Practical completion inspection

What it means legally

The contractor has fulfilled their obligations under the contract except for minor defects (often listed in a defects list).

The builder will notify you when the project is reaching practical completion, generally at least  
two to three weeks out and providing at least five days’ written notice.

Once this occurs, the home is ready for a final inspection. This is when you will do a detailed walk-through with the builder to identify and document any issues.  

All defects, incomplete work or items not built to specification are documented in a ‘defects list’, which is usually signed by both parties at the inspection. This list can include (but is not limited to):  

• paint touch-ups
• misaligned cabinetry
• missing fittings
• scratched surfaces.

 The list can be:

• handwritten on-site
• typed into a form or template provided by the builder  
• logged through an inspection app (for some large-scale projects by big developers).

You can engage a building inspector to check the building work on your behalf. However, this is at your own cost. You can find a licensed building inspector via the QBCC's free find a local contractor online search.

Once the list of defects or issues are agreed and shared (builder to home owner or vice versa), the builder is responsible for fixing these within a reasonable timeframe after practical completion. The contract may provide a specific timeframe for this. It’s your responsibility to give the builder reasonable access to the site.  

Next: Handover and final documentation