A practical completion inspection (PCI) is the final check of your new home before you take the keys, and this checklist covers everything you should be looking at during that walkthrough. The defects you record at practical completion are the ones your builder is required to address, typically within a 10 business day rectification window.
Most WA homeowners get one walk through the house with the site supervisor before handover. This guide is written so you know what to look for, what a registered builder looks for on your behalf during a practical completion inspection, and what happens after the report lands.
In this article:
- What is practical completion in WA?
- Why the 10 business day rectification window matters
- The external checklist
- The internal checklist
- The wet areas checklist
- The roof space and insulation checklist
- What an independent PCI adds to your own walkthrough
- What happens after the PCI report
- Frequently Asked Questions About Practical Completion Inspections in WA
| Practical completion inspection at a glance |
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| Who it’s for: homeowners who built under a building contract and are approaching handover |
| When it happens: after the builder issues the practical completion notice, before you take possession |
| What it covers: all visible and accessible building elements, inside and out |
| Rectification window: typically within 10 business days for the builder to address listed defects |
| Report turnaround: same-day digital report with full-resolution photographs |
| Price range: $1,095 to $1,495 depending on the size and storey count of the home |
| Get a free instant quote online, 24/7 at bestwestbuilding.com.au |
What is practical completion in WA?
Practical completion is the point in your building contract where the builder says the home is complete and ready for occupation, apart from minor defects. Your builder will typically give you roughly two weeks notice that this milestone is coming, and that notice is your cue to book an independent inspection.
Practical completion is not the same as settlement. Settlement is a property purchase term. You did not buy this home, you built it, and the milestone that matters here is handover.
| KEY TAKEAWAY Book your PCI as soon as the builder gives notice. A same-day report gives you a defects list to hand to the builder while the rectification clock is still on your side. |
Why the 10 business day rectification window matters
Once practical completion is reached, the builder has a defined window to rectify the relevant defects, and in most WA building contracts that window is 10 business days. Anything you miss at this stage becomes harder to have addressed later, because the builder’s obligation to fix items is tied to what was recorded at practical completion.
A registered builder who inspects new homes every week knows what a compliant finish looks like and what the site supervisor has already learned to walk past.
| WHY IT MATTERS The rectification window applies to the practical completion inspection only. Earlier construction stage inspections do not carry this window, which is why significant defects at those stages should be addressed before major works continue. |
The external checklist
Start outside and work your way in. Bring a torch, a notepad and your phone for photos.
- Brickwork: check for cracked or chipped bricks, inconsistent mortar joints, missing or blocked weep holes and stained or damaged lintels
- Render and paint: look for cracking, patchy coverage and unsealed edges around windows and doors
- Roof cover from ground level: broken or displaced tiles, ridge capping that looks uneven, and sheeting that is lifting or dented
- Gutters and downpipes: check they are fitted, connected and free of building debris (inspectors visually check these elements)
- Eaves and fascias: gaps, unpainted sections and damaged linings
- External doors and windows: operation, locks, seals, flyscreens and glazing scratches
- Garage door: operation, remote pairing and the seal at the bottom
- Site finish: check the property has been cleared of construction waste and that any paving or paths included in your contract are complete
The internal checklist
Inside, the volume of small items can be overwhelming, so move room by room in the same order every time.
- Ceilings and cornices: cracks, poorly finished joints, popped fixings and paint runs
- Walls: plasterboard joins that are visible in natural light, dents, and gaps where the skirting meets the wall
- Doors: alignment, latching, consistent gaps and hardware that operates smoothly
- Windows: operation, locks, sealant beads and any scratched or chipped glass
- Floors: tile lippage, hollow-sounding tiles, uneven grout lines, and scratched or lifting floor coverings
- Cabinetry: door alignment, drawer runners, chipped edges and gaps against walls
- Benchtops: chips, unsealed joins and overhangs that are not level
- Fit-off: switches, power points, taps, towel rails and other fixtures fitted straight and finished cleanly
The wet areas checklist
Wet areas in a WA home are the bathrooms, ensuite, laundry and WCs, and they deserve their own pass because water damage is expensive to chase later.
- Shower recess: check the fall to the floor waste, silicone at all junctions and that the screen is sealed
- Tiling: lippage, cracked tiles, incomplete grout and inconsistent tile spacing
- Waterproofing: at PCI you cannot see the membrane, but you can check that tiled upstands, hobs and junctions are finished and sealed
- Fixtures: taps, mixers, cisterns and basin wastes fitted straight and free of leaks
- Laundry: trough connections, tap positions and cabinetry clearances
| IMPORTANT NOTE Wet area waterproofing is inspected before tiling at the Waterproofing and Roof Cover stage of a construction progress inspection. If you did not book stage inspections, PCI is the last chance to pick up finish and sealing issues in those rooms. |
The roof space and insulation checklist
The roof space is not accessible to homeowners before handover, and your builder is unlikely to allow entry while the site is still theirs. An independent inspector checks it for you.
- Ceiling insulation: coverage across the full ceiling area, with no gaps around downlights or where trades have moved batts
- Roof frame: fixings, straps and bracing fitted, and no cut or damaged members
- Sarking and roof cover from inside: light showing through the roof cover, damaged sarking or debris left in the space
Bestwest includes a thermal imagery review of ceiling insulation at PCI. The thermal camera detects heat loss from missing insulation in the roof space, which is one of the most common findings in brand new Perth homes.
What an independent PCI adds to your own walkthrough
Your walkthrough with the site supervisor is not an independent check. The supervisor works for the builder, and the items they raise are the items they are prepared to fix.
An independent PCI carried out by a registered builder assesses the home against the National Construction Code (NCC), the relevant Australian Standards, the building plans and accepted industry tolerances, then documents every defect with a photograph. That report becomes your defects list, in a format the builder recognises and cannot easily dispute.
Bestwest Building’s extensive team of highly experienced registered builders has carried out more than 50,000 inspections to date across Perth and the South West. For two-storey homes, a $99 drone add-on captures aerial imagery of the roof cover so nothing above the gutter line is missed.
What happens after the PCI report
Your report arrives the same day. From there:
- Send the report to your builder as your practical completion defects list
- The builder rectifies the listed items within the 10 business day window
- Walk the home again against the report before you accept handover
- Consider a 6-Month Maintenance Inspection later, once the home has settled and the defects liability period in your contract is close to ending
If you want to understand the service in more depth before booking, read What is a Practical Completion Inspection? (WA Guide) or see how a PCI played out for a homeowner in Baldivis.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Practical Completion Inspections in WA
How long does a practical completion inspection take?
Most single-storey Perth homes take one and a half to two hours on site. Two-storey homes usually take longer, and the drone add-on adds a few minutes for roof imagery. The digital report is emailed the same day.
Should I attend the practical completion inspection?
You can, but you do not need to. Bestwest arranges access with the builder, and the report gives you every defect with a photograph so you can review it in your own time and forward it straight to the builder. We do recommend attending your own separate meeting with the builder at handover, as that is your opportunity to walk the home with the site supervisor.
What if the builder disagrees with items on the report?
A report from a registered builder that references the NCC and the relevant Australian Standards carries weight. Most builders rectify the listed items without argument. If a dispute remains, the report gives you documented evidence for the next step in your contract.
Is a PCI the same as a pre-handover inspection?
Yes. Pre-handover inspection, practical completion inspection and PCI all describe the same inspection carried out before you take possession of a newly built home.
How much does a practical completion inspection cost in Perth?
A standalone PCI is priced between $1,095 and $1,495 depending on the size and storey count of the home. Get an instant personalised quote at bestwestbuilding.com.au.
