Practical completion is one of the most important moments in building a new home. Your builder tells you the house is finished and asks for the final payment. Once you pay and take the keys, getting defects fixed becomes much harder. Your strongest position is before handover.
This guide explains what a practical completion inspection (PCI) is, when to book it, and exactly what to check. You can also download our free printable PCI handover checklist (PDF) to take with you on the day.
What is a PCI inspection?
A PCI, or practical completion inspection, is a detailed check of your new home when the builder says it’s complete. It happens before handover and before you pay the final progress claim. The aim is to find incomplete work, defects and damage, and to give your builder a clear, written list to fix.
Many builders offer a walk-through with you. That’s useful, but it’s run by the builder. An independent inspection is done for you, by someone who knows what to look for and which Australian Standards apply.
When should you book it?
- As soon as your builder notifies you that the home has reached practical completion
- Before you pay the final claim
- Before you sign any handover or completion documents
- With enough time for the builder to fix defects and for a re-inspection if needed
What to bring
- Your building contract, plans and list of selections and variations
- Our printable checklist, a pen and a roll of painter’s tape to mark defects
- Your phone for photos, a torch, and a small level if you have one
The PCI handover checklist
Work through the home room by room. Check every item in good natural light and photograph anything you’re not happy with.
Exterior and site
- Brickwork has no cracks, chips or mortar smears, and weep holes are clear
- Render and cladding are finished evenly with no cracks or gaps
- Windows, external doors and frames are undamaged and sealed
- Driveway, paths and porch have no cracks, ponding or rough finishes
- Ground slopes away from the house and downpipes are connected to stormwater
Roof, gutters and garage
- Roof tiles or sheets are straight and undamaged, with flashings finished
- Gutters are clean, secure and fall towards the downpipes
- The garage door opens, closes and locks smoothly and the remotes work
Walls, ceilings and paint
- Plaster is flat with no visible joints, nail pops or cracks
- Cornices are continuous with no gaps at corners
- Paint has even coverage with no runs, patches or overspray
- Skirtings and architraves fit tightly, with gaps filled and painted
Doors, windows and floors
- Doors open, close and latch without binding, with even gaps all round
- Locks, handles, keys and door stops are all supplied and working
- Tiles are level with no chips, cracks or hollow-sounding (drummy) tiles
- Timber, laminate, vinyl and carpet are free of scratches, gaps and lifting
Kitchen, bathrooms and laundry
- Benchtops, cabinets and drawers are undamaged, aligned and closing properly
- Appliances are installed and working
- Shower floors fall to the waste and no water is left after running the shower
- Silicone is complete around baths, showers, basins and benches
- Taps, toilets and wastes work with no leaks, and exhaust fans run
Electrical, services and roof space
- All lights, power points and switches work, and smoke alarms are installed
- Heating, cooling and hot water are installed and working
- Roof space insulation is laid evenly with no gaps, and building debris has been removed
Paperwork
- Certificate of Occupancy or final inspection certificate
- Warranty documents, appliance manuals and waterproofing certificates
- All keys, remotes and access codes
Common defects found at handover
These are some of the items we find most often at PCI inspections across Melbourne:
- Paint runs, patchy finishes and plaster cracks
- Chipped, hollow or uneven tiles and missing silicone
- Doors that bind, don’t latch or have damaged frames
- Leaking taps and showers, and poorly sealed wet areas
- Scratched benchtops, windows and fittings
- Gaps in insulation or debris left in the roof space
What happens after the inspection?
- Give your builder the written defect list and ask them to confirm a date for the repairs.
- Check the work has been done, or book a re-inspection.
- Only make the final payment once defects are fixed or agreed in writing.
- Keep your report. It documents the condition of the home at handover if issues come up later during the builder’s maintenance period or under the statutory warranties.
Should you do it yourself or use an inspector?
A checklist helps you spot obvious issues, but some of the most expensive defects aren’t easy to see. A professional inspector flood tests showers, checks the roof space, uses moisture meters and thermal imaging, and references each defect to the relevant standard, which makes it much harder for a builder to dismiss.
Want us to check it for you? Our PCI handover inspections start from $500 for a single storey home, with a detailed photo report usually delivered within 4 hours. Call 0409 326 898 or request a quote.