Handover is the moment every owner waits for, and it is also the last easy chance to find and fix defects before furniture arrives and daily life starts. After that, lifting a tile, adjusting a door or tracing a leak becomes harder and more disruptive. This guide gives you a practical interior finishing checklist, room by room, with the tools to bring and a simple way to record snags so they get resolved.
Before you start
When to inspect
- After the final clean, since dust hides paint and tile defects.
- With power and water permanently connected, so every point can be tested.
- In daylight, then again under artificial light. A torch held flat against a wall shows filler ripples that are invisible head-on.
- Before furniture covers corners and floors.
What to bring
| Tool | Used for |
|---|---|
| Straightedge or long level | Flatness of walls and floors |
| Torch | Raking light on paint and tiles |
| Phone charger or socket tester | Checking every socket |
| Bucket of water | Testing falls in bathrooms and balconies |
| Tape measure | Dimensions and heights |
| Coloured stickers | Marking each snag on site |
| Phone | Numbered photos of each snag |
How to record snags
One line per item: number, exact location (room and wall), short description, photo. For example: "Master bedroom, wall opposite window: paint ripple next to light switch." A clear list is easier for the contractor to close and for you to re-check.
Checks for every room
Walls and paint: even colour with no patches, no roller or brush marks under raking light, no hairline cracks where walls meet columns and beams, crisp corners and clean lines at ceilings and skirting, no damp stains or flaking (a sign of a problem behind the wall). Wavy walls usually point to the plaster underneath; see our plaster quality checklist.
Gypsum ceilings: straight lines and even levels, no cracks at board joints or around light and AC openings, access hatches at concealed units and valves, lights placed as on the drawing.
Floors: flat under a straightedge, no lippage when you run a hand across edges, no hollow sound when tapped, clean, even grout and skirting fixed without gaps, consistent colour. The causes are explained in floor levelling and tiling mistakes.
Doors and windows: doors open and close without rubbing, even gaps around the leaf, working locks and labelled keys, windows that seal tightly with complete silicone inside and out, no scratches on glass or frames.
Power and AC: every switch controls what it should, every socket works, faceplates sit straight and tight to the wall, AC units cool and their condensate drains without leaking, and the distribution board is labelled circuit by circuit.
Room by room
Entrance and majlis
| Check | Look for |
|---|---|
| Front door | Tight seal, working lock, no light or dust at the edges |
| Threshold | Correct level to keep water out |
| Feature walls | Even paint under strong light, as these are the most visible walls |
| Decorative ceilings | Straight lines and symmetry |
| Lighting | All circuits and dimmers working |
Living areas and corridors
Grout lines that run through from living room to corridor, no accidental steps between rooms, and enough sockets where furniture and appliances will go.
Bedrooms
Windows that seal and blinds or tracks fitted if they are in the contract, built-in wardrobes with straight doors and smooth runners, quiet AC units, and power points by the bed and desk.
Kitchen
| Check | Look for |
|---|---|
| Cabinets | Straight doors with even gaps, smooth drawers |
| Worktop | No cracks or chips, complete silicone at wall and sink |
| Sink | Hot and cold water, fast drainage, no leak inside the unit |
| Sockets | Worktop and built-in appliance points working |
| Extractor | Works and vents outside |
| Splashback | Clean joints and straight courses |
Run the sink tap for a few minutes, then feel the joints inside the cabinet for any damp. For aluminium kitchens, see our aluminium kitchens guide.
Bathrooms
Give bathrooms the most time, because their defects turn into leaks and damp in neighbouring rooms.
| Check | How |
|---|---|
| Floor falls | Pour water at the far point and watch it reach the drain |
| Drain | Slightly below surrounding tile, drains quickly |
| Mixers and valves | Hot and cold the right way round, no dripping |
| WC | Firm base, flush works, silicone around the base |
| Basin and vanity | No leak underneath after running water |
| Extract fan | Works and actually draws air |
| Silicone | Complete and neat at basin, bath and shower corners |
Also look at the ceiling below each upstairs bathroom: any damp patch there needs checking straight away.
Stairs
Equal riser heights (one odd step causes trips), undamaged marble or porcelain nosings, a handrail that doesn't move under pressure, and stair lights switchable from top and bottom.
After the walk-through
- Combine the snags into one numbered, photographed list and give the contractor a copy.
- Agree a timeframe and a re-inspection date.
- Re-inspect against the same list and close each item.
- Collect the documents: as-built drawings where available, appliance manuals, and material details such as paint codes and tile batches.
- Keep spare tiles and paint for future repairs.
How Marafi hands over finishing
Handover isn't a formality for us; it is part of the job. We follow the drawings and agreed specification on every item, use approved materials, and send owners photos at each stage so they know what is under the paint and tile before it is covered. Before handover we walk the project ourselves, then welcome the owner's walk-through and snag list, close it out and re-inspect together. See Interior Finishing and our full sequence on How we build. If floors keep appearing on your snag lists, see Floor Levelling & Tiling.
Ten things not to forget
- Inspect after cleaning and with services on, before furniture.
- Use raking light on walls and floors.
- Tap tiles and listen for hollow spots.
- Test every socket and switch.
- Pour water in every bathroom and watch where it goes.
- Run every tap and look for leaks under sinks.
- Open and close every door, window and cabinet.
- Check the distribution board is labelled.
- Record snags with location, photo and number.
- Don't sign final handover until agreed snags are closed.
Planning to finish a villa or apartment in Riyadh and want a contractor who hands over against a clear checklist? Contact us to arrange a site visit, and we will send an itemised proposal by stage.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to inspect the finishing?
After the final clean, with power and water permanently on, in daylight and again under artificial light, since some paint and tile defects only show in raking light. Ideally before furniture moves in.
What tools do I need for a handover inspection?
A straightedge or long spirit level, a torch, a phone charger or socket tester, a bucket of water to test falls, a tape measure, coloured stickers to mark snags and a phone to photograph them.
What if I find a lot of snags?
List them with a number, location and photo, hand the list to the contractor and agree a date to re-inspect. Don't sign final handover until the agreed items are closed.
Should I bring an engineer to the handover?
It helps, especially on larger projects or if you have no inspection experience. An engineer knows where to look and can judge whether something is a real defect or within accepted tolerance.
