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Written by Finn
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Wednesday, 20 August 2008 07:13 |
Upon receiving the keys to your new property, there will be a joint inspection of the property with the developer's representative. The purpose is to make a checklist of defects that will be rectified by the developer.
An example scenario goes like this:
- Owner is given a piece of paper (the defect checklist) to write down the defects.
- So Owner walks around, looks for defects ("ah...a crack") and jots down on the checklist.
- Owner gives the defect checklist to the representative.
- Owner hurries off to Ikea for shopping!
Sounds simple eh? Now, is this good enough?
Well, whether this is good enough would depend on:
- Step number 2 above. How effective was the check for defects?
- What is your tolerance level towards defects? Some folks can live with chipped off floor tiles while others will not tolerate the slightest unevenness on the surface of the walls.
- Is there an Ikea sale? Ha Ha. Just kidding.
Few can resist the lure of an Ikea sale
If one is serious about making sure that the property is in good condition, shopping can wait. Checking for defects is a serious matter.
Many buyers assume that the local councils who issue the Certificates of Fitness for Occupation (CFO) or the professionals awarding Certificates of Completion and Compliance (CCC) will inspect the property for defects and shoddy workmanship. Unfortunately, this assumption is wrong. The role of the authorities who issue the CFO and CCC is to ensure that no by-law or safety issues have been violated. It turns out that quality assurance is not their responsibility. Therefore, the burden of ensuring that the developer delivers a good workmanship and defect-free property rests on the property buyer.
There are 2 ways one can check for defects.
The first is to hire a professional aka building inspector. The benefit is that you get to sit back and let someone else do a through job at checking your property. The downside is that you need to lay down some cash which otherwise could go towards, say, a nice LCD TV.
Nice TV or hiring a professional to check for defects? Decisions... decisions. Then again, it would not be much fun if there is water dripping from the ceiling while you watching the TV. So think carefully. Some links about obtaining the services of a building inspector are at the end of this article.
The second way is the D-I-Y (Do It Yourself) route. Fortunately, doing it yourself is not very hard.
1. First, get yourself equipped. Among the things that you can bring is a marker pen, masking tape, a torch light, a measuring tape and a camera. A torch light comes in useful especially when checking inside the roof area. A measuring tape can be used to measure things like ceiling height, size of the room etc.
2. When you spot a defect, write on the masking tape and stick it near the defect. For an example, take a look at the picture below.
A stucked door!
3. You might also want to take a photo of the defect.
4. Compile all the defects that were found into a document. Clearly state where the defect is found and you can add photos for clarity.
5. Lastly, print out the defect checklist document and pass it to the developer.
This way, misunderstanding can be minimised and this makes it easier to keep track the fixing of the defects. Now, here are some suggestions on how to check for defects.
* Check the water pressure from the taps and shower heads.
* Make sure that the taps do not drip when turned off.
* Flush the W.C. a few times to check that it is functioning normally.
* Pour water on the floor tiles and check that there is no water stagnated or uneven tiles.
* Check that there is no leakage and none of the pipes and sinks is blocked. Check for uneven edges between tiles.
* If you have a condo, ask your neighbour on the floor above to seal off their drainage and flood their bathroom for one day (or at least a few hours). Check for any leaking from the walls or ceiling of your unit.
* Check that all the house keys are correct. Don't laugh.
* Check that all windows and doors and windows can be opened and closed properly.
* Check the floor for cracks, tiles that might have chipped off, stains and evenness.
A piece of tile has gone missing
* Check the ceiling for cracks, water stains, peeling paints, flaking and evenness.
* Check all the walls for cracks, water stains, peeling paints, flaking and evenness.
* Check for broken/missing roof tiles.
A cracked roof tile
* Try to be in the house/condo during a rainy day to check for any leaks. The leaks can be from the ceiling, windows, sliding doors etc.
* Test all light switches and electrical outlets
* Check that the water in the drains can flow normally.
* Don't forget to check for little things like nuts. I am not kidding. The photos below will illustrate.
A rusted nut
Don't you just hate it when you find that your nut is missing?
For further information, take a look at these external links:
Case for hiring building inspectors
Engaging a private building/home inspector
Building Surveyors
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