After you have purchased your new FLAT and it is in the completion phase, a few companies give you the option of checking / inspecting your property for anything that they would have missed. This provides you an opportunity for confirming that things are in order (as promised in the brochure). This also provides an opportunity to the builder to absolve himself/herself of any defects found later.
Below is a list of things that could help you look for problems in your flat before you move in.
Please feel free to add anything that could have been missed in the comments section.
· Check for hinge fitting, ensure there are screws in each of the screw ports.
· Check door catcher/ stopper for proper functioning
· Check door knobs & locks for smooth closure & functioning. Also check for the gap between the door lock and the frame latch
. Check on the back of the doors to ensure that the hinges screws are not chipping the wood
. Check on the door frame for cracks / broken pieces which could be filled in.
. Check if the groove where the door fits in is properly painted and is not showing chip marks
. In case of aldrops, check if the screws are properly fitted and the wood work around the al drops is properly finished.
. Check that the painting on the doors is even and does not have patches. Joints if any should be properly finished.
· Check for dents in the frame (a result of bad handling).
· Check rubber beading for gaps, hardening, cracks
· Check if the grills are properly painted
. Look for gaps between the grills and wall
· Ensure that the door/ window frame has drain holes
· Check that the shutters lock properly
· Ensure that the glass is fixed properly and the beading is intact and not coming off.
. Check for bends in the aluminum frame of french windows
. Check for finishing of the corners of the frame - putty properly filled and painting done with no patches
· Check for excessive dampness in the wall (if any)
· Check false ceiling in bathrooms (if there), ensure that it is properly fixed with no cracks.
· Check tiling even-ness & grouting. There should be no cement marks on the tiles
. Check if the tiles are the ones that are promised - Kitchens and bathrooms should have glazed tiles. Matt finish tiles are sometimes not very easy to maintain in the kitchen.
. Check J-hooks are properly placed (fully set in) and finishing around j-hook is smooth. Ensure no patch or dampness around j-hook
. Check if the ceiling is proper by putting a rope through the j-hook and giving it a slight tug / pull.
. If there are wall tiles, ensure that there is no hollow sound when the tiles are tapped. Check the same for Skirting tiles too. Hollowness could cause the tile to just come off later with no obvious reason.
Most bathrooms are provided with a false ceiling. Check for space between the wall and the false ceiling. Ensure that the beading holding the false ceiling is free from bends, dents or handling damage. Ensure that the sheets used for the false ceiling are not damaged.
. Check for unevenness in tile placement - water could accumulate here and cause leakage to lower floors later
· For Bathrooms, Utility and Balcony check the floor tilt to ensure correct water flow into the drain and that there is zero water accumulation anywhere.
· Ensure that there is no hollowness in the floor. Tap each tile or bounce a ball on each tile to check for the hollow sound. A hollow sound indicates that the tile is not set properly & needs to be replaced.
· Check for proper grouting of the tiles/ stone slabs especially in bathrooms
. Check for the tiles on the floor sides are properly set - should not be hollow
· Check that the live, neutral and earth are properly placed (Live on the right, Neutral on the left and earth/ground on the top - with the switch in the ON position, the tester light should glow ONLY when placed in the LIVE hole).
· Check each point has cover plates & there are no cracks.
· Check availability of light, telephone and cable TV points as per plan.
· Check that all the plates are horizontal and not tilted
· Plates should be clean and free of paint marks.
· Check every circuit breaker.Switch off : Should switch off with a slight touch, Switch on: should not switch off while switching on.
· Check each switch for correct contact and springiness. Click should be clearly audible and not muted when switched on and off.
· Insist on getting the wiring diagram pasted on the inside of DB door Also check that the wiring of the home matches with the circuit diagram on the box.
· Check that the smoke sensors work. An agarbatti will help to awaken the sensor :)
. Check the dipole switches for smoothness. These have a lower life and are relatively costly to change later.
· Ensure Kitchen Sink is grouted properly and that there is no leakage.
· Check the chrome fittings - ensure that there is no corrosion.
· Check whether the towel holders, faucets, toilet paper holders are provided as per plan.
· Check pipes for any leakages
. Check for proper alignment of the taps
. Ensure that taps with movable faucets (kitchen sink) are proper and do not swing too loosely.
· Ensure there is no blockage in any of the drains - I have personally struggled with flooding of the apartment due to this
· Ensure that the flush works properly
Below is a list of things that could help you look for problems in your flat before you move in.
Please feel free to add anything that could have been missed in the comments section.
Things you could take along with you during the inspection:
- A Torch light (though your cell phone could have one, it is preferable to have a good torch too)
Torch - A electrical tester
(for testing the electrical connections) and / or a light bulb with holder and lead wires
Electrical Tester - A nail and a hammer (a small one, to check if the plastering is good enough and if your builder allows this)
- A rope, in case you have something like j-hooks or some weight-bearing hangers
The Checklist
DOORS
· Check for gaps between door frame and wall. Push the frame against the wall to see if it is anchored firmly· Check for hinge fitting, ensure there are screws in each of the screw ports.
· Check door catcher/ stopper for proper functioning
· Check door knobs & locks for smooth closure & functioning. Also check for the gap between the door lock and the frame latch
. Check on the back of the doors to ensure that the hinges screws are not chipping the wood
. Check on the door frame for cracks / broken pieces which could be filled in.
. Check if the groove where the door fits in is properly painted and is not showing chip marks
. In case of aldrops, check if the screws are properly fitted and the wood work around the al drops is properly finished.
. Check that the painting on the doors is even and does not have patches. Joints if any should be properly finished.
ALUMINUM/ UPVC DOORS & WINDOWS
· Check Lack of alignment if any. Ensure that the doors open and close easily.· Check for dents in the frame (a result of bad handling).
· Check rubber beading for gaps, hardening, cracks
· Check if the grills are properly painted
. Look for gaps between the grills and wall
· Ensure that the door/ window frame has drain holes
· Check that the shutters lock properly
· Ensure that the glass is fixed properly and the beading is intact and not coming off.
. Check for bends in the aluminum frame of french windows
. Check for finishing of the corners of the frame - putty properly filled and painting done with no patches
WALLS & CEILING
· Check plastering quality, there should be no uneven-ness. Ensure that there are no cracks· Check for excessive dampness in the wall (if any)
· Check false ceiling in bathrooms (if there), ensure that it is properly fixed with no cracks.
· Check tiling even-ness & grouting. There should be no cement marks on the tiles
. Check if the tiles are the ones that are promised - Kitchens and bathrooms should have glazed tiles. Matt finish tiles are sometimes not very easy to maintain in the kitchen.
. Check J-hooks are properly placed (fully set in) and finishing around j-hook is smooth. Ensure no patch or dampness around j-hook
. Check if the ceiling is proper by putting a rope through the j-hook and giving it a slight tug / pull.
. If there are wall tiles, ensure that there is no hollow sound when the tiles are tapped. Check the same for Skirting tiles too. Hollowness could cause the tile to just come off later with no obvious reason.
Most bathrooms are provided with a false ceiling. Check for space between the wall and the false ceiling. Ensure that the beading holding the false ceiling is free from bends, dents or handling damage. Ensure that the sheets used for the false ceiling are not damaged.
FLOORING
· Check for any cracks or scratches. Check for unevenness in tile placement - water could accumulate here and cause leakage to lower floors later
· For Bathrooms, Utility and Balcony check the floor tilt to ensure correct water flow into the drain and that there is zero water accumulation anywhere.
· Ensure that there is no hollowness in the floor. Tap each tile or bounce a ball on each tile to check for the hollow sound. A hollow sound indicates that the tile is not set properly & needs to be replaced.
· Check for proper grouting of the tiles/ stone slabs especially in bathrooms
. Check for the tiles on the floor sides are properly set - should not be hollow
ELECTRICALS
· Check for working of light points/switches (carry a zero watt bulb & tester if possible). Especially check the AC points, builders sometimes leave the AC points dummy (with no wiring)· Check that the live, neutral and earth are properly placed (Live on the right, Neutral on the left and earth/ground on the top - with the switch in the ON position, the tester light should glow ONLY when placed in the LIVE hole).
· Check each point has cover plates & there are no cracks.
· Check availability of light, telephone and cable TV points as per plan.
· Check that all the plates are horizontal and not tilted
· Plates should be clean and free of paint marks.
· Check every circuit breaker.Switch off : Should switch off with a slight touch, Switch on: should not switch off while switching on.
· Check each switch for correct contact and springiness. Click should be clearly audible and not muted when switched on and off.
· Insist on getting the wiring diagram pasted on the inside of DB door Also check that the wiring of the home matches with the circuit diagram on the box.
· Check that the smoke sensors work. An agarbatti will help to awaken the sensor :)
. Check the dipole switches for smoothness. These have a lower life and are relatively costly to change later.
SANITARYWARE/ PLUMBING
· Check the sanitaryware (Wash basins, Sink, WC) for any scratches or cracks· Ensure Kitchen Sink is grouted properly and that there is no leakage.
· Check the chrome fittings - ensure that there is no corrosion.
· Check whether the towel holders, faucets, toilet paper holders are provided as per plan.
· Check pipes for any leakages
. Check for proper alignment of the taps
. Ensure that taps with movable faucets (kitchen sink) are proper and do not swing too loosely.
· Ensure there is no blockage in any of the drains - I have personally struggled with flooding of the apartment due to this
· Ensure that the flush works properly
Disclaimer
- The author is not an authority on either inspections or civil or electrical works. The observations above are from other sources, added with personal experience and observations.
- Do all tests above at your own risk. Take precautions where necessary. The author does not endorse DIY. The checklist is for informational purposes only.
- When working with electrical equipment, take help from an electrician if you are not very sure of doing it yourself.
- Ceilings could be weak and might just fall off when you are testing with a rope. Take precautions – preferably go into the flat with a helmet
