The Interior Handover Checklist to Run Before You Sign

Before signing off on an interior job, inspect five areas: built-ins (hinges, runners, edge alignment), paint and walls (stains, evenness), all electrical outlets and switches, plumbing and drainage, and scratches on floors and glass. Inspect in daylight and photograph every defect into a punch list.

Built-ins and moving parts

Open and close every cabinet and drawer; listen and check they shut flush and even. Press countertop edges and inspect material joints. The parts that fail most after handover are loose hinges and uneven silicone sealant.

Electrical, plumbing, and surfaces

Test every outlet with a plug, run every tap and check drainage, and rake a flashlight across the floor to catch scratches.

• Every outlet and switch works with no hot spots
• Taps run with good pressure and no leaks under the sink
• Wall paint is even, no brush marks or seams
• Photograph every defect and set a fix deadline before final payment