The first 30 days are your best “truth test”

A new home can look perfect on possession day. Then real life starts. You cook, shower, run laundry, and walk the stairs a hundred times. That is when small problems show up. Doors shift as the home dries. A sink trap drips under pressure. A fan sounds loud but moves no air. None of this means you bought a bad home. It means the first month is the best time to spot issues while your builder is still in “wrap-up mode.”

How to use this checklist

Use it in three passes. Pass one is week one, quick and simple. Pass two is around week two or three, after you have lived in the home a bit. Pass three is near day 30, when you prepare your list for the builder.

Keep notes in one place. A phone note app works fine. Add photos. Photos turn a vague complaint into a clear location and a clear fix.

How to write issues so they get fixed faster

Builders move faster when your notes are specific.

• Write the room name
• Write the exact spot, like “left side of closet door”
• Say what happens, like “rubs at the top”
• Add one photo or a 5 second video

Try not to write “paint is bad.” Write “living room, right wall beside window, paint drip at eye level.”

Week one checks

Find shutoffs and labels

• Find the main water shutoff
• Find the gas shutoff if you have gas
• Find the electrical panel and check if circuits are labeled clearly
• Find the furnace switch and breaker

This is not exciting, but it saves you during the first leak or trip.

Test basic safety items

• Test smoke alarms and CO alarms
• Check that stair railings feel solid
• Check that the garage door reverses when it hits an object

Run water everywhere

Leaks often show up when you run several fixtures, not when you run one.

• Run each sink for 30 seconds, hot then cold
• Flush every toilet twice
• Run the shower for one minute in each bathroom
• Fill a tub a little, then drain and watch the flow

After you run water, check under every sink with a paper towel. Touch the shutoff valves and the trap joints.

Quick kitchen function check

• Open and close every cabinet and drawer
• Check cabinet doors for rubbing and uneven gaps
• Run the dishwasher and listen for a normal fill
• Turn on the range hood fan and light

Heating basics

• Set the thermostat a few degrees up and confirm the furnace starts
• Ask where the filter is and what size it is
• Listen for loud rattles or vibration

If your home has an HRV, ask how to change filters and what settings are normal for daily use.

Week two and three checks

These checks work best after you have lived in the home and noticed patterns.

Doors and trim

New homes dry out. Wood moves. Doors can shift.

• Check doors that started to rub at the top or latch poorly
• Check closet doors for smooth sliding
• Check baseboards for gaps that appeared at corners

Take a photo of the rub mark. That makes it easy to point out.

Windows and condensation

Some condensation in winter can be normal. Heavy fogging is a clue.

• Check if one room fogs more than others
• Check for drafts at window corners
• Look for damaged seals or visible gaps at trim

If you see heavy condensation, note indoor humidity and how often bath fans run. Many Calgary homes need steady fan use in winter.

Bathrooms and ventilation

• Do the tissue test at bath fan grilles, it should pull the tissue toward the fan
• Check caulking at tubs and showers for gaps
• Check grout lines for early cracks at corners

If mirrors stay foggy for a long time after showers, list it. It can be a fan performance issue.

Floors and stairs

• Walk the stairs and listen for new squeaks
• Check for bouncy steps or loose rail posts
• Walk main floor paths and feel for soft spots

Small squeaks can be normal. Still, note areas that sound sharp or feel loose.

Electrical and GFCI checks

• Test GFCI outlets in kitchen, baths, garage, and exterior, then reset
• Check that exterior lights work
• Check that stair lights and hall lights do not flicker

Bring a phone charger and test a few outlets in each room so you do not miss a dead circuit.

Garage and attached wall comfort

• Check the seal on the door between garage and home
• Check if the room above the garage feels colder
• Check for drafts at baseboards on shared walls

Cold bonus rooms are common. Early notes help you ask for comfort fixes before it becomes “normal.”

Exterior checks during the first month

Even if the yard is not finished, you can still spot drainage clues.

Downspouts and water paths

• Make sure downspouts push water away from the foundation
• Watch where meltwater flows during a warm day
• Look for pooling near window wells

Caulking and exterior finishes

• Look for open gaps at exterior trim joints
• Check around vent caps for neat sealing
• Look for loose siding pieces and rattles on windy days

Concrete and grading notes

Some settlement can happen. Hairline cracks can show up. The key is to note what you see and when you saw it.

• Take a photo of driveway cracks and walk cracks
• Note any low spots where water collects

Common 30 day issues that are worth reporting

These are the kinds of issues that come up often and are easier to fix early.

• Door latches that do not catch or doors that rub
• Slow drains, gurgling drains, or leaks under sinks
• Toilets that keep running or rock slightly at the base
• Bath fans that are loud or weak
• Loose railings
• Cabinet doors out of alignment
• Cracked caulk at tubs and showers
• Cold rooms that never warm up evenly
• Exterior gaps at trim or vents

How to document like a pro

Documentation is not about being difficult. It is about being clear.

Photo tips

• Take one wide photo so the room is obvious
• Take one close photo of the issue
• Use your hand or a coin for scale when it helps

Video tips

• Use video for things that move, like a door rubbing or a fan noise
• Keep it short, 5 to 10 seconds
• Say the room name at the start of the video

Simple wording that works

• “Primary bath, shower, caulk gap at back corner, water collects here”
• “Kitchen sink, slow drip at hot shutoff valve, visible moisture on paper towel”
• “Bedroom 2, window, draft felt at lower right corner, condensation heavier in this room”

How to talk to your builder

A calm, organized list gets better results than a long emotional message.

• Send one list, grouped by room
• Attach photos in the same order as the list
• Ask for the plan and timeline
• Confirm when someone will enter the home

If a builder pushes back with “normal,” ask what the expected standard is and how it will be handled at the next stage. Keep it written.

Comfort issues deserve extra attention in Calgary

Comfort is not a luxury in winter. It affects how you live. If a room is cold, list it with details:

• Which room
• What the thermostat is set to
• How many degrees colder the room feels
• Whether the supply vent has strong airflow

Sometimes the fix is simple, like balancing registers or adding return air paths. Early reporting helps a lot.

When to get an inspection during the first month

Some homeowners book a new build inspection close to possession. Some wait a bit and do it during the first month. A first month visit can help when you want a clear list and a calm report to share with the builder. It can also help when you are unsure if an item is minor or worth pushing on.

30 day checklist you can copy

• Find and label water, gas, and power shutoffs
• Test smoke and CO alarms
• Run water at all fixtures and check under sinks for leaks
• Test GFCI outlets and reset
• Check doors for rubbing and latch issues
• Check bath fan airflow and shower caulking
• Check cabinets and drawers for alignment
• Note cold rooms and airflow strength
• Check downspouts and window wells during melt
• Document every issue with a room name and photo

What you gain by doing this well

You get your home running the way it should, early. You reduce follow-up visits. You avoid small moisture problems turning into bigger repairs. You also build a clean record that helps at the 1 year warranty stage. That record is simple to create. It starts with a good checklist and a few clear photos.