Many people that purchase new homes simply rely on the builders to handle the final quality check. Anyone that is building a new home or purchasing a new property conducts a certain amount of research in order to identify reputable builders that they can rely on.
Research indicates that even when you opt for a trusted builder with a good standing in the market, it has minimal effect on what the final outcome is when you buy a property. The unfortunate aspect of the entire situation is that you as a purchaser have to rely on the builder’s interpretation of industry standards and high-quality workmanship.
Any type of construction is a complex process. It’s rare to find a home build project that runs without any glitches. Regardless of how reputed your builder is, the quality of the final product depends entirely on who carried out the work and how stringent the on-site supervision was.
The Importance of a Handover Inspection
When it’s time to finally check your new home, as a homeowner or investor, you don’t want to be completely dependent on how the builder interprets what good quality workmanship is. Most people that hand over a new home or unit have very little understanding of all the industry standards. They do not have either the knowledge or skill to distinguish between good or poor quality workmanship.
Therefore, it is vital to get an independent handover inspection done on your home, once the construction is complete. This is the best way to ensure that all the work has been completed to the expected standards. It’s definitely preferable to have all the imperfections or problems identified and noted in the handover inspection. This gives you the chance to get them fixed before you move into your new home.
What’s Included in the Handover Report?
A handover inspection report is an unbiased part party report that describes the finishes and final condition of the final construction work. Experienced and professional building inspectors use a comprehensive inspection checklist that helps identify whether the workmanship and construction on the project have been carried out in line with the relevant Australian Standards.
They report and make note of any problems and defects in very simple language. The inspectors will also include photographs of all the mentioned items. This gives you a very clear idea of the issues that might be present.
You can use this report in any discussions that you have with your builder. This will ensure they fix the problems before occupancy. Most homeowners just give the handover report if the builder, who then fixes the problems mentioned in it. In the event of any dispute with your builder, you can use this inspection report in the dispute resolution process.
The Handover Inspection Checklist
As mentioned earlier, handover inspection reports are detailed reports that cover all the accessible areas of the entire house and will include items such as:
- Fittings and fixtures
- Cladding and brickwork
- Insulation, sarking and roof framework
- Roof cover (wherever accessible)
- Quality of the tiling, plastering and paintwork and other finishes
- Wardrobes and cabinets
- External and internal walls
- Flooring and ceilings
- External and internal doors and frames
- External and internal windows and frames
- Staircases
- Balconies, patios, and decks
- Outbuildings and fencing
Hire Experienced Building Inspectors
As you can see, there are a number of different aspects that are kept in view while conducting a handover inspection. Getting this check done from experienced professionals can save you a considerable amount of time, hassles and money down the track.
If you want to know more about our services here at Inspect It First, don’t hesitate to call us at 1300 557 047 or contact us through our contact form and we will revert shortly.
Thanks for reading,
Inspect It First Team
1300 557 047