The handover is the only stage when a buyer truly has the chance to check, with their own hands, how well the finished apartment matches the parameters set in the project. Before the handover, be sure to check the walls, the utilities, and the acceptance certificate. These three points are most often the source of defects and also the easiest to inspect.
In practice, most buyers treat the monitoring of these three elements superficially. They spend a few minutes in the apartment, assess its condition visually, and sign the acceptance certificate. Yet a space that looks tidy at first glance does not always mean that everything works properly from a technical standpoint. Problems often reveal themselves only after some time.
Walls, Floor, and Ceiling: What to Check First
During the handover, start the inspection with the surfaces, because their condition says a lot. It is better to examine the walls, floor, and ceiling in natural light. In daylight, thin cracks, uneven finishing, a different shade of paint, or traces of dampness show up far more easily and could stay unnoticed under artificial light. Run your hand over the walls, look closely at corners and joints, and where needed use a long straightedge to verify how even the surface is. Pay special attention to the bathroom and kitchen walls, because moisture-related problems appear most often in these zones.
Next, check the floor. If the apartment is handed over with a finished renovation, look at whether the tiles or laminate are damaged and whether they are even. If the floor is screeded, it is best to verify its levelness at several points, especially near walls, door openings, and where rooms meet. On the ceiling, note any stain, change of color, or trace of dampness, since such signs often point to a waterproofing problem.
At first glance, these details may seem minor, yet they are exactly what give you a general sense of how well the construction and finishing work was done. Even surfaces, properly finished corners, and the absence of visible defects show that the work followed technical standards. So the extra time you devote to this stage before the handover will spare you far more difficult and irreparable problems in the future.
Windows and Doors: Key Details of Comfort and Safety
When checking windows, do not limit yourself to a visual inspection. First, look carefully at the profile and the glass unit: check for scratches, cracks, or damage caused by installation. Then open and close each window several times. The mechanism should work freely, without any jamming or the need for extra force. It also matters how tightly the window closes. To check this, you can place a sheet of paper between the frame and the sash; if it comes out easily after closing, this may point to a sealing problem.
Approach the doors on the same principle. Note whether the door is properly aligned, whether it drags against the floor or frame, and how well the lock works. Pay special attention to the entrance door, and if the project also includes additional security systems, test their operation on the spot.
Engineering Systems: Electricity, Water, Heating, and Ventilation
While the walls, windows, and doors can be assessed visually, the engineering systems must be tested in practice. Electrical wiring, water supply, heating, and ventilation are the foundation that ensures the stable and safe operation of your living space. A detailed check of these systems takes some time, yet fixing the faults found at this stage saves you from later repair difficulties and unplanned financial costs.
Start the check of the electrical system by testing the switches in every room. Keep in mind that any fault in the wiring will be hard to fix later, so the technical soundness of each point should be confirmed from the very start.
After that, move your attention to the water supply, heating, and ventilation systems. Open every tap, check the water pressure, and look closely at the pipe joints. If possible, test the heating system and make sure that each radiator warms up evenly.
Verifying the Area: Why You Should Not Rely on the Document Alone
The square footage stated in the contract and the actual area of the apartment do not always match, so remeasuring is a mandatory stage of the handover process. Verify the length and width of each room, then compare the figures you get with the project plan. Small deviations, within a few centimeters, are sometimes considered a technically acceptable norm, yet a substantial difference should be clarified in line with the terms of the contract with the developer.
The balcony or terrace is a separate important part. Their area is often combined into the total figure with a different coefficient, which increases the chance of error. Also check the ceiling height at several points; an uneven figure may indicate a technical inaccuracy in the work. If additional spaces are provided along with the apartment, measuring them is essential too.
Remember that the accuracy of the area is directly tied to the financial side. So in this case, the handover can even be called a stage of protecting your own investment. In the event of any significant difference, it is advisable to remeasure with the participation of the developer's representative, so that the data is finally confirmed and later misunderstandings are avoided.
Apartment Handover: The Acceptance Certificate and Documenting Defects
The acceptance certificate is a legal document that fully reflects the condition of the apartment at the moment the keys are handed over. Anything not recorded in this certificate will significantly complicate the process of protecting your rights later. Before signing the document, it is essential to enter each defect as a separate point, with a precise description and photographs.
"Chronometri" approaches every stage of the handover with full responsibility. We give the buyer all the time needed for a detailed inspection of every detail, because it is exactly this transparency that builds trust in the process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What should I check before the apartment handover?
Before the handover, it is essential to inspect several key elements in detail: the condition of the walls, floor, and ceiling; the proper working of the windows and doors; the functioning of the engineering systems, namely electricity, water supply, and heating; as well as the ventilation system and the correspondence of the actual area to the data stated in the contract. Each detail should be assessed on the spot, through practical testing and visual inspection, and any defect found must be recorded in writing in the acceptance certificate.
Is the presence of a specialist necessary during the handover?
The presence of a specialist is not mandatory, yet the participation of a person with technical experience, an engineer or an independent inspector significantly raises the likelihood of spotting defects in time. This is especially true for engineering utilities, structural details, and elements that are hard to notice visually.
What should I do if I find a defect during the handover?
The defect should be recorded immediately in the acceptance certificate, with a precise description, an indication of the exact location, and, where possible, photographs. After that, the deadline and terms for its correction should be agreed with the developer. If the defect is technically significant and hinders the full use of the apartment, it is advisable to postpone the final signing of the certificate until the problem is fully resolved.
What should we consider in the handover process of new development apartments and newly built apartments?
In the handover process of new development apartments and newly built apartments, particular attention is required for the engineering systems, the accuracy of the area, and the finishing work. It is important to compare each detail with the data set in the project. Newly built apartments often look visually finished, yet without a technical check, some defects may remain that will be hard to eliminate later.
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