What Actually Happens at a New Construction Orientation Walk

by Allie Grodzki

Most new construction buyers walk into their orientation appointment not knowing what to expect.

Here's what actually happens — and how to make the most of it.

What Is It? The orientation walk is a 1-2 hour appointment with your construction manager, held about one to two weeks before closing. This is the person who built your home — not a sales rep. They're walking you through the house so you understand every system before you own it.

What Gets Covered:

HVAC, plumbing, and electrical — where everything is, how to operate it, and what to do in an emergency
Irrigation system — how to run and adjust your sprinkler zones
Appliances — live demonstrations of every appliance, plus manuals handed over
Blue tape walk — you and your construction manager flag anything that needs attention before closing. Paint, trim, doors, flooring, caulking — nothing is too small to tape
Punch list sign-off — everything flagged gets documented in writing. Both parties sign. The builder fixes it before you close.
Warranty review — Most builders offer a 1-2-10 warranty: one year on workmanship, two years on mechanical systems, ten years on structural

What to Bring: Your phone (take photos of everything), a checklist, and your agent. A good buyer's agent has been through enough of these to catch things you'll miss.

The orientation walk is your last real quality check before this house is yours. Don't rush it.

Allie Grodzki
REALTOR®, The MOVEMETOTX Team
allie@movemetotx.com
936-260-3019

Buying new construction in Houston? Let’s talk through the process together.