What to check at handover — a complete guide for new home buyers

Handover day is one of the most exciting moments of building a new home — and one of the most important. It’s the point at which your builder formally hands ownership of the property to you. Once you sign off, anything you missed becomes your responsibility to fix at your own cost.

This guide walks you through exactly what to check at handover, room by room, so you don’t miss a thing.

What is a handover inspection?

A handover inspection (also called a practical completion inspection, or PCI) is a formal walkthrough of your new home with your builder before you accept the property. In Australia, this typically occurs when your builder believes all work under the contract is complete.

You have the right to bring a qualified building inspector to this walkthrough. Many experienced buyers strongly recommend it — a professional eye can catch issues that are easy to overlook when you’re emotionally invested in your new home.

Under Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and most state-based building legislation, builders are required to deliver a home that is fit for purpose and built to the standards outlined in your contract.

How to prepare before the day

1. Review your contract and plans. Know exactly what was agreed: finishes, fixtures, fittings, and any variations. Bring copies on the day.
2. Book a private building inspector. They carry professional indemnity insurance and know what defects look like. Cost: typically $300–$600. Worth every cent.
3. Download Checka. Use it to photograph and log every issue in real time during the walkthrough. You’ll have a timestamped record that’s harder to dispute.
4. Schedule enough time. A thorough handover inspection takes 2–4 hours for a standard house. Don’t let the builder rush you.
5. Bring your contract, plans, and a checklist. This guide is a starting point — customise it to your specific build.

What to check at handover: room by room

External and site

• Driveway: Cracking, uneven surface, drainage issues
• Paths and paving: Lips, cracks, heaving
• Fencing: Correct height, posts plumb, gates hang and latch correctly
• Gutters and downpipes: Properly fitted, no sagging, outlet locations correct
• Roof: Missing or cracked tiles, flashing around penetrations (solar, skylights, vents)
• Fascia and barge boards: Painted, no gaps, properly fixed
• External render or cladding: Cracking, inconsistent texture, gaps around windows
• Garage: Door operation, seals, automatic opener, drainage

Living areas

• Walls: Paint finish consistency, scratches, scuffs, dents, gaps at skirting boards
• Ceiling: Cracks, paint drips, cornicing joins
• Flooring: Timber or tile — chips, lippage (tiles not flush), grout colour consistency
• Windows: All open and close smoothly, locks work, no scratches on glass, seals intact
• Doors: Open, close, and latch without force; no rubbing on frames or floor
• Light switches and power points: All in correct locations per plans, covers flush to wall
• Skirting boards and architraves: Properly mitered, no gaps, painted consistently

Kitchen

• Cabinetry: All doors and drawers open and close smoothly; handles aligned; no chips or scratches
• Benchtop: No scratches, chips, or joins that don’t align; overhangs consistent
• Splashback: No cracks or chips; grout complete and consistent
• Sink: Properly sealed, no movement, drainage correct
• Taps: All functioning, no drips; hot and cold in correct positions
• Appliances: Test every appliance included in your contract — oven, dishwasher, rangehood, cooktop
• Powerpoints: USB and standard outlets functioning; correct number per plans

Bathrooms and wet areas

This is the highest-risk area for defects. Water damage is expensive.

• Tiles: Check every tile for hollow sound (tap with knuckle); any lippage; consistent grout lines
• Waterproofing: You can’t see this directly, but check for any signs of moisture on walls or floor joins
• Shower screen: Correctly fitted, seals intact, no chips in glass
• Shower base: No movement or flex when you stand in it; drain correctly positioned
• Bath: Correctly sealed to wall and floor
• Vanity: Cabinet doors and drawers operate; basin sealed; tap positions correct
• Toilet: Flush works correctly; seat secure; correctly fixed to floor; cistern fills and stops
• Exhaust fans: Working and ducted to outside (not just into roof cavity)

Bedrooms

• Built-in robes: Doors operate; shelving at correct heights; clothes rail secure
• Windows: Operation, locks, fly screens present and undamaged
• Ceiling fans: Balanced and quiet (if included)
• Paint finish: Consistent throughout; touch-ups blend in

Laundry

• Tub: Correctly sealed and draining
• Taps: Hot and cold connected correctly
• Cabinetry: Same checks as kitchen
• Dryer duct: If ducted, exits to outside

Garage

• Concrete floor: Cracking or surface defects
• Door: Motorised door operation; manual release; remote programming
• Electrical: Sufficient power points for future use
• Wall finish: Consistent with contract specification

Roof space (if accessible)

• Insulation: Present and correctly installed
• Sarking: In place under tiles
• No visible daylight through roof cover

What to do if you find issues

Don’t sign off until all issues are either rectified or formally documented in a defects list (also called a punch list in the US). Your builder should provide a written response indicating when each item will be fixed.

In Australia, most states have a defects liability period (DLP) — typically 13 weeks to 12 months — during which the builder is obligated to rectify minor defects reported after handover. For major or structural defects, warranties typically extend to 6–10 years depending on your state.

Using Checka at your handover inspection

Checka is designed for exactly this moment. During your walkthrough:

1. Log each issue with a photo, description, and location tag
2. Assign severity (minor, major, critical)
3. Generate a professional report to share with your builder

Having a clear, timestamped record from day one makes it significantly harder for builders to dispute issues later. If your matter escalates to a tribunal or licensing authority (like QBCC in Queensland), your Checka report is ready to go.

Key Takeaways

• Always attend your handover inspection — never accept a home sight unseen
• Bring a qualified private building inspector, not just a friend or family member
• Check every room systematically; don’t let excitement rush you
• Document every issue with photos and written descriptions before you sign
• Do not sign the practical completion certificate if you have unresolved issues you haven’t agreed to accept
• Australia’s defects liability period gives you ongoing protection — use it