The handover checklist in full
Printed in full below. Do the walk in daylight and repeat the lighting and socket checks after dark — they are different inspections.
1 · Operate everything yourself
- Every shutter opened and closed, checked for gap and alignment
- Every drawer pulled to full extension and loaded with weight
- Every soft-close hinge and channel tested; list the ones that slam
- All lights switched from every switch point, including two-ways
- All sockets tested with a plug tester, not just looked at
- Taps, showers and flushes run for two minutes each, watching for seepage
2 · Surfaces and finishes
- Paint checked in daylight and at night under artificial light
- Laminate and veneer edges checked for lifting at corners and near wet areas
- Countertop joints, cut-outs and the sink drip lip inspected
- Tile hollowness tapped across the floor and listed
- Glass, mirror and shower screens checked for scratches before sign-off
3 · Documents you should receive
- Signed snag list with dates against each closed item
- Warranty letters: joinery, waterproofing, appliances, hardware
- Material and brand schedule naming ply grade, laminate codes and hardware series
- As-built electrical and plumbing layout for future drilling
- Appliance manuals, warranty cards and registered serial numbers
- Paint shade codes and leftover material for touch-ups
4 · Commercial closure
- Final bill reconciled against the BOQ with every variation documented
- Change orders signed and priced, none carried as a verbal understanding
- GST invoice issued with your correct name and address
- Retention amount and its release date recorded in writing
- Society deposit refund applied for and debris clearance confirmed
5 · Before the team leaves site
- Deep clean done, including inside cabinets and behind appliances
- Protective film removed from all hardware and glass
- Spare keys, cabinet keys and remote controls handed over and labelled
- Leftover tiles, laminate offcuts and touch-up paint stored and labelled
- Post-handover support contact and response time agreed
How to run the handover walk
- Book a full day, not an hour. Twenty-seven checks across a 2BHK takes four to five hours if done honestly.
- Carry a plug tester, a torch and a spirit level. Three tools settle most of the surface and electrical items.
- Write the list, do not speak it. A written snag list with dates against each closed item is what you hold the retention against.
- Repeat the whole walk after 30 days of living in the flat. The second list always finds more than the first.
Three things it protects
- Your warranty. Element-wise warranty letters are simple to obtain before the final payment and difficult after it.
- Your ability to drill a wall. The as-built electrical layout is the document nobody asks for and everybody needs.
- Your touch-up paint. Shade codes and leftover material, labelled and stored, save a full repaint two years later.
Download the checklist (PDF) →
See what our warranty covers on the warranty page, and how the process runs on the process page.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I hold back as retention?+
Five to ten per cent of the contract value, released 30 days after you move in. It is not a penalty and a professional contractor will expect it. What matters is that the amount and the release date are written into the contract at signature, not negotiated at handover.
What documents should I receive at handover?+
Six: the signed and closed snag list, warranty letters by element, the material and brand schedule, the as-built electrical and plumbing layout, appliance manuals with registered serial numbers, and the paint shade codes with leftover material for touch-ups.
Should the handover walk happen in daylight or at night?+
Both. Paint defects, laminate lifting and tile lippage show in daylight. Lighting faults, dead sockets, switch labelling errors and shadow-gap inconsistencies show at night. Doing only one of the two walks misses about a third of the list.
What is a reasonable defects liability period?+
Twelve months from handover for workmanship, with the manufacturer's warranty running longer on hardware and flooring. The important number is not the length but the response time: seven working days for a non-urgent call-out and 48 hours for anything involving water or electricity.
The contractor wants full payment on the day of handover. Is that normal?+
It is common and it is not in your interest. Snag closure takes one to three weeks after the walk, and nothing gets closed once the money has moved. Agree at contract stage that the last instalment follows snag closure and that retention follows 30 days of occupancy.