New-Home Handover: Inspect, Record and Follow Up on Defects

Receiving keys is an important milestone, but it should also begin a careful record of the home's condition. A handover inspection identifies visible problems, confirms the items provided and helps you ask the right technical questions. It is not a substitute for professional testing or legal advice. Plan enough time to inspect calmly and check the relevant contract and handover documents before relying on any particular deadline or remedy.

Prepare the documents and access

Bring the specification, layout information, handover notices and a list of items promised with the unit. Ask what utilities are available for testing and whether an inspection specialist can attend. Confirm access to parking, storage or other areas included in the purchase. Do not assume the show unit represents every contracted finish. Compare the actual home with the documents that apply to your unit and record discrepancies clearly.

Inspect in a consistent order

Move room by room and check visible finishes, doors, windows, locks, fittings and signs of water ingress. With permission and suitable precautions, test taps, drainage and included appliances where practical. Avoid unsafe improvised electrical or structural tests. Photograph a wider view and a close detail for each material issue, using a room label and date. A precise description such as a leak at the bathroom threshold is more useful than saying the bathroom is bad.

Separate defects from preferences

A finish you dislike may still match the agreed specification, while a subtle water leak may require urgent attention. Distinguish missing items, damage, functional failures and questions requiring expert assessment. If you suspect a serious structural, electrical or waterproofing issue, consult an appropriately qualified person. A long checklist is only useful when the observations are accurate and relevant. Avoid copying defect labels you do not understand merely to increase the number of items reported.

Submit and track the record

Use the developer's documented reporting process while keeping your own copy, proof of submission and correspondence. Ask the lawyer to explain applicable contract rights, reporting periods and procedures for your transaction. Do not assume every development or jurisdiction has identical terms. Track each item with a date, response, scheduled work and outcome. If access is needed for repairs, agree how the property and personal belongings will be protected.

A handover checklist

• Confirm keys, access cards, remotes and included facilities or parcels.
• Record utility meters and the condition of relevant services.
• Compare fittings and finishes with the agreed specification.
• Photograph and describe material defects room by room.
• Submit the report through the required process and keep evidence.
• Reinspect completed work rather than closing an item based only on a message.

Think before renovating

Major alterations can make it harder to distinguish original problems from later work. Ask about the effect of planned changes on inspection, access and any relevant obligations before starting. Check management and authority requirements for renovations separately. Keep the original condition record even after defects are resolved; it can help explain the history of a future problem. A well-managed handover is a sequence of clear observations, appropriate expert input and documented follow-up, rather than a rushed signature followed by assumptions about what the developer will automatically fix.

Plan the next step

Continue with the renovation planning checklist and the strata charges and building records. Use the checklists alongside the documents and professional advice relevant to your own property.