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Notable Inspection — New Construction

A new home with air leaking at the air handler and 13 short strike plates

Frederick County, Maryland. Short strike plates logged thirteen times, air escaping from the air handler in three places, a wall framed out over the sump pump lid and a stove with no anti-tip device. Sixty-seven items on a brand-new house, each one photographed and captioned.

PropertyFrederick, MDInspectedSeptember 2026TypeNew-build home, finished basementReport28 pages, photo punch list

What this inspection found

Counted from the delivered report

67

Findings documented

Across 19 areas of the house

13

Short strike plates

Logged door by door, basement to bedrooms

3

Air handler leaks

Drain line penetrations and the line set

1

Safety hazard

No anti-tip device on the stove

The six that mattered most

Most of a new-home punch list is finish work. These six are the items on this one that went past cosmetic.

Punch listHVAC

Air escaping from the air handler in three places

Air was escaping from both the right and left sides of the air handler at the condensation drain line penetrations, and again where the refrigerant line set enters the unit, because the seal there was not complete. Foam insulation residue had also been left down the side of the cabinet. On equipment this new, every penetration should already be sealed.

Safety hazardKitchen

No anti-tip device on the stove

The stove had no anti-tip device, which the report called out as a safety hazard. The device anchors a freestanding range so it cannot tip forward when weight goes on the open oven door. In the same kitchen the microwave filter had fallen to the countertop and the dishwasher’s front edge did not run parallel to the island countertop.

Punch listDoors

Short strike plates, logged thirteen times

The strike plate is the metal plate in the door jamb that the latch catches on. The report logged a short one on the utility room door, the basement entrance, closet and bathroom doors, the powder room and coat closet, the owner’s bedroom, closet and bathroom, both front bedroom closets and the hall bathroom.

Punch listSump pump

A wall framed out over the sump pump lid

In the utility closet, the corner of the wall had been framed out over the sump pump lid. The report noted that this will make opening the sump pump very difficult and recommended that it be remedied.

Punch listExterior

Grading against the foundation, and damage beside the slider

The grading was too close to the foundation behind the outdoor unit, and the foundation was damaged to the left of the basement slider. The two drain covers on top of that slider were missing, the manufacturer’s tape was still on the bottom ones, and the ladder in the egress window well was not held in place with screws.

Punch listUtility

A crack in the slab, and a rusty nail beside the water shutoff

There was a crack in the slab at the threshold of the single door to the utility area under the steps, which the report said to monitor and repair as necessary. A rusty nail had been driven into the framing next to the water shutoff valve, and trash, extra trim pieces and an abandoned hanging strap were left around the water heater.

From the report

Photographs from the inspection, personal details removed

The top of a gray air handler cabinet with white PVC condensate drain fittings entering its side, circled in red where air escapes around the penetrations
Air escaping from the right side of the air handler at the condensation drain line penetrations.
A black sump pump lid on a concrete floor with a white wall corner built out over its edge, circled in red, beneath PVC and black pipes
The wall corner framed out over the sump pump lid, which will make opening the sump pump very difficult.
An outdoor condenser on a pad beside blue vinyl siding, with a red oval around the lawn sitting right up against the foundation behind it
Grading too close to the foundation behind the outdoor unit.
Close-up of a white door jamb with a small metal strike plate set into it, beside a pedestal sink and a scrap of blue tape
A short strike plate on the powder room entrance door, one of thirteen in the report.

The full redacted summary

Every finding as it was captioned in the delivered report, verbatim. Orientation photographs — shutoff locations and equipment labels — are left out. Name, street address and report number removed.

Utility

  • Air is escaping from the right side of the air handler at the condensation drain line penetrations.
  • Air is escaping from the left side of the air handler at the condensation drain line penetrations.
  • Air is escaping where the refrigerant line set enters the air handler because the seal is not complete.
  • There is foam insulation residue down the side of the air handler that should be cleaned.
  • There is a piece of an abandoned hanging strap on the wall behind the water heater.
  • There was trash and debris on the top of the water heater.
  • There is dirt and also raised surfaces on the bare concrete floor in the utility room.
  • Extra trim pieces are left in the utility room where the air handler and water heater are.
  • There was a rusty nail driven into the framing next to the water shut off valve.
  • There was a crack in the slab at the threshold of the single door to the utility area under the steps. Monitor and repair as necessary.
  • The floor is dirty and there are raised surfaces in the unfinished area with the electric panel.
  • Short strike plate installed on the utility room door that opens to the rec room.

Sump Pump

  • The corner of the wall is framed out over the sump pump lid which will make opening the sump pump very difficult. Recommend that this situation be remedied.
  • Consider having a piggyback plug power supply added to the sump pump so that it can be tested without opening it.

HVAC

  • Consider covering the outdoor unit with a winter cover to protect it from the elements in the off-season.

Exterior

  • There are 2 gaps on the top corners of the front door overhang that should be properly sealed and painted.
  • Fittings on the gas meter and supply lines are rusted and should be painted.
  • Sidewall of the house, down spout and splash block should be cleaned in the front right corner.
  • The egress window well cover is dirty and should be cleaned.
  • The ladder for the egress window well is not held into place with screws.
  • There was dirt in the base of the egress window well that should be removed. Should only be stone in the base.
  • Excessive dirt and rocks in the front lawn to the right of the sidewalk.
  • Debris in the mulched beds especially to the left of the front porch.
  • Paint finish on the front door is very thin and scratched.
  • Grading is too close to the foundation behind the outdoor unit.
  • Right rear down spout is rotated clockwise.
  • The condenser coil is dirty and should be clean from the inside out.
  • The condenser platform is dirty.
  • The 2 drain covers on the top of the basement slider are missing. The manufacturer's blue tape remains on the bottom drain covers for the same slider.
  • The foundation is damaged to the left of the slider.
  • There is a rust stain and a poor paint finish on the center of the slider at deck level.

Kitchen

  • There is no antitip device on the stove. This is a safety hazard.
  • The filter for the microwave has fallen to the countertop.
  • The front edge of the dishwasher does not run parallel to the island countertop.
  • There is a rough finish on the back wall of the pantry on the left side.
  • Cut trims on corner of island closest to the refrigerator are not properly finished.
  • Front edge of right glass front cabinet is damaged.

Foyer

  • Front door hinges squeak when closing

Living Room

  • Poor paint finish on the front window sill.

Powder Room

  • Pedestal beneath the sink is not centered.
  • Short strike plate installed on entrance door.
  • Short strike plate installed on coat closet door.

Finished Basement

  • The sliding door does not open and close smoothly.
  • The paint on the window sill for the egress window is inconsistent.
  • Short strike plate used on entrance door.
  • Short strike plate used on closet door.
  • Short strike plate used on entrance door for the bathroom.

Basement Bathroom

  • Short strike plate used on the entrance door from the rec room to the bathroom.

Lower Stairs

  • The stair stringer and the edge of the bottom rail do not run parallel at the bottom of the steps.
  • A piece of molding is missing at the top of the steps on the right side at kitchen level.
  • The nosing to the basement has been repaired. This is a work in progress.

Upper Stairs and Hallway

  • Nail holes not filled and finished on the tops of 5 ballisters at the top of the steps bedroom level.
  • Carpet not neatly trimmed at transition to the laundry room.

Laundry

  • Excess glue on the right side of the left wall cabinet.

Owners Bedroom

  • Short strike plate used on the bedroom door.
  • Short strike plate used on the closet door.
  • Cover plate to the right of the bathroom door is not flush to the wall.

Owners Bath

  • Short strike plate used on the bathroom door.
  • Mirror not centered over the left sink
  • Outlet not centered between the sinks.
  • Right globe on left light fixture is crooked
  • Top right edge of top drawer beneath the left vanity is damaged.

Front Right Bedroom

  • Front right bedroom, short strike plate used on closet door.

Front Left Bedroom

  • Front left bedroom, paint finish on window sill is inconsistent.
  • Front left bedroom, short strike plate used on closet door.

Hall Bathroom

  • Short strike plate used on the bathroom door.

Attic

  • Attic access is in the front right bedroom on the ceiling. Attic is in good condition. Note that the weather strip for the attic access is not properly attached.
Client privacy

What we removed, and why

Every Century report is confidential and prepared exclusively for the client who ordered it. This page is published with written permission, with anything identifying removed before it went up.

  • Buyer name
  • Street address
  • Report number and file references
  • Photographs showing house numbers, vehicles or people

Buying new construction in Frederick County?

Sixty-seven items on a brand-new house, from air leaking at the air handler to a stove with no anti-tip device. Most of a punch list is small, which is exactly why it only gets fixed if someone writes all of it down.

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