Pre-Handover Inspection Guide: The Most Important Inspection

The pre-handover inspection — also called the practical completion inspection (PCI) — is the most important inspection of your entire build. It's your last chance to identify defects before you make the final payment and take possession of the home. A thorough PCI ensures the builder rectifies all issues before handover. This guide covers how to prepare, what to check and how to document defects.

How to Prepare

• Allow 2–4 hours — don't rush this inspection
• Bring a comprehensive checklist — see our Practical Completion Checklist
• Bring a camera/phone — take photos of every defect
• Bring a tape measure — to verify dimensions and openings
• Bring a spirit level — to check surfaces for level
• Bring a notepad and pen — to record defects
• Bring your contract and specifications — to verify inclusions
• Consider hiring a private inspector — $400–$800; they know what to look for
• Don't bring distractions — focus on the inspection
• Schedule the inspection during daylight hours for the best visibility

What to Check — Room by Room

Check every room systematically:

• Ceilings — plaster defects, cornice joins, paint coverage, cracking
• Walls — plaster defects, paint coverage, skirting, architraves, cornice
• Doors — alignment, operation, hardware, scratching, sealing
• Windows — operation, seals, scratching, cracking, locking, sill height
• Flooring — tiles (cracking, lipping, grout), timber (scratches, gaps), carpet (seams, stretching)
• Cabinetry — door/drawer alignment, operation, handles, scratching, damage, soft-close operation
• Tiling — grout consistency, alignment, lipping, cracking, waterproofing (wet areas)
• Plumbing — taps, drains, toilets, showers, baths (operation, leaks, correct model)
• Electrical — all lights, power points, switches, exhaust fans, appliances (operation)
• Paint — coverage, evenness, drips, splashes, correct colours, touch-ups
• Fixtures — tapware, vanities, toilets, baths, showers, oven, cooktop, rangehood (correct model, undamaged)
• Finishes — skirtings, architraves, cornice, seals, silicone, door frames

What to Check — External

• External walls — cladding, brick, render (alignment, finish, damage)
• Roof — sheets/tiles (alignment, flashings, damage)
• Gutters and downpipes — installation, fall, connections
• Windows and doors (external) — operation, sealing, scratching
• Driveway and paths — finish, cracking, level
• Fencing — if included (type, installation)
• Landscaping — if included (turf, plants, soil)
• Garage — door operation, sealing, paint, floor finish
• Site — clean, all rubbish removed, no construction debris

Documenting Defects

Document every defect thoroughly:

• Take a photo of every defect — with a ruler or coin for scale if needed
• Note the location (room, wall, surface), type and severity of each defect
• Record each defect on the PCI form (the builder should provide one)
• Number each defect for easy reference
• Both you and the builder should sign the PCI form
• Keep a copy of the signed PCI form
• Follow up in writing (email) confirming the defects and the agreed rectification timeframe

After the Inspection

• The builder should rectify all listed defects within the agreed timeframe
• Don't make the final payment until defects are rectified (or agree a retained amount)
• Once defects are rectified, do a follow-up inspection to verify the work
• If satisfied, make the final payment and accept handover
• If not satisfied, raise remaining issues in writing and follow the dispute process

Frequently Asked Questions