Building inspections · Canberra & ACT
Practical Completion (PCI) Handover Inspection, Canberra
Your final check before the last payment on a new home.
A practical completion inspection (PCI) is your handover check before you make the final payment on a new build. A licensed builder assesses the completed work against what was agreed and documents the defects identified — clearly, with photographs — so your builder can address them.
Because we have managed and delivered construction projects from start to finish, we know what good looks like at handover and where corners get cut. The result is a defect list your builder can action and you can hold them to.
Who this inspection is for
- Buyers taking handover of a newly built home
- Anyone about to make a final progress payment
- Owners who want defects documented before they move in
- Clients building through a volume or custom builder
What the inspection covers
The exact scope is agreed before the inspection and depends on what is safely accessible on the day. It generally covers:
- Internal finishes — paint, plaster, tiling, cabinetry and fixtures
- Doors, windows, hardware and operation
- Floors, walls and ceilings for finish and alignment
- Wet areas, waterproofing indicators and drainage
- External finishes, cladding, decks and site works
- A documented defect list with annotated photographs
Report delivery
We agree the delivery time for your handover defect list when we book the inspection, so you can plan it around your final payment date.
How your inspection works
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01
Book around your handover date
Tell us your scheduled handover and we will fit the inspection in beforehand.
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02
A licensed builder walks the home
We assess finish quality and operation, and record the defects identified with photographs.
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03
You receive the defect list
A clear, photographed list your builder can act on before final payment.
Issues we commonly find in Canberra
- Paint, plaster and tiling finish defects
- Doors and windows that bind, leak or are poorly adjusted
- Incomplete or poor-quality wet-area waterproofing indicators
- Gaps, alignment and trade-finish issues
- Outstanding external and site-works items
Common questions
When should I book a PCI?
Once your builder advises practical completion and before you make the final payment or accept handover — so any defects are documented and can be rectified first.
Will you provide a defect list my builder can use?
Yes. The report is a clear, photographed defect list written so your builder can action each item.
Do you inspect during construction too?
Yes — see our construction-stage inspections, which check the build at slab, frame and lock-up before defects are covered up.
Are you independent of my builder?
Completely. We have no affiliation with your builder, so the report is genuinely on your side.
More questions are answered on the FAQ page.
Get a quote for your inspection.
Tell us about the property and the inspection you need. We’ll get back to you with the next steps.