What should I bring to a new-build tour?
You’ve got four tours this afternoon and you want to compare them fairly. A checklist keeps every building on the same questions, and it’s the same list we use when we tour new apartments in Houston. Print this page or save it as a PDF from your browser, and bring a pen.
Bring your phone for photos, a tape measure for furniture, and your budget written down. If you can, tour at the time of day you’ll be home most.
Before the tour: confirm in writing
These are the questions that change your bill. Get them in writing before you fall for a view.
- The exact unit. Unit number, floor, and move-in date.
- The special. Weeks free or other concession, the term it needs, and whether it’s upfront or spread.
- The fee sheet. Every required monthly fee, plus application, admin and deposit costs.
- Water. City or district, ratio or submeter, and last year’s average for this size.
- Electric. Provider, and whether you can choose a plan.
- Flood facts. FEMA zone and the §92.0135 notice.
- Backup power. What the generator covers: elevators, halls, water pumps, garage gates. Our guide on generator questions lists them.
During the tour: check the unit
- Is this the actual unit, or a model? Ask to see the real one.
- Noise from the street, the amenity deck, the trash chute or the elevator
- Natural light at the time of day you’ll be home
- Water pressure and hot water in the kitchen and shower
- AC airflow in every room
- Cell signal in the bedroom and bathroom
- Washer and dryer space, closet size, outlet placement
- Which way the windows face, and what’s being built next door
Ask about construction nearby
Houston has no zoning, so an empty lot next door can become a new project. At buildings still being finished, also ask which phases and amenities are done. Our guide on a building still being finished covers what to ask.
Move-in day: document everything
- Take dated photos and video of every room before you unpack
- Note scuffs, paint drips, loose fixtures and gaps in caulk
- Test every outlet, light, faucet and appliance
- Check smoke detectors and the door lock
- Find the breaker panel and the water shutoff
Day 7: the punch list
- Submit your punch list in writing through the resident portal
- Keep a copy and the date you sent it
- Note any work orders still open
Day 30: the ledger and the water bill
- Check your first ledger: rent, special credit, required fees
- Compare the fees with the written fee sheet
- Check your first water bill against last year’s average
- Confirm the concession was applied the way the addendum says
We follow up with you on Day 7 and Day 30. If something doesn’t match, we write to the community and report back.
Comparing tours side by side
After four tours, details blur. A simple scorecard keeps them straight. For each building, jot down:
| Question | Building 1 | Building 2 | Building 3 | Building 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit and move-in date confirmed? | ||||
| Special and term in writing? | ||||
| Fee sheet received? | ||||
| Water billing method? | ||||
| Electric provider? | ||||
| Noise from street or amenities? | ||||
| What’s still under construction? |
Fill it in while you’re still in the parking lot. That’s when the details are freshest. If a building couldn’t answer something on the spot, note it and we’ll follow up in writing.
What to photograph on a tour
Take photos of the view from each window, the closet and laundry space, the parking route, and anything unfinished nearby. Photograph the fee sheet and any special flyer. Those images help when you compare later, and they’re useful if something changes between the tour and the lease.
Month 10: the Renewal Check
Around month 10, your renewal offer arrives. Renewal is priced from base, so year two can jump. At the board’s median special, it was about 18% (board math, Oct 25, 2026). We compare your offer with nearby new builds so you can renew or move with real numbers.
Want help with the tours themselves? Send us your move date and we’ll line up to four on one side of town in one afternoon.