A new build handover checklist for New Zealand homes

Before the walk: agree what you are checking

Arrange access with the builder while there is enough daylight to see surfaces clearly. Ask which work is complete, which items are already scheduled for a return visit and who will receive your report. A known unfinished item still belongs in the record, with an owner and an agreed next step.

Bring the latest agreed drawings, specifications and variations. Compare the installed item with the relevant document rather than with a photograph from an earlier design meeting. Keep a note of the document version if a finish, fitting or location appears different.

Start at the entrance, work room by room and finish outside. Use the same room names throughout the report. A phone, charger, torch and simple measuring tape are enough for documenting visible issues; specialist testing belongs with the appropriate professional.

Check each room in the same order

First take an overview photograph. Then work from ceiling to walls, openings, fittings and floor. Record a defect before moving on so that similar rooms and close-up photographs do not become mixed up later.

Describe what you can observe without guessing a hidden cause. For example, record water visible beneath a basin after a demonstration rather than declaring that concealed pipework has failed. Ask the builder or inspector to investigate the cause and remedy.

Walk the exterior and ask about services

From safe, accessible positions, photograph each elevation, the entry, paths and any completed landscaping. Note visible damage, unfinished surfaces, construction debris and locations where water is collecting. Record areas that were inaccessible rather than leaving a blank that could be mistaken for an inspection.

Ask the builder to explain the operation and maintenance of ventilation, heating, hot water and any installed drainage or wastewater equipment. Do not climb onto roofs, enter unsafe spaces or open electrical equipment to complete a checklist. Refer concerns requiring access or testing to the appropriate professional.

Keep the document handover separate from the defect list

A tidy finish and a complete document pack are different checks. MBIE explains that consented building work needs council sign-off through the code compliance certificate process. Confirm who is handling the application and its current status; your photographed snag list is not a substitute for that certificate.

Ask for the relevant warranties, maintenance instructions and product information, together with any applicable certificates. Keep these alongside the agreed plans and variations. Record missing documents as specific follow-up items so that they are not forgotten when the physical repairs are finished.

Payment, possession and contractual completion are decisions to check against your own agreement and professional advice. Completing this checklist does not establish that those conditions have been met.

Make every entry useful to the person doing the repair

Give each item a stable number, room and precise location, a factual description, photographs, a responsible contact and a status. Keep an overview shot and a closer detail with the same item. Our construction defect photography guide explains how to capture that sequence.

Example: Item 014, bedroom two, window beside the wardrobe: the handle does not close fully during the walkthrough. Overview and handle photographs attached. Builder to inspect and confirm the repair date. Status: open. This identifies an observed condition without claiming an unverified cause or tolerance breach.

Use a separate entry for a separate remedy. Keep the original description when a repair is completed and add a dated follow-up photograph. A consistent site inspection report structure makes the initial record and later checks easier to compare.

Send the record and track the response

Send the dated report to the agreed contact, keep the sent copy and request acknowledgement. Ask for a response against each item number, including what will happen next and when access is required. A telephone conversation can help organise the work, but keep the resulting agreement with the written record.

MBIE describes a 12-month defect repair period for residential building work and says defects must be notified to the contractor in writing. Do not treat that period as the end of every possible right or remedy. Check the current MBIE guidance linked below and get advice for a dispute or a deadline that affects your position.

At the return visit, inspect each reported item and record its actual status. Keep unresolved items open with the remaining observation. Save a backup of the project and retain both the original and follow-up reports.

The Site Audit handover inspection app for Android keeps locations, notes and multiple captioned photos together and generates the PDF on your phone, offline. Start with one free project and use the sample report to see what the builder will receive.