What should you check on a new apartment tour?
A new building looks perfect in a model unit. Your job on a tour is to check the actual unit you’d lease, what’s finished, and the things that cost you money or sleep later. In a Travis County summer, for example, HVAC is sized to a 99°F design temperature, and a west-facing unit tests that sizing every afternoon. Here’s the checklist we use on routed tours, with up to four buildings in one afternoon.
Before the tour: ask for these
- The actual unit number, floor, and view, not just the floor plan
- The special in writing, with its end date and minimum lease term
- The written fee sheet, including how water is billed
- Amenity open dates for the pool, gym, garage, and any unfinished phase
If you can’t visit, ask for a live video walk of that unit. Our guide on renderings vs. the real unit explains what a listing usually leaves out.
On the tour: the unit
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Unit vs. model | Same finish package, flooring, appliances, and window size? |
| View and floor | What’s outside the window now, and what’s planned? |
| Sound | Knock on shared walls; listen for neighbors, hallway, elevator, trash chute |
| HVAC | Airflow at every vent; thermostat response; west-facing glass |
| Water | Pressure and hot water time at the kitchen and bath |
| Storage | Closet sizes, pantry, any storage unit charge |
| Outlets and data | Where the internet enters; outlet placement for your desk |
| Parking | Garage or surface, assigned or open, and the monthly charge |
On the tour: sound ratings
The 2024 International Building Code sets STC 50 (airborne sound through walls and floors) and IIC 50 (impact sound such as footsteps) as the minimum between units. Ask for the building’s figures; some exceed the minimum. On the tour, have someone talk in the next room or walk overhead if possible. Our guide are new apartments soundproof? explains what the numbers mean.
On the tour: the building
- Finished vs. not yet open. Confirm open dates in writing for every amenity you care about.
- Construction next door. Ask about phase construction and noise hours.
- Packages and trash. Locker access, valet trash schedule, and any fee.
- Pets. Dog park, wash station, and whether they’re open.
- Leasing office. Hours, maintenance request process, and after-hours contact.
Move-in day: the first 48 hours
New units often have small finish items. The move-in condition form is your record. Within 48 hours, or the window your lease states:
- Photograph every room, including floors, walls, counters, and appliance interiors, with timestamps.
- Run every fixture: faucets, showers, dishwasher, washer and dryer, disposal.
- Test HVAC on cool and heat, and note any room that lags.
- Check doors and windows: locks, sliders, screens, weather seals.
- Look for caulk and paint gaps, especially around tubs, counters, and trim.
- Submit the form and keep a dated copy.
Keep it in writing
A verbal “we’ll fix that” isn’t a record. Put every item on the form or in a maintenance request so it has a date.
Days 7 and 30
After move-in we help you send a written punch list at day 7 and day 30, and we check your ledger to make sure the special posted. Our day 7 and day 30 punch list guide covers common items and how to follow up.
Get the PDF
The printable version of this checklist fits on two pages: one for the tour, one for move-in. Ask on the form or by text and we’ll send it with your shortlist. If you’re comparing open buildings, see lease-up buildings for what’s finished at each one.
