The last day of a refurbishment can feel like a race to get the furniture back in. Yet a proper handover deserves its own appointment. You need time to walk through the work, understand what has been installed and agree what still needs attention.
For a homeowner moving back into a South West London flat, or an agent collecting keys on an owner’s behalf, the useful question is simple: could someone who missed every site meeting take over the property with the information you have?
Start with the agreed work, room by room
Bring the final specification and any agreed changes. Walk through each room in the same order as the scope, rather than trying to remember every conversation. Check that the fittings, finishes and items retained are the ones agreed.
Open cupboard doors and drawers. Look at the paintwork, floor edges and junctions between different materials in ordinary daylight. Check that doors open without catching new flooring and that removable panels remain accessible. Do not remove electrical covers or dismantle fittings to inspect hidden work.
If something needs attention, record the room, exact location and what you can see. “Bedroom, wall beside the window: paint coverage uneven” is easier to act on than “painting unfinished”. Add a photograph and agree who will deal with it and when it will be reviewed.
Keep requests for extra work separate from defects in the agreed work. That makes the remaining decisions clearer for everyone.
Ask for a demonstration, not just a folder
Have the relevant installer show you the controls you will actually use. That might mean the extractor settings, heating programmer, appliance isolators or the location of the water stop tap. Ask which accessible valves serve new fittings and how to report a problem.
You should leave knowing which instructions apply to each product, not just holding a pile of similar-looking booklets. Record model numbers where they are easily accessible and keep manuals together. For appliances you supplied yourself, check who is responsible for any outstanding setup or registration.
A handover walk-through is not a substitute for professional inspection or testing. If an item cannot be demonstrated because the work is incomplete, record that explicitly rather than treating it as checked.
Check which certificates belong with the job
Not every decorating or refurbishment job needs the same paperwork. Before the handover, ask the contractor to list the documents relevant to the work actually carried out, who issues them and anything still outstanding.
Where building control approval applies, establish the status with the building control body handling the project. GOV.UK explains the approval routes, including separate arrangements for higher-risk buildings. Do not assume that a contractor’s completion email is the building control completion certificate.
Where electrical installation work forms part of the refurbishment, ask the electrician for the appropriate certification for that work and any applicable Building Regulations compliance documentation. Electrical Safety First’s guidance explains the importance of using a registered electrician and obtaining certification. Ask the issuer to explain what each document covers.
Save the documents against the property address and the work date. A clearly named folder is much easier to retrieve later than attachments scattered through months of messages.
Leave instructions for the next person
For a flat in a shared building, check the agreed arrangements for returning communal keys, removing temporary protection and clearing the access route. If a managing agent is receiving the handover, identify who needs the documents and who will approve any remaining items.
Keep paint colours and product references, care instructions for surfaces, and the agreed location of any spare tiles or flooring. Ask when newly applied finishes can be cleaned or put into normal use; follow the product-specific instructions rather than a general rule picked up online.
For a rented property, separate the owner’s project records from the simple operating information the resident will need. Avoid including private contractor correspondence or access codes in a widely shared folder.
Finish with one agreed list
Before everyone leaves, bring the outstanding points into a single dated list. Give each item an owner and an agreed next step. Record what has been completed as well as what remains, and keep payment arrangements tied to your actual contract rather than assumptions made on the day.
Planning the handover early makes this easier. If you are still deciding the scope, our full refurbishment service is a useful starting point. Tell OSPM about your South West London property, including the postcode, rooms involved and whether a homeowner or agent will receive the finished work.
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