Before you take ownership of your new Berks home, an important meeting will be held on settlement day: the Zero Walk. The goal of this meeting is to make sure your home meets our high standards and your expectations before you receive your keys.

What is a Zero Walk meeting?

The Zero Walk (sometimes called a “zero defect walk”) is the final inspection meeting that usually occurs on the same day as your settlement. 

This meeting serves as a follow-up to your Home Owner Orientation inspection, which is held approximately one week before closing. 

During the Zero Walk, you can confirm that all items identified during your Orientation have been addressed.

Important things to know about your Zero Walk

By understanding the purpose and process of your Zero Walk meeting, you’ll be well on your way to a smooth closing experience. Consider the following key elements: 

Timing and purpose

Your Zero Walk meeting will be scheduled on the day of your settlement before you sign your final paperwork. Please note that this meeting is not a second Orientation inspection; instead, it’s an opportunity to follow up on items that were identified during your earlier Orientation walkthrough. 

Back-ordered items

In some cases, certain materials or parts may need to be ordered to complete repairs. If this happens, these items will be documented on a form that clearly shows:

• What work is still pending
• That Berks Homes acknowledges responsibility for completing this work
• The expected timeframe for completion

Common back-ordered items include cabinet doors, replacement windows, or specialty materials requiring longer lead times. 

Documentation and signatures

You will be asked to sign the Zero Walk form at the end of your meeting. 

Important note: If there are back-ordered items or work that still needs to be completed after settlement, you should sign the line that specifically acknowledges these open items, not the line indicating all work is complete.

In some cases, you may be asked to sign this form even if there are no outstanding items. That’s because the form serves as documentation that the home is 100% complete at the time of settlement. (This is important for warranty purposes when we conduct the first-year checkup.)

Post-settlement completion

Once any back-ordered materials arrive, our team will contact you to schedule a convenient time to complete the installation. After the work is finished, and you’re satisfied with the results, you’ll be asked to sign off one last time. 

For on-your-land homes, there may occasionally be items that aren’t back-ordered but couldn’t be completed before settlement due to scheduling or resource constraints. These items will also be documented on your Zero Walk form and addressed after settlement following the same process.

How to prepare for your Zero Walk meeting

Please take these steps to make the most of your Zero Walk meeting:

• Bring your Orientation checklist to compare it with the completed work.
• Arrive with any questions you may have about maintaining or simply using your new home.
• Allow up to 60 minutes for this meeting, depending on the size of your home.

Please remember that this meeting is focused specifically on addressing items from your Orientation. Additionally, make certain that any back-ordered work or materials are clearly listed on the form to your satisfaction. This ensures that everything you’re still expecting to be fixed is documented properly. And of course, note that you should never sign any paperwork without reading it thoroughly beforehand.

Your Superintendent and New Home Sales Consultant are there to help, so please ask them to explain anything you’re unsure about. Take your time with this important step.

Our commitment to you

At Berks Homes, we believe in transparent communication throughout the entire homebuying process. The Zero Walk is our commitment to delivering a home that meets our high standards of craftsmanship. 

For our team, the Zero Walk is also a special moment, as it’s the last chance for your Superintendent to meet with you before you officially become one of our happy homeowners! We share in your excitement as you prepare to move into and start living in your new home.

For more information on the construction process, check out JD TV.