Understanding the Process of House Handover Inspections
Pre-handover inspection is very crucial for your peace of mind before moving into your new house. You have spent a lot of money and you need to make sure that everything went well. This article will help you guide through the process and details of the pre-handover inspection.
What are pre-handover inspections?
This is the inspection prior to handing over your newly built or reworked house to you. These inspections make sure that all the work done around the house is up to the mark and in accordance with Australian Standard 4349.1 to ensure your safety and high standards of work.
The inspection of each and every workmanship carried around the house is done thoroughly and if something is not meeting the standards then that work is suggested to be done again.
Notice, contract requirements and practical completion
Generally, the builder needs to serve a notice when the project reaches the ‘practical completion’ stage. Practical completion means that the work is complete and fit for purpose, excepting minor flaws.
After the release of the notice there are time limits for you to conduct your house inspections and make sure that everything is in place. If you observe any defects you may report them to the builder to do the necessary rectifications within time limits.
Who does the pre-handover inspection?
Most of the time people do these building handover inspections themselves to save money but we strongly recommend you to hire an inspection professional to help you in the complete inspection process.
At North East Property Inspection a team of inspection professionals carry out the various tasks. Our professional and experienced inspectors are proficient in different disciplines of engineering such as civil, electrical, structural, etc. This team of professionals execute the inspection with the right tools and at the end of inspection prepare a detailed report on each and every task carried around the house.
What gets inspected?
During the pre-handover inspection, our inspection professionals inspect the following:
Exterior roof inspection which includes tiles, ridges, guttering, flashing, flues and eaves.
Interior inspection includes the condition of the walls and doors, hinges and window frames, toilets and bathtubs, paintwork and plastering and also the proper installation of accessories.
Internal roof inspection which includes, roof cavity for any problems with insulation, framing and sparking.
Lighting, fitting and fixtures.
Woodwork and decorative features. We evaluate the texture, positioning, and overall alignment of these with other elements inside your house.
Getting problems fixed
With our detailed inspection, we make sure that everything was covered and provide you with an inspection report which includes a list of any defects, lack of professional handiwork and the certifications you can reasonably expect the builder to provide. The report is written in a professional manner which should be easy to read for your builder.
In most of the cases, these issues are relatively minor and your builder will get them fixed with ease. In case of a significant problem, you can discuss an alternative solution with your builder.
If the problem still persists and your builder does not agree to fix it then you can consult the relevant consumer affairs organisation in your state or territory, or in court to settle the matter.
Contact us today to get your pre-handover inspection done.