After months (or years) of payments on a pre-construction condo, handover day usually comes with excitement and a rush. That's exactly the problem: anything you don't write down before signing the handover will be much harder to claim afterwards.
This is the checklist we use at AeroObra RD when we inspect a unit before handover in Punta Cana, Bávaro or Cap Cana. You can use it yourself, or share it with whoever represents you if you can't travel.
1. Before you go: gather your documents
You can't compare what was delivered with what was promised if you don't have the promise with you. Bring, printed or on your phone:
- Your purchase agreement and its annexes.
- Your unit's floor plans, with dimensions and layout.
- The specifications and finishes list: flooring, tile, doors, windows, kitchen, included appliances.
- Any changes you requested in writing during construction.
2. Moisture and leaks: the first thing we check
On the Caribbean coast, moisture is the most common defect and the one that does the most damage over time. Take your time, ideally in good light:
- Ceilings, especially under bathrooms on the floor above and on the top floor: stains, rings or bubbling paint.
- Window and balcony door edges: water marks, missing or peeling silicone seals.
- Baseboards and the lower part of walls: peeling paint or efflorescence (white powder).
- Balconies and terraces: the floor should slope toward the drain. Pour a little water and watch where it goes.
- Showers: run the water for a few minutes and check that it drains well and no stains appear outside the shower area.
3. Cracks: which ones matter and which don't
Not every crack is a structural problem. Hairline cracks in paint or plaster, especially at the corners of doors and windows, are usually caused by normal material shrinkage. Even so, write them all down, with a photo and location.
What deserves an engineer's review before you sign:
- Diagonal cracks in walls, or cracks that go all the way through a wall.
- Cracks in beams, columns or slabs.
- Cracks wider than a credit card, or cracks repeating at the same spot on several floors.
- Doors that rub or won't close, which can point to deformation.
4. Electrical: test everything, not just the lights
- Turn on every light and test every outlet. A phone charger is enough for this.
- Open the electrical panel: breakers should be labeled (kitchen, A/C, bedrooms…).
- In the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry, outlets should have ground-fault protection (the ones with test buttons).
- Check that the water heater, stove and included appliances turn on.
5. Plumbing and A/C
- Open every faucet: good pressure, hot water where it should be, and no drips.
- Look under sinks with a flashlight: connections should be dry.
- Flush every toilet and make sure it doesn't keep running.
- Run each A/C unit for 15 minutes: it should cool, and the condensate should exit through its drain, not down the wall.
6. Finishes: the details you'll see every day
- Tile and porcelain: tap gently with your knuckles. A hollow sound means poorly bonded tiles that may come loose.
- Complete, even grout lines, with no broken pieces or uneven edges.
- Doors and windows: they open, close and lock without forcing; glass has no scratches.
- Metal railings: solid and rust-free. Near the ocean, salt air quickly attacks poorly protected metal.
- Even paint, aligned cabinets, and countertops free of stains or cracks.
7. Compare against what you were promised
With your floor plans in hand, check that the layout and dimensions match, and that materials and appliances match the specifications. A different model or lower quality that you didn't approve in writing is also a finding.
What to do if you find defects
- Write a list, with a photo, location and description of each finding.
- Send it to the developer before you sign, and ask for a date for the fixes.
- If you're asked to sign the handover form anyway, note on the form that there are pending findings and attach the list.
- For questions about your rights and claim deadlines, check with your lawyer.
Can't be there in person?
Many of our clients live in the United States, Canada or Europe and can't travel just for the handover. That's what our pre-delivery inspection is for: we inspect your unit room by room with this same checklist, compare it with your plans and contract, and within 72 hours send you a photo report, ready to forward to the developer.