:

Chips or scratches on countertops.
Damage or scuffs on floors and walls.
Damaged, incomplete, missing or incorrect items.
Any unauthorized “substitutions” for items you selected in accordance with your purchase agreement.

Don’t forget the balcony. So you should check things like:

Gas line (if applicable). Have the rep show you that it is functioning correctly.
Whether window/balcony door screens are installed and are functioning.
Doors and windows that are not secure or do not open and close easily.
Quality of work.

So What Happens If You Forget to Highlight a Problem During the PDI?

Failing to report an issue during your PDI appointment is not fatal, so don’t fret. At or before your PDI, you will be given a Certificate of Completion and Possession (CCP). This document states your property’s enrolment number with Tarion and the occupancy date, which is also the start date of your warranty. After you take possession of the property, your Tarion warranty kicks in so you can at that time make a warranty claim for new issues as well as unresolved issues flagged during the PDI.

As previously mentioned, it will be more difficult to prove that the chip in the granite countertop didn’t happen during your move-in, therefore, if you take possession and you notice a damaged or missing item that was not noted on your PDI Form, it is essential to document and report the issue immediately by taking a photograph and emailing it to the builder. This record can assist in establishing that the condition existed before taking possession of the property.

Lastly, we cannot stress enough how important it is to submit all warranty claims on time and that all warranty claims must strictly adhere to Tarion’s deadlines. Failing to report an item in a timely manner may prevent you from receiving coverage under Tarion’s warranty.

30-Day or Year-End Form

This form will come in handy for items that are not corrected by the time you move-in. By filling out this form, you will be requesting warranty service for listed items that are covered under warranty which must be addressed by your builder within a specific timeframe. It is the builder’s responsibility to provide you with a Homeowner Information Package, which is a publication that provides a general overview of warranty coverage to you on or before the Pre-Delivery Inspection. We suggest that you review the contents of this package thoroughly and entirely to better prepare yourself for the PDI appointment and your new property.

Remember the topic of deadlines? Here’s a useful rule of thumb. Try to fill out your 30-Day Form on or about the 25th day after your date of possession to avoid missing the deadline. On this form, you may include items that were listed on your PDI that have not yet been addressed, as well as new items that you have discovered since taking possession of your property.

If you miss the 30-Day Form deadline, you will have to wait until the last 30 days of the first year of possession to notify Tarion of outstanding warranty items.

Your PDI is one of the final steps before taking occupancy of your brand new home or investment property. This process can be an overwhelming experience, but if you’ve worked with any of our agents up until this point, you know that they are here to help you each step of the way. If you have any questions or concerns about your PDI, give your agent a call. They are informed and love educating to help you make the most of your property.