Congratulations, you’re coming up to the completion of construction of your new house! So what’s next? Along with all the benefits of owning a unique property, comes the responsibility to safeguard your investment and ensure you’re getting exactly what you signed up for. Two measures play a key role in ensuring the quality and longevity of your build, the Handover Report and the 90-Day Maintenance Report.

So what is the Handover Report?

The Handover Report is conducted at the competition of construction and is a comprehensive inspection documenting the property’s condition before ownership transfers. This is one of the most critical stages of construction as this is when the property is officially transferred from the builder to the homeowner.

The Handover Report identifies defects and incomplete work. Homeowners are welcome to be present for this inspection, as it provides an opportunity to review the property, ask questions and note any discrepancies that may have been overlooked.

The Handover Report serves as a baseline record which is critical for resolving disputes if problems arise later. Without it, homeowners risk inheriting unresolved defects, such as faulty workmanship and construction. Any defect can escalate into costly repairs in the future, so it is best to get them sorted as builders are legally obligated to address these issues before handing over the keys.

So what is the role of the 90-day Maintenance Report?

The 90-Day Maintenance Report is used to catalogue emerging defects that appear during the first 90 days of living in the house. Australian builders typically offer a statutory warranty, which includes a defects liability period (often 90 days to 6 months, depending on the state). During this time, they must rectify post-occupancy defects at no extra cost. As such, the 90-day report systematically catalogues previous unresolved handover items and emerging problems, from minor cosmetic flaws to major structural concerns, ensuring timely repairs before warranties expire.

Even with a thorough handover inspection, some defects only become apparent after living in the home. Seasonal weather, including heat, rain and cold, soil settle or even just standard everyday use can reveal issues. These may be cracks, leaks, malfunctioning systems or even cosmetic problems that may have been missed during the handover. All of these defects have the potential to turn into long term damaging issues that can be costly to fix. This is why the 90-Day Maintenance Report becomes invaluable as it gives homeowners peace of mind.

So what are the Financial and Long-Term Benefits

Addressing defects early can help avoid unexpected costs down the line. A leaking roof ignored today could lead to mould remediation or timber rot expenses tomorrow. By providing post-handover reports, builders are held accountable for any issues that may arise in the short term. This ensures that they uphold their commitment to quality and workmanship for the long term.

Insurers may also require documentation of the handover and 90-day periods to validate any claims. This is because they demonstrate due diligence in property maintenance. Along with this, Handover and 90-day Maintenance Reports can increase resale value. They allow prospective buyers to have confidence in the property’s integrity as there is a well-documented history of upkeep.

With all this in mind, in a sector where prevention is always cheaper than cure, these reports are your first line of defence and can back you up well into the future.