I am doing my 2-month walkthrough of my new home. How picky is too picky?

Question

Should the light switch panels that are right next to each other be at the same height (they are about 1/8" difference.) The subflooring is very squeaky. I have lived in many different houses growing up and never remember having squeaky floors. Well you get the idea. Am I being too picky?

Answer 1

You need to consider what they'll likely be able to do something about.

Squeaky floors are something they should be able to fix if they have open access from below (from the basement). If it's covered underneath, they would have to break a hole in the ceiling to fix it. If there is carpeting, they may be able to fix it from above; if it's laminate or hardwood flooring, they won't be able to without replacing the floor, which they will probably be unwilling to do.

Light switch panels they may or may not be able to make perfectly even. If there is enough wiggle room in the switches, they can probably move them. Otherwise, they will not be willing to tear out the electrical boxes just for that.

And that's what it really comes down to - how much they're willing and able to do, and how much you're willing and able to push it. If the local construction industry is really bad, they may be willing to do more to get you to sign quickly. On our house, they messed up an outside wall; though they repaired it, they were also willing to do extra landscaping to make up for it. If it's something they consider to be very small, they will be less willing to give in. In the scheme of things, I'd consider the light switches to be very small, but the floor squeaks are bigger.

One more thing: if they tell you "we'll see what we can do about X," rest confident that they will most likely not do anything about X. Even if they say they'll do it, they may not - depending on how busy they are. It's cheaper for them to have people chase them down later, because they can just stall you forever. And if they do, they may not do it the way you expect. We actually had a pipe sticking out of the wall in one place; they said they'd fix it, and they did, but instead of fixing the pipe, they did it by putting a false wall up over the pipe.

Finally, try to be reasonable. Most builders are decent people, just like us, and if you're reasonable with them, they'll be more reasonable with you. My mom used to work for a builder and I remember her telling me how some customers were completely unreasonable, demanding that floors be precisely level everywhere, etc. Unless you're talking a multi-million dollar custom built house, you can't expect perfection. From the way you phrase your question, I think you're fine on the reasonableness scale, and you'll probably do just fine.

Answer 2

No, you are definitely not being too picky. It is YOUR future home, so if it annoys you now, it will annoy you even more later. When doing a walk thru, always bring a roll of blue painters tape. You can rip of small pieces and put them everywhere that you see a problem. Then go back thru the house after the walk and write down all of the taped areas, so you can be sure they are fixed next time.
As for your repairs, keep in mind the severity of each. For sub floors squeaking, that is a problem that needs to be fixed now, before the flooring is completed, making it an expensive repair. Light switch covers, and things of that sort are less important now, but still voice your displeasure with the builder.
Also, keep in mind that the pickier you seem to be at this point of the build job will benefit you as you go along. If they realize that you are going to nitpick over everything, thye will make sure everything is exactly how you want it. Most foremen are paid a bonus that is reflected by how many changes are needed at the final walk. So, they will make sure that the house is a s planned so they get their bonus, and you get your house as promised.
Keep in mind on all repairs too, most builders offer a 1 year warranty on your home, so if you miss something now, they have the opportunity to fix it later. BUT, its much easier to fix them during construction than after. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Picky is worrying and making the contractor fix what isn't going to bother you when you are moved and settled in the house.
Things that wouldn't think bother you after you are moved in will, and the things that you think will bother you, you won't give a second glance to.
Remember that you are the only that will notice that the light switches aren't perfectly aligned.
You may want to bring up the squeaky floor and see if there is anything they can do to fix it now. I can see how that would be a legitimate complaint (unless he told you that it will be squeaky based on the material you chose).


Good Luck!

Answer 4

A house is a very big investment of your time and money, so if there's anything you don't like, you have the right to be as picky as you want. If it's a cheaply correctable thing like the light switch panels, I don't think it should stop you if you like the rest of the house. If it's a huge peeve that will bother you for as long as you live in the house, then I'd say find yourself a better place.

Answer 5

Have them fix the floor, that is reasonable. But 1/8" on the light switch, thats being way too picky, you cant drill a hole 1/8" from the last one...

Answer 6

My opinion you are not being too picky...

You want what you want.
If you can't get what you want, use it to get what you want.

Before the final negotiations where price is determined as well as what the current owner is responsible for make a list of these things you are not happy with and demand something be done about it they can throw in the extra expenses it would cost to repair these issues giving you a lower purchase price.

You are buying an updated home not something classically brokedown.

Don't forget to take pictures....

Answer 7

Yes, if they're next to each other, they should be the same height. If they're in different rooms, no one will know. And the squeeky floor should be fixed.

No, you're not being too picky. Sometimes you have to lay down the law. True that.

Answer 8

No such thing as too picky when it comes to YOUR home. I just recently went throught this when I moved out of my apartment to a new home. When I moved in to my apartment there were a lot of things that needed to be fixed, and I put every little thing on there. And THANK GOD i did b/c when I moved out, they tried to tag all of the things that I asked them to fix when i moved in on me! I told them to look at the move in check list that I did when I got there, and they didn't have anything else to say. What could they say? I got my FULL deposit back, and they were left looking like dummies!

My advice: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!
U never know when you will need it.

Hope I helped.

Answer 9

It's your home & your money, be as picky as you like.

Answer 10

be picky, you wont have an option to revisit problems later on.