Your Practical Completion Inspection is not a formality. It's your last line of defence.
Everything your builder won't sit you down and explain, before you're standing at the door with a clipboard and a deadline.
You've made it. Almost.
After the tender, the contract, the variations, the endless colour selections and the sinking feeling every time your builder said "that's not included," you're standing at the door of your almost-finished home for your Practical Completion Inspection.
Don't let the calm, professional energy of your site supervisor fool you into thinking this is a box-ticking exercise. It's not. This is the moment where you get to say "not good enough" before you're legally on the hook for it.
Here's what nobody tells you before you walk in.
Our builder treated our PCI like just another box on their schedule. No real explanation of why it mattered. No walkthrough of what to actually look for.
And let's be honest, why would they want you good at spotting defects? That's not exactly in their interest.
What a PCI actually is
A Practical Completion Inspection marks the point where your build is essentially done, minus minor defects that won't stop you living in it. Emphasis on essentially. Emphasis on minor.
This is also the inspection that triggers your Certificate of Occupancy, otherwise known as Form 11. No Form 11, no bank releasing final payment, no you moving in. So this isn't just about whether the paint looks nice. It's the gate between "still the builder's problem" and "now entirely yours."
There should be two inspections, not one
PCI number one is where you and your site supervisor walk the whole house and build a defects list. Paint touch-ups, misaligned doors, cabinetry that's not quite right, fixtures that are wrong or missing. Everything goes on the list.
PCI number two happens after the builder has had time to fix what you found. This one exists to check the fixes actually happened, and happened properly.
If you go straight to handover, you're trusting your builder's word that everything's sorted. Bless their confidence. Verify it anyway.
If your builder only offers you one inspection, ask for the second to follow up before handover. Politely. Firmly. In writing if you have to.
What "complete" is contractually required to look like
Your contract, not your builder's mood on the day, decides what "practically complete" means. In general terms though, expect:
- All structural work, plumbing and electrical fully finished
- Every fixture and fitting specified in your contract installed and working
- Paint and finishes done to a standard you could live with (minor touch-ups aside)
- The site clean enough that you can actually see defects, not just dust
- The home secure and accessible, even if driveways and paths aren't finished yet
If your site still looks like a demolition zone, you're well within your rights to push the inspection back. Document your concerns, notify your builder in writing, and don't let anyone rush you into signing off on a house you can't properly see.
Bring backup. Preferably a professional one.
You are allowed to bring your own private building certifier or inspector to your PCI. Not "allowed to ask nicely." Allowed, full stop.
An independent inspector isn't there to insult your builder. They're there because they check things you don't know to check, and they've seen every trick a defect can use to hide from an untrained eye. Peace of mind, fewer disputes later, and a house that's actually worth what you paid for it. Worth every cent.
What major defects actually look like
Not every issue is a paint chip. Keep an eye out for the ones that matter:
- Structural cracks, foundation movement, roof structure issues
- Water getting in where it shouldn't, gaps around windows and doors
- Faulty wiring, non-compliant plumbing, fire safety gaps
- Anything missing or significantly different from your approved plans
These aren't "we'll fix it eventually" issues.
What to actually bring with you
Your phone. Your plans, colour selections, electrical documents and contract. Something to test power points with. Light bulbs if needed. A torch, because bad lighting hides bad work. Masking tape to flag issues on the spot. A golf ball and a spirit level, because uneven floors don't announce themselves. And your checklist. Every room, every surface, every fixture, in writing, so nothing slides through because you were tired, overwhelmed, or being smiled at by someone in hi-vis.
After the PCI
Once your defects list is agreed, your builder usually has around two weeks to fix everything and give the place a proper clean before handover. That timeframe shifts depending on your builder and how much needs doing, but if there's nothing outstanding, you could get your keys sooner.
Either way, don't rush this stage. This is your home. Walk every room. Open every door. Test every switch. Ask every question. A woman who understands the system cannot be dismissed by it, and nowhere is that truer than standing in your almost-finished house with a clipboard in hand.
Don't build blind.
Grab the full Practical Completion Inspection Checklist on the Abeaud site before your PCI date, and go in knowing exactly what to look for, room by room.
Get the PCI Checklist
