The contractor says it's done. The flat looks beautiful. You want to move in. Do not sign off and release the final payment until you've done this walkthrough systematically.
The final walkthrough is the last moment your payment gives you leverage. Everything you find and document today is the contractor's responsibility to fix before final payment. Everything you find next month is a defect liability claim — harder to enforce and slower to resolve.
Prepare before you go
Bring: your phone for photos, a coin or marble for the tap test, a spirit level (or your phone's level app), a torch, a pen and notebook, and a printed copy of your original scope of work/contract.
Go during the day when the space is well-lit naturally. Return for a second visit in the evening to check lighting quality. Many lighting defects are only visible when you need the artificial lighting to work.
Allow 2–3 hours for a thorough 4-room flat inspection. Don't rush this.
Room by room: what to check
Living and dining area:
- Walk the entire floor in socks and feel for hollow spots or uneven joints between tiles
- Check all power points with your phone charger — every single one
- Turn on every light circuit independently, including dimmer switches
- Check the TV console or feature wall for level and alignment
- Run your hand along all carpentry edges — no sharp edges, no protruding nails
- Check where skirting meets the floor — gaps should be sealed, lines should be straight
Kitchen:
- Open every cabinet door and every drawer. Soft-close should actually soft-close. No doors that catch or sit at a visible angle.
- Check all hinges for smooth operation and correct alignment
- Run water from all taps and check drainage speed
- Check under the sink for any moisture or drip from the P-trap connections
- Check all power points, especially 20A circuits for the induction hob
- Check backsplash tile alignment — should be level and consistent
Bathrooms — both:
- Do the full tap test on every tile, walls and floor
- Flush the toilet twice and observe fill time (slow fill suggests pressure issue)
- Run the shower and check the drain speed (slow drain = partial blockage)
- Check the shower screen for level and watertight sealing along the bottom
- Check the vanity cabinet for level and for water-resistant sealing at the wall joints
- Turn on all bathroom lights and check the exhaust fan
- Check that the floor drains slightly towards the floor trap (do the water test — pour a cup of water and watch direction)
- Check that all tile grout lines are consistent in colour and depth
Bedrooms:
- Open wardrobes fully — check all compartments, all drawers, all hanging rails for level
- Check that wardrobe doors close properly and don't spring open
- All electrical points working
- Light fitting secure and correctly positioned
The defect list protocol
Every defect you find, document with: a photo, a description of the location and issue, and a severity rating (cosmetic vs functional). Send the list to your contractor formally — not verbally, in writing via WhatsApp or email.
State clearly: "Here is the defect list from today's walkthrough. I will release the final payment after all items on this list have been rectified and I've confirmed in a follow-up visit."
Give the contractor a reasonable rectification timeline — typically 1–2 weeks for minor defects, longer for anything that requires materials or subcontractor scheduling.
What not to do at the final walkthrough
Don't release the final payment during the walkthrough. Don't let enthusiasm about moving in override systematic inspection. Don't accept "that's normal" for defects without understanding why it's normal. Don't sign any completion certificate until you've had time to review the flat independently.
A contractor who pressures you to sign off immediately should make you more thorough, not less.
The bottom line
Your final walkthrough is not a celebration — it's a professional assessment. The celebration comes when every item on your defect list is resolved and you hand over the final payment with full confidence. That moment is worth waiting for.
