Pre-Delivery Inspection
PDI
The builder-led walkthrough before possession of a new Ontario home that records its condition on Tarion's PDI Form.
A pre-delivery inspection (PDI) is a walkthrough of a newly built Ontario home that the builder must conduct before handing over the keys. It is part of the Tarion new-home warranty process. The builder's representative leads it, and either you or a designate must attend.
During the PDI, the builder records anything damaged, missing, incomplete or not working on the PDI Form. It is also your chance to learn how to operate the home's systems and features. Review each entry carefully, make sure it is accurate, and keep your copy.
The PDI Form is the official record of the home's condition before you move in. Tarion may rely on it later to decide whether damage happened before or after possession. Leaving an item off the form does not automatically void warranty coverage. Even so, the form is key evidence if a dispute goes to a conciliation inspection.
You can bring someone with you, or send someone in your place. To let that person sign for you, give the builder written authority, such as Tarion's Appointment of Designate form. At the PDI, the builder also gives you copies of the completed PDI Form and the Certificate of Completion and Possession (CCP).
The PDI does not start your warranty, and it does not file a claim. Your warranty clock starts on the date shown on the CCP. To get service for items still unfixed after you move in, list them on a Tarion warranty form. Examples are the Initial, Mid-Year and Year-End Forms. A PDI is also not an independent inspection, so some buyers hire their own inspector for a second opinion.
Sources
- Tarion: Pre-delivery inspection
- Tarion: Warranty information for freehold homes (effective May 1, 2024)
- Tarion: Claim forms and timelines
Last reviewed October 16, 2026.
Go deeper
Related terms in New Build & Warranty
- Tarion The not-for-profit that administers Ontario's new-home warranty, covering defects for up to seven years and protecting deposits.
- Certificate of Completion and Possession The Tarion warranty certificate your builder provides at possession, recording the date that starts your warranty clock.
- Home Construction Regulatory Authority Ontario's regulator that licenses new-home builders and vendors and runs the public Ontario Builder Directory.
- Home Inspection A buyer-hired, visual check of a home's condition and major systems, with licensing rules that vary from province to province.
General information only, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and vary by province; confirm the current details with the relevant authority before you rely on them.