Post-renovation inspection, before the final payment.

The final-payment moment

Renovation contractors typically structure payments as: deposit → progress payments → final payment on handover. The final payment is your last lever. Once it's released, the contractor's incentive to come back and fix things drops to near zero.

A post-renovation inspection at the end of the project, before final payment, produces a snag list that the contractor must address while the project is still active. This is the only window where you have leverage.

What we check post-renovation

• Workmanship quality: paint runs, alignment, gaps, edge finish, surface defects
• Tiling work: alignment, hollow tile percentage, grout consistency, edge finishing
• Built-in carpentry: door alignment, drawer function, soft-close, surface finish, edge banding
• Plumbing changes: leak test, drainage rates, pressure, isolation valves accessible
• Electrical changes: RCD trip test, polarity, circuit identification, capacity
• Tile and stone selection consistency: colour, batch matching, surface finish
• Code compliance: kitchen extraction, bomb shelter unchanged, wet area waterproofing
• Aircon installation: alignment, drainage, condensate management, wiring
• HDB renovation compliance: only permitted works, no structural changes, no encroachments

How the inspection day works

1. Schedule before final-payment release. The right window is after the contractor calls completion but before you transfer the final payment.
2. Standard inspection. 3 hours for HDB, 4–6 hours for larger units, 6–8 hours for landed.
3. Snag list delivered. Photo-evidenced PDF with each issue numbered and located. We deliver within 24 hours so you can hold the final payment without delay.
4. Send the list to your contractor. Most contractors accept independent snag lists. It's neutral documentation. They fix what's listed.
5. Verification visit. When the contractor reports rectifications complete, we return to verify each item. Included as standard.

What we typically find post-renovation

• Paint touch-ups missed
• Tile alignment and edge finish issues
• Hollow tiles in newly tiled wet areas
• Carpentry gaps, alignment and soft-close failures
• Aircon condensate drainage issues
• Sealing and grouting incomplete in wet areas
• Electrical socket polarity errors after rewiring
• HDB compliance issues that need correction before we recommend final payment

Pricing

Post-renovation inspection is fixed by home size, from $250. For the full table (including the paired pre- and post-renovation service) see our full pricing.

Common questions

Will my contractor accept this?

Professional contractors expect post-completion inspections. The good ones welcome it. The snag list is unambiguous and the work is well defined. Contractors who object are typically ones who hoped the issues would be missed.

Can you do this for ID-driven projects?

Yes. Interior designer projects work the same way. We verify the actual built work against the spec.

What if the contractor refuses to fix items on the snag list?

The snag list is documentation. If the contractor refuses to address items, you have written, photo-backed evidence supporting any disputed final-payment retention.

Should I do this if my renovation has a Defects Liability Period?

Yes, the DLP runs from completion. The snag list is what defines what falls under DLP. Without it, every dispute turns into "is this a defect or wear?" Our list resolves that ambiguity upfront.