ᐅ Final Inspection: What Special Considerations Should You Keep in Mind?
Created on: 23 Nov 2016 13:37
A
andimann
Hi everyone,
Our final inspection is scheduled for next Tuesday. We’ve already been spending a lot of time in the house and have put up several notes on the walls outlining what still needs to be done.
Tomorrow, I will do a preliminary inspection with our building expert, who will also be present next Tuesday.
So far, aside from my discussion with the general contractor about the missing external blinds (the plasterers are currently applying the fine plaster, so I’m hopeful this issue will be resolved), there are only two major points and a lot of minor issues, like missing tiles here and a stain on the wall there.
As I mentioned, the building expert will be with us and, of course, the standard checklists are ready!
But my question to the group: Have you noticed any problems during or after your final inspection that weren’t covered by any checklist? For example, a colleague of mine had issues with sagging shutter boxes—however that happens.
Thanks and best regards,
Andreas
Our final inspection is scheduled for next Tuesday. We’ve already been spending a lot of time in the house and have put up several notes on the walls outlining what still needs to be done.
Tomorrow, I will do a preliminary inspection with our building expert, who will also be present next Tuesday.
So far, aside from my discussion with the general contractor about the missing external blinds (the plasterers are currently applying the fine plaster, so I’m hopeful this issue will be resolved), there are only two major points and a lot of minor issues, like missing tiles here and a stain on the wall there.
As I mentioned, the building expert will be with us and, of course, the standard checklists are ready!
But my question to the group: Have you noticed any problems during or after your final inspection that weren’t covered by any checklist? For example, a colleague of mine had issues with sagging shutter boxes—however that happens.
Thanks and best regards,
Andreas
H
HilfeHilfe23 Nov 2016 14:05Yes, for example, missing ventilation in the utility room and storage room. In the storage room, mold eventually developed. This was fixed (wall drilled).
You need to consider which types of defects you want to point out. You can report everything from small spots on the Q3 plaster finish to a basement already affected by mold. You should decide what you really want to address. Of course, all genuine technical defects are absolutely unquestionable. However, if you start complaining about a single small spot on the wall, it can quickly turn into nitpicking (we’re talking about minor cosmetic issues that anyone can fix in 5 minutes, not hundreds of cosmetic defects caused by poor workmanship).
- In any case, you should test all movable objects (windows, doors, roller shutters, etc.). Check if the tiles are level or if there are height differences (1–2mm (0.04–0.08 inches) is the tolerance between tiles). You can easily notice height differences with tiles by running a vacuum cleaner over them, as the wide suction head will catch on uneven areas (another good reason to clean carefully ^^).
- Window panes can be problematic. If you clean them, the worst-case scenario is that they claim you caused the scratches yourself. If you don’t clean them, you can’t see any damage. It’s best to clarify this in advance. In our case, a cleaning company cleaned the windows before the final inspection.
- Check the staircase for visual defects! Especially if it has been installed for a few weeks, there may already be some dents or marks. The staircase is one of the elements in the house that stays the longest, as there is rarely a reason to replace it. It should be in perfect condition at handover.
- Pro tip ^^: run all the water lines fully throughout the house. Of course, check the drains too—actually, they are very important. Run 100 liters (26 gallons) or more through the shower, bathtub, etc. If there is any leakage and it runs through an outlet in the kitchen, you have a significant defect before handover. Also, check if the water heats up properly.
And most importantly: stay calm and composed during the handover. If you have an expert with you, let them handle it if needed. The more "ridiculous" the defects get (small cosmetic issues), the better the company was and the more likely you have a beautiful house. If there are real defects (leakages are nonsense), then scratches won’t matter at all at first.
- In any case, you should test all movable objects (windows, doors, roller shutters, etc.). Check if the tiles are level or if there are height differences (1–2mm (0.04–0.08 inches) is the tolerance between tiles). You can easily notice height differences with tiles by running a vacuum cleaner over them, as the wide suction head will catch on uneven areas (another good reason to clean carefully ^^).
- Window panes can be problematic. If you clean them, the worst-case scenario is that they claim you caused the scratches yourself. If you don’t clean them, you can’t see any damage. It’s best to clarify this in advance. In our case, a cleaning company cleaned the windows before the final inspection.
- Check the staircase for visual defects! Especially if it has been installed for a few weeks, there may already be some dents or marks. The staircase is one of the elements in the house that stays the longest, as there is rarely a reason to replace it. It should be in perfect condition at handover.
- Pro tip ^^: run all the water lines fully throughout the house. Of course, check the drains too—actually, they are very important. Run 100 liters (26 gallons) or more through the shower, bathtub, etc. If there is any leakage and it runs through an outlet in the kitchen, you have a significant defect before handover. Also, check if the water heats up properly.
And most importantly: stay calm and composed during the handover. If you have an expert with you, let them handle it if needed. The more "ridiculous" the defects get (small cosmetic issues), the better the company was and the more likely you have a beautiful house. If there are real defects (leakages are nonsense), then scratches won’t matter at all at first.
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