Updated · 3 min read
In short
- Check flatness with a long straightedge and listen for hollow tiles.
- Run every tap for a few minutes and test every socket and switch, not a sample.
- Inspect paintwork in side daylight and open doors, windows and drawers several times.
Structural and surface checks
The level and flatness of tiled surfaces can be checked simply with a spirit level or a long straightedge moved diagonally and along the main directions. Grout joints should be even in width and free of cracks, and the floor shouldn't sound hollow when tapped lightly — a sign of poor adhesion to the base.
Plumbing and electrics
For plumbing, check tightness by running water for a few minutes at each outlet and looking under sinks, the bath and the WC for leaks not visible at first glance. For electrics, test every socket and switch in the home, not just a representative sample — a dead circuit found after handover is much harder to get put right.
Visual finishes, checked in daylight
Even paint colour and the absence of roller marks are best seen in natural side light, not under direct artificial light from the ceiling, which can hide irregularities that show later. Check the corners, around sockets and along the ceiling line, where careless work shows most often.
Windows, doors and moving parts
Doors and windows should open and close fully without rubbing on the frame, and the seals should be intact all round. Drawers and doors of fitted furniture should be checked by opening and closing them several times, not just once, to catch a misalignment that would become obvious after a few days of use.