Practical Completion Inspection Brisbane | 3 Things to Check

Practical Completion Inspection Brisbane: 3 important things to check before handover, including benchtops, cabinetry, appliances and plumbing leaks today.

4/25/20266 min read

3 Things to Check at Your Practical Completion Inspection

You’re almost there. Your new home is nearing handover, the major construction work is finished, and you’re finally getting close to receiving the keys.

But practical completion isn’t the time to rush through the house because everything looks new and shiny.

A Practical Completion Inspection in Brisbane gives you the opportunity to identify and document defects, damage and incomplete items before handover.

There are plenty of things that should be checked during a comprehensive PCI, but here are three simple checks every homeowner should know.

Watch: 3 Things to Check at Practical Completion

Watch our quick 30-second video above, then keep reading for a more detailed breakdown of each check.

1. Check Your Benchtops for Chips, Scratches and Marks

Your benchtops have been exposed to multiple trades throughout the final stages of construction, so don't assume they're perfect just because they're brand new.

Take a close look at the benchtops throughout your kitchen, butler's pantry, bathrooms, ensuite and laundry.

Check the surfaces, edges and corners for:

Chips
Scratches
Marks
Stains
Damage to edges and corners
Other visible imperfections

Pay particular attention around sinks, cooktops, joins and exposed edges.

Even something that appears to be a simple mark is worth identifying and documenting before handover.

The photo above is a good example. What you're looking at may simply be a black mark on the benchtop rather than permanent damage.

But at practical completion, you don't necessarily know that until it's properly cleaned or removed.

If the mark doesn't come off, there could be damage underneath. And if you first discover it after handover — or damage the surface yourself trying to remove it — it may become much harder to establish that the issue was present before you moved in.

That's why we'd rather photograph and document it at the inspection and have the builder address it before handover.

2. Check Your Cabinetry & Appliances

Your cabinetry and appliances are another area worth checking closely before handover.

Don't just stand back and look at the finished kitchen. Get up close, open the doors and drawers, and inspect the surfaces, edges and finishes throughout the home.

Check for:

Chips, scratches and marks to cabinetry
Damaged doors, drawers or panels
Doors and drawers that aren't aligned or operating correctly
Scratches or damage to appliance surfaces and edges
Marks or damage to cooktops, ovens and rangehoods
Damage to dishwashers, handles and other installed appliances

Check cabinetry and appliances throughout your new home for cosmetic damage, alignment and operation before handover.

Why Check This Before Handover?

Cosmetic damage is much easier to deal with when it's identified and documented before you move in.

A small scratch on a cabinet door or mark on a glass cooktop might not seem like much, but if you discover it after handover, it can be difficult to prove when the damage occurred.

Your builder may say it happened after you took possession.

That's why any chips, scratches, marks or other visible damage should be photographed and documented at practical completion, before you've started moving furniture, appliances and belongings into the home.

Why does checking before handover matter?

Once you've moved in, determining when cosmetic damage occurred can become difficult.

If you discover a scratch, chip or mark after handover, your builder may say the damage occurred after you took possession of the home.

Finding it beforehand means it can be photographed and documented while the property is still at practical completion.

3. Run Every Tap and Check for Leaks

This is one of the easiest checks you can do at practical completion, but don’t just turn the tap on, see water coming out and move on.

Run the taps throughout the home and, while the water is flowing, open the cabinetry underneath and check the plumbing.

Look around the pipework, wastes and connections for:

Dripping water
Moisture
Loose connections
Water collecting inside the cabinet

Make sure you check your kitchen sink, bathroom and ensuite vanities, laundry tub and other applicable plumbing fixtures.

Run each tap and check underneath the fixture while the water is flowing. A small plumbing leak can be easy to miss if you don't actually look inside the cabinet.

Got a Two-Storey Home? Check Downstairs Too

If you have bathrooms or other wet areas upstairs, take the check one step further.

After running the upstairs fixtures, walk downstairs and inspect the ceilings underneath those areas.

Look for any moisture, staining, dripping water or other signs that water may be coming through.

A small leak is much better discovered now than after you've moved in.

Because the last thing you want in your brand-new home is an unexpected water feature in the lounge room. 💦

Have a Two-Storey Home? Check Downstairs

If you've got bathrooms or other wet areas on the second floor, there's another important step.

After running the upstairs fixtures, walk downstairs and check the ceilings underneath those wet areas.

Look for moisture, staining, dripping water or any other indication that water may be getting through.

Because the last thing you want after moving into your brand-new home is an unexpected water feature in your lounge room.

Is That All You Need to Check at Practical Completion?

Definitely not.

These are just three simple checks homeowners can make at practical completion.

A comprehensive Practical Completion Inspection looks much further than benchtops, cabinetry and taps.

Depending on the property and accessible areas, the inspection may include the home's internal and external finishes, walls and ceilings, doors and windows, cabinetry, wet areas, tiling, fixtures and fittings, external components and other completed building work.

The purpose is to identify and document visible defects, damage and incomplete items before handover.

Is That All You Need to Check at Practical Completion?

Definitely not.

These are just three simple checks homeowners can make at practical completion.

A comprehensive Practical Completion Inspection looks much further than benchtops, cabinetry, appliances and taps.

Depending on the property and accessible areas, an inspection can include the home's internal and external finishes, walls and ceilings, doors and windows, cabinetry, wet areas, tiling, fixtures and fittings, external components and other completed building work.

But finding an issue is only part of the process.

Getting it properly documented before handover is just as important.

Getting Defects Documented Before Handover

Finding a defect is one thing. Having a clear record of it is another.

During an independent Practical Completion Inspection, items identified can be photographed, described and documented in your inspection report.

That gives you a record of what was observed at the property at the time of the inspection.

Example of a BSPI Practical Completion Inspection report provided following an inspection.

This is particularly important for cosmetic items such as chips, scratches and marks.

If they're identified before handover, there's a record showing they were present before you've moved furniture, appliances and belongings into the property.

Your inspection report can then be provided to your builder so the identified items can be reviewed and, where appropriate, rectified.

Why Get an Independent Practical Completion Inspection?

By practical completion, you've probably visited your new home plenty of times.

But there's a big difference between watching your home being built and inspecting the finished product you're about to accept.

It's also easy to miss things when you're excited about finally getting the keys. You're looking at your new kitchen, thinking about where the furniture will go and getting ready to move in.

An independent building inspector is there specifically to look for defects, damage, incomplete work and workmanship issues before handover.

It gives you another set of experienced eyes over the home at one of the most important stages of your build.

Practical Completion Inspection Brisbane

If you're approaching handover on a new build, BSPI Inspections provides independent Practical Completion Inspections throughout Brisbane and surrounding areas.

Our inspections are focused on new residential construction, helping homeowners identify and document defects and incomplete items before taking possession of their new home.

Building a New Home in Brisbane?

Not at Practical Completion yet? You don't need to wait until handover to have your new home independently inspected.

Independent inspections can be carried out at key stages throughout construction, including pre-slab, frame, enclosed/lock-up, pre-plaster, waterproofing, fixing, Practical Completion and end-of-warranty.

Having the relevant stages inspected as your build progresses gives you the opportunity to identify and document issues while that stage of construction is still being completed, rather than waiting until the home is finished.

Whether you're just getting started or already approaching handover, BSPI Inspections provides independent new home stage inspections across Brisbane and surrounding areas.

View our inspection services or request a free quote to find the right inspection for your build.