# New Apartment Punch List: Day 7 and Day 30 Checks > Common new-build defects, the 48-hour move-in form, and written punch lists at day 7 and day 30, followed up in writing. URL: https://newapartmentsaustin.com/guides/new-apartment-punch-list/ Last-Modified: 2026-10-25 Decision guide · Lease-Ups # The Day 7 and Day 30 Punch List in a New Apartment Common new-build defects, the 48-hour move-in form, and written punch lists at day 7 and day 30, followed up in writing. Written by New Austin Apartment Team [/about/#new-austin-apartment-team →](/about/#new-austin-apartment-team) · Reviewed by the team, Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC · Updated October 25, 2026 · 5 min read - Free to you, and your rent is the same either way - 144 new communities tracked (as of Oct 25, 2026) - Prices pulled every morning ![Blue painter's tape marking a finish touch-up on a new wall](/images/featured/blue-painter-tape-marking-a-small-finish-touch-up-.webp) - Licensed Texas brokerage Spirit Real Estate Group, LLC, TREC #562021 - Free to renters Communities pay the brokerage. Your rent is the same either way. - Prices pulled every morning Every card shows the date and time it was pulled - Score can't be bought Commission rates never affect score, sort, placement, or picks ## What is a punch list in a new apartment? A punch list is a written list of small items that need fixing in a new unit: a caulk gap, a sticking door, a vent that doesn’t blow hard enough. New construction almost always has a few. The goal isn’t to find a perfect unit; it’s to get every item written down, dated, and fixed. At lease-up apartments [/lease-up-apartments/ →](/lease-up-apartments/) , we help you do that at day 7 and day 30. ## Step 1: The move-in condition form (first 48 hours) Your lease likely includes a move-in condition form. Fill it out within 48 hours, or the window your lease states: - Photograph each room with timestamps - Note every scuff, chip, stain, or gap - Submit it and keep a dated copy The form protects your deposit at move-out, and it starts your punch list. Our move-in checklist [/guides/new-apartment-move-in-checklist/ →](/guides/new-apartment-move-in-checklist/) covers what to test on day one. ![Punch list form on a clipboard in a new apartment entry](/images/content/punch-list-form-on-a-clipboard-in-a-new-apartment-.webp) ## Common new-build items | Area | Common items | | --- | --- | | Finishes | Caulk gaps at tubs and counters, paint touch-ups, trim gaps | | Doors and windows | Sticking or misaligned doors, loose hardware, slider tracks, screens | | HVAC | Uneven airflow (HVAC balancing), noisy fans, thermostat settings | | Plumbing | Slow drains, loose fixtures, hot water delay, minor leaks | | Appliances | Dishwasher, washer and dryer, ice maker, range hood | | Electrical | Dead outlets, switches wired to the wrong fixture, fixture bulbs | West-facing units can show HVAC balancing issues on the first hot afternoons. Travis County HVAC is sized to a 99°F design temperature, so a room that lags on a 99°F day is worth reporting. Noise through walls and floors is a building rating rather than a punch-list item; our guide on whether new apartments are soundproof [/guides/are-new-apartments-soundproof/ →](/guides/are-new-apartments-soundproof/) explains STC and IIC 50. > **One item per request** > > Separate requests for separate items make it easier to track what’s done. Bundle only items in the same spot, like several caulk gaps in one bathroom. ## Step 2: Day 7 punch list By day 7 you’ve lived in the unit a week and found most of the obvious items. Submit them in writing through the maintenance portal. Include: - The item and its location - A photo - Whether it affects use (a leak) or is cosmetic (a paint scuff) ## Step 3: Day 30 punch list and ledger check At day 30, check two things: 1. **Open items**: what was fixed, what wasn’t, and anything new. 2. **Your ledger**: whether the special posted as written. See ledger check [/guides/special-missing-from-ledger/ →](/guides/special-missing-from-ledger/) for what to do if it didn’t. ## Following up If an item isn’t fixed, follow up in writing and reference the original request and its date. Most communities resolve small items within days. Warranty repairs that need a contractor, such as HVAC or appliance replacement, can take longer; ask for an expected date. ## What we do If you leased through us, we follow up with the community at day 7 and day 30, check your ledger for the special, and take any unresolved item up with the community in writing. Then we report back with what’s scheduled and when. At month 10, we run a Renewal Check with current comps. Learn more about Lease-Ups Open buildings in lease-up or their first 24 months, sorted by stage and fill estimate, with what's finished confirmed in writing. Open Lease-Ups [/lease-up-apartments/ →](/lease-up-apartments/) Why it goes wrong ## What goes wrong at a building that's still filling Problem 1 ### The amenities aren't open yet A pool, gym, or garage can open months after the first move-ins. The listing often shows the finished rendering, not the date it opens. Problem 2 ### Construction continues next door Phased projects keep building after phase one fills. Noise hours, dust, and parking changes can run through your first lease. Problem 3 ### Small defects show up early New units often need caulk, door, appliance, or HVAC balancing fixes in the first weeks. Without a written punch list, they wait. So we confirm amenity open dates and construction status in writing, and send a punch list at day 7 and day 30. Straight answers ## Questions about this topic Direct answer first, then the source and date. If your question isn't here, ask us on the form or by text. ### Are defects normal in a new apartment? Small finish items are common in new construction: caulk, paint, door adjustments, and HVAC balancing. Document them in writing so they're tracked and fixed. ### Who sends the punch list? You do, through the community's maintenance system. If you leased through us, we follow up with the community at day 7 and day 30. ### What if something isn't fixed? Follow up in writing referencing the original request and date. We take unresolved items up with the community in writing and report back. ### Can you guarantee a price or approval? No. We follow up in writing and report back. Keep reading ## More guides on this topic ![Resident portal ledger on a laptop screen in a new apartment](/images/featured/resident-portal-ledger-on-a-laptop-screen-in-a-new.webp) ### What to Do When Your Special Is Missing From the Ledger Check your ledger at day 7 and day 30, use the written special as evidence, and raise it in writing. We take it up with the community and report back. [What to Do When Your Special Is Missing From the Ledger →](/guides/special-missing-from-ledger/) ![Clipboard checklist on a new quartz kitchen counter with floor-to-ceiling windows](/images/featured/clipboard-checklist-on-a-new-quartz-kitchen-counte.webp) ### New Apartment Tour and Move-In Checklist What to check on a new-build tour and in the first 48 hours: sound ratings, HVAC sized for a 99°F design day, finished amenities, and the move-in condition form. [New Apartment Tour and Move-In Checklist →](/guides/new-apartment-move-in-checklist/) The 60-second form ## Tell us what you need. We make the calls. You don't have time to call 20 leasing offices. We do, and confirm the unit, the special, and the written fee sheet the same day during hours. 1. 1 Same day We call or text during hours with a shortlist plan. 2. 2 In writing Unit, special, end date, and fee sheet confirmed before you tour. 3. 3 Year two shown Every pick shows year two at 0% and +3%, plus a 24-month total. Prefer to talk? Call or text 512-000-000 [tel:+1512000000 →](tel:+1512000000) , Mon-Fri 8 AM-8 PM · Sat 9 AM-6 PM · Sun 12-5 PM. Free, same day during hours ## Get my shortlist Step 1 of 3 ### Thanks, we have your details. We'll call or text the same day during hours with your shortlist plan. Related pages ## Related board views Board view ### Lease-Ups Buildings already open and filling, sorted by stage and fill estimate, with what's finished and what the special does to your monthly cost. Open Lease-Ups→ [/lease-up-apartments/ →](/lease-up-apartments/) Board view ### New Build Board Every in-scope community on one map, with base rent, the special, net effective, true monthly, and year two pulled every morning. Open New Build Board→ [/new-construction-apartments/ →](/new-construction-apartments/) Board view ### Specials Specials confirmed within the last 7 days, each decoded to net effective and year two, with base rent shown beside every discount. Open Specials→ [/apartment-specials/ →](/apartment-specials/) ![](/images/misc/dusk-view-of-new-limestone-and-glass-apartment-tow.webp) Free to you, and your rent is the same either way ## You don't have time to call 20 leasing offices. We do. Send us your move date and all-in budget. We confirm the unit, the special, and the written fee sheet the same day during hours, then show you year two before you tour. Get my shortlist → [/contact/ →](/contact/) See the New Build Board [/new-construction-apartments/ →](/new-construction-apartments/) Call or text 512-000-000 [tel:+1512000000 →](tel:+1512000000) We don't guarantee pricing or approval. The community sets both, and we confirm them before you sign.