Waiting for the completion of a new home can be a stressful and anxiety inducing experience. That is the price you pay for making your dream come true, unfortunately. It may take up to a year or longer for the builders and other contractors to down tools but it will be all worth it in the end.
By this stage you should be ready to move in but there are still potential problems that may crop up related to the construction process.
If you have taken on the responsibility of handover inspections without the services of an experienced company, don’t be surprised if you run into defects or issues. It helps to employ a qualified builder from a construction inspection company in South Australia that can provide pre or post-handover reports.
Professional Perspective
When you look at the finished product, so to speak, you may see a home that seems defect free. However, the eyes of a professional building inspector may have a different perspective that is grounded in experience and knowledge of building codes and standards.
A professional building inspector will methodically assess the build to ensure that the roof, external walls, insulation, windows, doors and other key features are built to acceptable standards. This perspective can save you a huge amount of heartache from being told that your home has not been built to an acceptable standard with multiple defects after you have signed off on the property.
The following is a general guide for what is involved with a handover inspection:
- Checking quality of plasterboard and paintwork finishes for all rooms in the home
- Checking all floors for squeaking and level
- Checking all doors are plumb/square and door furniture installed correctly
- Checking window operations, scratches, architraves plumb/square or damaged
- Checking kitchen appliances and all cabinetry have been installed to a satisfactory standard
- Check all wet areas for quality of tiling, grout, silicone, drainage and leaking
- Internal roof checks of the frame, insulation and sarking
- External checks that include brickwork, roof covering, downpipes, eaves and gutters
There is a lot involved in a pre-handover inspection. However, it is much easier to raise any concerns at this stage of the build. If you wait until after keys have been handed over, the builder may allege that certain defects have occurred after you received the keys to your new home. Either way you will want to put yourself in a position where no one was inhabiting the property at the time the defects were detected.
A pre-handover inspection culminates in a report that lists any defects and code compliance issues that need to be addressed prior to taking possession of your keys. In general, most building companies are keen to handover the property to the owners, so they tend to be more willing to rectify defects in a timelier manner prior to handover. In saying this, most standard building contracts include a 13-week defects period post-handover so you can always wait until you have your keys before your final inspection and this will ensure that your final report will include a thorough review of all finishes including installation of appliances. The only challenge with carrying out a post-handover inspection is that rectification of defects post-handover may not be treated with the same sense of urgency by your building company.
If you would like to know more about pre or post-handover inspections, Houspect in South Australia can help. Call today for advice and professional services.
