Bring the work and the paperwork together.
Prepare the documents, site list and walkthrough record before handover. Keep outstanding work visible, with photos, responsibility and status, and use your contract to confirm what is required.
Built for builders, project managers, and construction admins assembling the handover package at the end of a project.
Close the defect list with contractor proof and verification before the client walkthrough.
Assemble the handover documents progressively instead of chasing them in the last week.
Hand over a branded defect report that records the condition of the works at day one of the DLP.
The handover document package
Most handover delays are paperwork, not construction. The package is predictable, so build it progressively as trades finish rather than assembling it under pressure.
- Compliance certificates: electrical, plumbing, gas, glazing, waterproofing, and termite protection where required.
- Occupancy permit or certificate of occupancy where the project requires one.
- Warranties from subcontractors and manufacturers, with start dates and contact details.
- Operation and maintenance manuals, as-built drawings, keys, remotes, and access codes.
Defect closeout before the walkthrough
The client walkthrough should confirm a closed list, not discover an open one. Walk the works internally first and close what you find with evidence.
- Every open defect assigned to its contractor with photos and location.
- Contractor completion proof collected against each item, not in a message thread.
- Builder-side verification before anything is marked closed.
- A generated defect report showing found, fixed, and verified for every item.
The walkthrough and the record
Walk the client through the works, record anything new they raise as fresh defect items, and close the visit with a report both sides can rely on.
- New walkthrough items get captured with the same structure as the PC list.
- Agreed items, timeframes, and exclusions are recorded rather than remembered.
- The final report establishes the condition of the works at the start of the defect liability period.
Why the handover record keeps mattering
Disputes during the defect liability period usually turn on the condition of the works at handover. Photos, review notes and reports give the team a clearer record to refer to.
- DLP items can be compared against the handover record to separate defects from damage.
- The same project record carries post-handover rectification with the same evidence trail.
- SiteWarden generates the handover defect report from records captured during closeout — nothing is rebuilt by hand.
What should a construction handover checklist include?
A closed and verified defect list, the compliance certificates and approvals the contract requires, warranties and manuals, as-built drawings, keys and access credentials, and a defect report recording the condition of the works at handover.
What documents does a builder hand over at completion in Australia?
Typically compliance certificates for regulated trades, the occupancy permit where required, subcontractor and manufacturer warranties, O&M manuals, as-built drawings, and keys. The contract sets the exact list, so work from it.
When does the defect liability period start?
At practical completion under most Australian contracts. That is why the handover defect report matters: it records the condition of the works on day one of the DLP.
What happens if the client finds defects at the handover walkthrough?
They get recorded as defect items with photos and locations, assigned for rectification, and closed with verification like any other defect. Minor items do not usually delay handover if the process for closing them is clear.
Can I use SiteWarden for punch lists and defects?
Yes. Use project lists to record work that needs finishing or fixing, with photos, locations, trades, priorities and statuses. The current app labels these records as defects; the same record can describe unfinished work or an issue that needs repair.
How do contractors take part?
Your team assigns responsibility and controls review and approval. Contractor replies through WhatsApp are forthcoming and are not included in the current trial. In that planned workflow, contractors will send photos, voice notes and progress updates without a SiteWarden account; the builder will still approve the work.
Bring your list.
We’ll walk you through it.
Unfinished work, defects and the details in between. See how the current app captures, organises and reports on them.