Practical Completion Inspection
Your final defect list before handover, capturing every issue while the builder is still obligated to fix them.
- Same-day report (subject to access and availability)
- Upfront pricing
- 12 months free advice
On-site ~2hr · Report same day (subject to access and availability)
What's in your new build practical completion inspection
Included
- Full internal and external inspection
- All fixtures, fittings, and finishes
- Plumbing, electrical, and appliance checks
- Door and window operation testing
- Surface finish and paint quality
- Comprehensive defect list for builder rectification
- 12 months FREE advice through defect liability period
Our inspectors document every accessible element on site with photo evidence and severity ratings.
Real defects our inspectors have flagged
What we find when we walk a property
Every new build practical completion inspection draws on the same indexed defect corpus, patterns our inspectors have catalogued across thousands of properties.
Across Perth and Sydney. Every report indexed.
Per property our inspectors document, photograph and severity-rate.
23,030 defects classified critical: items that affect structure, safety or value.
Source: SURE defect corpus, refreshed monthly
The process
- 1
Book before your handover date
Your builder will notify you of the practical completion date, book as soon as that date is confirmed, to inspect before you are asked to accept the property.
- 2
Inspector examines the entire property
Your SURE inspector works through every room and all external areas systematically, fixtures, fittings, finishes, appliances, and external elements.
- 3
Same-day report delivered
A comprehensive defect list with photos, room locations, and severity ratings is emailed the same day, subject to access and availability.
- 4
Submit the defect list to your builder
The report is formatted for builder rectification. Use it as your formal request for repairs during the defect liability period.
See exactly what you get before you book
Our new build practical completion inspection report includes annotated photos, severity ratings, AS 4349 references and actionable remediation advice. Written in plain language so you can act on it the day you receive it.
- Photo evidence per finding
- Severity rated: critical, moderate, cosmetic
- Australian Standards cross-referenced
- Remediation guidance you can quote
Common defects we find on new build practical completion inspections
Patterns indexed across the Perth and Sydney corpus. These are the types of findings you might see in your own report.
External wall settlement cracking
Stepped cracking patterns that may indicate foundation movement prior to PC sign-off.
Failed waterproofing membrane
Wet-area waterproofing failures, the most expensive construction defect to remediate post-occupation.
Excessive moisture readings
Moisture in walls, ceilings, or subfloor detected before handover, flagging drainage and waterproofing issues.
About a new build practical completion inspection
The practical completion inspection (PCI) is the final stage inspection before you accept the keys, your opportunity to document every defect, from structural concerns to cosmetic imperfections, before the defect liability period clock starts ticking.
Our inspectors examine the entire property systematically: internal finishes (walls, ceilings, floors, tiles, paint), fixtures and fittings (tapware, cabinetry, hardware), door and window operation, plumbing function, electrical operation, external cladding and paintwork, landscaping, and driveway. The result is a comprehensive defect list that becomes your formal rectification request to the builder.
The PCI report is designed as a practical document for builder rectification. Each defect is photographed, located by room, and categorised by severity. This makes it straightforward for the builder to assign trades and track completion. Our 12 months of free advice covers the entire defect liability period, so when questions arise about whether a builder’s rectification is adequate, your inspector is available to advise.
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About new build practical completion inspection
What is practical completion?
Practical completion (PC) is the stage where the builder considers the home substantially complete and ready for handover. It triggers the start of the defect liability period (typically 6 months in WA or 13 weeks in NSW depending on your state and contract) during which the builder is obligated to fix documented defects.
When should a Practical Completion Inspection occur?
When construction is complete and handover is planned. Your builder will usually signal when this is approaching so a time can be arranged — ideally 1–2 weeks before handover, while you can still require defects to be rectified under the building contract.
Why does the PCI matter?
Any defects not documented at practical completion become harder to claim during the defect liability period. The builder's obligation is to fix defects that existed at handover, if you didn't identify them, proving they existed becomes difficult. A professional inspection creates a timestamped, comprehensive record. The PCI sits alongside earlier stage inspections (slab, frame, lock-up, plate high, roof frame), each serves a different purpose and none replaces another.
What does the inspection cover?
A full internal and external assessment — fixtures, fittings and finishes; plumbing, electrical and appliance checks; door and window operation; and surface finish and paint quality. Each defect is photographed, located by room, and listed for builder rectification.
Do I need to attend the inspection?
No — you don't need to be on site. Your inspector will talk you through the findings afterwards and the full report follows by email. You're welcome to attend if you'd like to, but there's no need to.