You are nearing the finish line of a long build, juggling finance sign-off, removalists, and a builder keen to hand over the keys. In Perth, that last stretch can feel like a blur, which is exactly when small oversights become big headaches. This guide sets the scene, explaining what a Handover Inspection, also known as a Practical Completion Inspection is, when to book it, and how it helps you step from almost finished to ready for keys.
What a Handover Inspection actually is
A Handover Inspection, also known as a practical completion inspection, is a formal quality check carried out at practical completion. The main purpose is to identify defects, incomplete work, or deviations from the building plans and contract specifications. This can range from minor cosmetic issues to significant structural problems. A comparison is made between what is delivered by your builder against your approved drawings and specifications, and objective common benchmarks are used like the WA Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2019 and the current National Construction Code 2022.
Why Perth owners benefit from a Handover Inspection
Perth’s coastal exposure, sandy soils, and sea breezes can be unforgiving on loose detailing, and the jump from practical completion to key handover can be quick. A Handover Inspection gives you a clear, written check list before final payment, putting everyone on the same page on what is complete and what still needs attention. The Master Builders WA practical completion guidance contains more information about the practical completion and hand over inspection process.
Handover Inspection and how it fits with WA rules
When discussions stall following the handover inspection, Western Australia has a formal pathway for building complaints through the Building and Energy Department. They have a complaint resolution process in place to assess complaints and help decide possible outcomes like building remedy orders. Should you need to call upon these dispute resolution processes your Handover Inspection report becomes a crucial aspect of the discussions.
New Home Inspection Vs Handover Inspection
New Home Inspections, also known as construction inspections are stage checks during construction usually when specific milestones are reached, such as pre-slab, frame, and pre-lining. New Home Inspections allow issues to be found when they are easiest to fix, which reduces the load at the end. If your budget allows, combine New Home Inspections throughout the build with a final Handover Inspection at practical completion. If you only do one, do the Handover Inspection, because it happens right before keys and your final payment. For a Perth-specific overview of the timing and expectations at practical completion, see Master Builders WA’s note on practical completion. Find out more about our New Home Inspections and practical completion inspections services here.
When to book your Handover Inspection
It is important to book your Handover inspection as soon as you receive the builder’s practical completion notice. Perth contracts often move quickly from that point, so you want enough time to inspect, issue the report, and agree on rectification before keys. If the proposed handover date does not allow that, ask for a short extension so items identified during the Handover Inspection, also known as a practical completion inspection can be completed. If agreement on rectification of issues becomes difficult, refer to the state process outlined by Building and Energy, starting at Building dispute resolution.
What your Handover Inspection report should include
A good Handover inspection report is clear and photographic. Each item states the location, the issue, and the reference used to assess it, for example a clause in the WA Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2019 or a relevant provision of the NCC 2022. It also includes a plain recommendation for rectification. This report structure removes guesswork, helps your site supervisor allocate the right trades, and keeps the Handover Inspection outcome practical rather than adversarial.
Common issues we see at Handover Inspection in Perth
- Roof plumbing details that allow water to track or pond where it should not.
- Wet area seals and terminations that are missing or poorly executed.
- Tiling with lippage or alignment outside accepted tolerances.
- Paint touch-ups, overspray, or patchiness that is visible in daylight.
- Doors or windows that bind, rattle, or lack seals, particularly obvious on a sea-breeze afternoon.
- Site drainage and paving falls that direct water back to the slab rather than away.
These are the sorts of practical issues a Handover Inspection brings to light while trades are potentially still mobilised, which is far easier than arranging fixes once you have moved in.
Perth-specific tips to get the most from your Handover Inspection
Walk the home in natural light, Perth’s sunshine will reveal surface defects quickly. Run showers long enough to test falls and ponding. Open and latch every window and door, the Fremantle Doctor will expose rattles or binds. If a fix requires drying or lead time, document a reasonable timeframe in writing and tie it back to contractual obligations around practical completion.
New Home Inspections or just a Handover Inspection, how to decide
If you are early in your build, scheduling New Home Inspections (also known as construction inspections) at key stages plus a final Handover Inspection is the best protection. New Home Inspections catch structural or waterproofing issues before they are covered and before they snowball into quality problems at the end. If you are already at the pointy end, a thorough Handover Inspection (Practical Completion Inspection) is the minimum sensible step before the last payment and key handover.
Ready to organise a practical completion inspection in Perth
If you want an experienced set of eyes at the end of your build, book a practical completion inspections in Perth with us. A careful Handover Inspection gives you clarity at the exact moment you need it, which means fewer surprises, better quality, and a home that will withstand the test of time.