Handover Inspection Brisbane
You have just been told your new home is finished. Practical completion is here, keys are close, and the builder wants a sign-off. Before you accept the property, a handover inspection gives you an independent, professional look at the build so you know exactly what you are accepting.
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Practical Completion Inspections in Brisbane
You have just been told your new home is finished. Practical completion is here, keys are close, and the builder wants a sign-off. Before you accept the property, a handover inspection gives you an independent, professional look at the build so you know exactly what you are accepting.
ZOOM Building & Pest Inspections carries out handover inspections (also called practical completion inspections) across Brisbane and Brisbane North, including Redcliffe, North Lakes, Caboolture, Griffin and Warner. Owner-operator Ben Nejad holds QBCC Licence 15279880, and every inspection is carried out to AS 4349.1, the Australian Standard for pre-purchase and new build inspections.
A handover inspection, also called a Practical Completion Inspection (PCI ) and this is the final stage in the new home construction process.
If you have carried out stage inspections throughout your build with us, this is Stage 5, the last independent check before keys are handed over and the property becomes your responsibility.
If you are purchasing a newly completed home without prior stage inspections, a standalone handover inspection gives you an independent assessment of the finished property before you are legally committed to accepting it.
Your builder will issue a Practical Completion Certificate when they consider the home finished. That document protects the builder.
Our Independent Practical Completion Inspection report protects you.
Read more: What is a Practical Completion Certificate? →
Once you sign off, the responsibility for defects shifts from the builder to you. This inspection is your last opportunity to identify issues while the builder is still legally obligated to fix them.
Our PCI Pricing
Handover inspections start from $550
Final pricing depends on the size and configuration of the property. Call 0481 826 856 for a fixed quote. Pricing is always confirmed upfront, no surprises after the inspection.
The Final Report
Your handover inspection report is prepared in accordance with AS 4349.1 and the Standards and Tolerances Handbook. Every finding is categorised by severity with photographs. The report is delivered within 24 hours of inspection in PDF format and is structured to be used directly in correspondence with your builder.
One Important Note Before You Book
We are often called to carry out handover inspections only to find the property is not actually finished. Before booking, confirm with your builder that all trades have completed their work. A premature inspection wastes your money and our time and may need to be repeated once outstanding items are addressed.
If you are unsure whether the property is ready, call us first. We can advise you on what to confirm with your builder before we attend.
Ready to Book Your Inspection?
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What a Handover Inspection Covers
As an independent inspector working solely for you, we carry out a thorough visual assessment of all accessible areas of the newly completed property, internal and external, against the contract specifications, approved plans and the Standards and Tolerances Handbook.
We are assessing construction quality, workmanship, completeness and installation, checking that wall linings, floor coverings, ceiling finishes and visible fixtures are properly installed and complete. These are the things the builder’s own trades may have missed, rushed or left unfinished before the practical completion certificate was issued.
Common findings in Queensland handover inspections include:
- Roof plumbing not connected to stormwater drainage
- Gaps in sarking and insulation affecting thermal performance
- Structural tie-downs that don’t meet the requirements of the approved engineering plans
- Incomplete landscaping, builders clean not finished, missing fittings and fixtures
- Air conditioning and hot water overflow pipes discharging too close to foundations
- Doors and windows not operating correctly or not weathertight
- Bath not correctly seated against wall linings, a gap here will allow water ingress the first time the bath is used
- Cladding fixing nails popping before the home has settled
- Door hinge screws missing across all doors
- Kitchen and cabinetry items incomplete, scratched or damaged
- Paint finishes incomplete or inconsistent throughout the dwelling
These are not rare edge cases. They are routine findings across builders, price points and Brisbane suburbs, including properties completed by large volume builders.
What We Can and Can’t See
Please note: If we did not carry out Stages 1, 2, 3 or 4 during your build, we cannot advise you on the condition of the foundations, waterproofing membranes or structural frame.
These elements are no longer accessible at handover.
A standalone handover inspection assesses what can be seen, finishes, fixtures, fittings, completeness and workmanship, not what has been built into the structure behind finished surfaces.
This is why we recommend the full five-stage inspection package. The earlier we are involved in your build, the more we can verify. Read more: New Build Stage Inspections →
The Legal Reality of Handover
In Queensland, residential construction is covered by statutory warranties under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act. Your builder is legally obligated to deliver a home that matches the approved plans and specifications. Those warranties exist, but exercising them after you have accepted handover requires documentation, formal notification, and if the builder disputes findings, a complaint through the QBCC.
Demand for independent handover inspections has grown significantly as the QBCC increasingly looks for documented evidence when homeowners raise building disputes. An independent inspection report prepared before handover can resolve disputes faster or prevent them entirely.
It is also worth understanding the difference between an independent building inspector and a building certifier.
A certifier confirms your build meets minimum legal requirements.
An inspector assesses quality, workmanship and completeness, the things a certifier is not appointed to consider. They are answering completely different questions.
What to Do With the Report
Your report identifies defects by severity and gives you a documented basis to request rectification before you accept handover.
- Minor defects and incomplete items: request a written rectification schedule from the builder before signing the practical completion certificate
- Significant defects: do not sign off until these are addressed or a written agreement for rectification is in place
- Items that cannot be rectified before handover: have them listed on a defects schedule attached to your handover documentation, signed by both parties
Your inspector is available to walk you through the report by phone before your handover meeting with the builder.
Our 3-Step Building & Pest Inspection Process
Book Your Inspection
Call us or fill in our quick online form. Provide the property address and your preferred time. We confirm your booking, coordinate access with the selling agent, and send you everything you need to know before the day. We work around your contract deadlines — not the other way around.
We Inspect the Property
Your qualified inspector arrives on time and conducts a thorough assessment of all accessible areas — roof space, subfloor, all internal rooms, external walls, drainage and surrounding site. We use a FLIR thermal imaging camera on every inspection to detect moisture, insulation gaps and conditions indicative of termite activity behind wall surfaces.
Receive Your Detailed Report
Your report arrives in your inbox within 24 hours. It is prepared in accordance with AS 4349.1 and categorises every finding as Major Structural, Major Non-Structural, Minor Defect or Safety Hazard, with photos and plain-language description. Your inspector is available to walk you through findings by phone.
Contact Us
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Contact our team today to arrange a professional building and pest inspection for your property.
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