00VILLA GUIDE
Checks to make at new villa handover
Handover is the point at which defects become yours to chase. A newly built villa usually comes with a defects period from the developer, but only for faults you report. Testing the systems properly at handover — not just looking at the finishes — means problems are logged while the developer is still responsible for them.
01PART
Test systems, not just surfaces
Snagging lists tend to fill with scratches and paint marks because they are visible. The expensive defects are in systems that do not show their faults on day one: an AC unit that cannot hold temperature, a shower that drains slowly, a breaker that trips under load, or a terrace that leaks only when it rains.
- Run every AC unit and measure the cooling, room by room.
- Run every tap, shower and drain at once to test pressure and drainage.
- Switch on high-load appliances together to test the board.
- Flood-test showers and terraces where the developer allows it.
02PART
Water tank and pump
Check that the tank has been cleaned after construction, that the access lid is sealed, and that the booster pump starts and stops properly. Construction debris in a new tank is a common cause of grit in taps in the first months.
03PART
Doors, joinery and finishes
Check that every door closes and latches, that wardrobes and cabinets align, and that sealant around wet areas is complete. Note any cracks at junctions between walls and columns; some settling is normal, but record them so you can see whether they grow.
04PART
Keep a record
Photograph and date every defect, keep copies of what you submit, and note the developer's reference for each. When the defects period ends, that record is what protects you.
05QUESTIONS
- Do you deal with the developer for me?
- We test and document what we find. Reporting defects under the developer's process stays with you as the owner.
- What does a handover check cover?
- We agree the scope first, usually AC, plumbing, electrics, waterproofing and joinery. The quote follows the scope.