Handover is not "hand over the keys and you're done"; it is the starting point that shapes how the home lives 30 years from now. We hand over the owner's manuals, warranty certificates, a construction photo album, and the certificates of completion — and we keep supporting the home with periodic inspections and emergency response. Statutory warranty is 10 years on structure, 10 on waterproofing, 2 on equipment; on top of that we add 1/2/5/10-year inspections and 24-hour support.
1. The road to handover
From construction completion to handover, the sequence is statutory inspection → owner's inspection → rectification → document preparation → handover of keys. Skipping any one step invites later trouble. We move through them one at a time, without rushing.
2. Completion inspection — two kinds, in order
First the statutory inspection (compliance with the Building Standards Act); passing it issues a certificate of inspection. Then the owner's inspection (quality check), carried out together with the supervising architect. Only after both is the home handed over.
3. What to check at the owner's inspection
At the owner's inspection we verify, one by one: conformance to drawings, finishes free of damage, the opening and closing of doors, taps and drainage, power at the outlets, and the operation of equipment. Note anything of concern on the spot, with a photo, and raise it without hesitation. Inspecting is your legitimate right to safeguard quality.
4. Managing the punch list
Items found at the owner's inspection go onto a punch list: scratches, color mismatches, dimensional drift, malfunctions. Typically 40 to 60 items are raised and all are resolved within one to three weeks. The keys are not handed over until the list reaches zero.
5. Documents you receive at handover
| Owner's manuals | Use and care for each fixture and material |
| Warranty certificates | The full set — building, equipment, manufacturer |
| Construction photo album | Records of hidden parts (foundation, rebar, waterproofing) |
| Completion / inspection certificates | Official proof of legal compliance |
6. Scope of statutory warranty
| Parts essential to structural strength | 10 years (defect liability) |
| Parts that keep out rainwater | 10 years |
| Equipment | 2 years (manufacturer warranties separately) |
| Finish materials | 1 to 2 years |
7. Periodic inspection service
Free inspections at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years. Gaps in wallpaper, adjustment of doors, deterioration of caulking — early repair prevents big problems. Inspection records are kept with photos and carried over to the next visit.
8. 24-hour emergency desk
For emergencies — water leaks, power loss, equipment failure — we respond within 24 hours. Overseas owners are covered with a single phone call. Emergency contacts are written clearly in the booklet handed over at completion.
9. Long-term warranty and after-care planning
The 10-year inspection re-checks structure and waterproofing, and the warranty can be extended if conditions are met. As a rough guide, exterior repainting comes at about 10 to 15 years, waterproofing renewal at about 15, and a water heater swap at about 10. We share a long-term maintenance plan at handover so future costs can be foreseen.
"A house is newest the moment it is handed over." That is exactly why the maintenance designed from that instant decides its value 30 years on.