GUIDE / DO IT YOURSELF
A room-by-room
defect checklist.
Whether you walk the unit yourself or alongside a professional, a systematic checklist stops you missing things. Use this one at vacant possession, before a subsale purchase, or when accepting renovation work.
01 / BEFORE YOU START
Bring the
right kit.
- Torch and your phone camera; a small coin or tile tapper for hollow tiles.
- Masking tape and a marker to label defects on site; a socket tester or phone charger for electrical points.
- A bucket or hose access if you plan to check floor drainage; the floor plan and the developer's defect form.
- Time. Allow a few hours for an apartment and longer for a landed home. Make sure water and electricity are connected.
02 / THE CHECKLIST
Room by room,
item by item.
| Area | What to check |
|---|---|
| Every room | Tap tiles for hollow sound; look along walls and ceilings under light for waviness, cracks and paint flaws; check skirting and cornice joints. |
| Doors | Open and close each door; check latching, gaps, rubbing, scratches, hinges, locks and keys. |
| Windows | Operate every panel; check locks, rubber seals, silicone, glass scratches, and signs of water under the sill. |
| Bathrooms | Run all taps and the shower; flush; check floor fall to drain and ponding; look for leaks under the basin and around the WC base; check sealant. |
| Kitchen | Sink drainage and leaks; cabinet alignment and soft-close; countertop chips; hood and hob points where supplied. |
| Balcony / yard | Floor fall and drainage; railing stability; tile hollowness; external wall stains. |
| Electrical | Test every socket and switch; check the distribution board labelling and that each breaker controls what it says; look for loose faceplates. |
| Ceilings | Water stains, especially below bathrooms and roofs; sagging boards; gaps at access panels. |
| Landed extras | Roof and gutters where visible; drains; car porch; boundary walls; gate operation; external paint. |
03 / RECORDING FINDINGS
Location, photo,
description.
For every defect, record three things: the exact location (room plus a reference point), a photograph showing context and a close-up, and a one-line description of what is visible. Number the items so they match the developer's form.
Keep observations separate from assumed causes: a ceiling stain is a fact; the leak behind it needs investigation. Anything structural, electrical beyond visible checks, or involving concealed waterproofing should be flagged for specialist review.
A professional inspection adds trained eyes, tools such as moisture meters, and a report format your developer recognises. See how our reports document a finding
Prefer a second pair of eyes?
We inspect accessible areas systematically and document every finding with photographs and locations.
Book an inspection