There is a myth that as soon as a new building is put into operation, then investors "breathe out" and automatically pass to the category of full-fledged real estate owners.
But the change of status does not mean that all experiences are behind - the acceptance of a new one apartments needs new worries and cares. Not by hearsay, many people know that most often repairs are another stumbling block, an additional reason for the divorce of spouses and the antagonism of the most inseparable friends, because "it is more visible from the outside." It's a funny fact, it turns out that not everyone is aware of the fact that before handing over the apartment to the hands of designers, painters and tilers, you will have to learn what it is like to accept an apartment in a new building and what it is eaten with. We will take this stage into pieces to understand how everything is arranged.
Self-inspector, or what to "arm" when accepting an apartment on your own?
The developer is probably a nice little guy, however, after receiving an invitation from the developer to inspect the built apartment, it is not necessary to take a Roshen cake. And what then? Well, at least: a pen and a piece of paper. And:
- a reliable and powerful lantern;
- construction level;
- laser or conventional tape measure;
- corner;
- small ladders;
- several bottles of water and rags (wet kitchen napkins and microfiber rags can replace them);
- smartphone, phone or camera;
- marker or colored chalk.
This list is universal to accept as an apartment from the developer. However, in the cold season, it will be necessary to "arm" yourself with a thermal imager, which will allow you to assess the quality of insulation of apartment walls and spot "cold spots" in unauthorized places. And if the contract also stipulates electrical wiring, then take a voltage tester with you.
The system is our everything, or accepting an apartment from the developer
This is not a chaotic process, where you just looked at everything, lowered your hands, and went your way. Experts strongly recommend taking the time to move from room to room and inspect each of them clockwise or counterclockwise. At the same time, the visual inspection is supplemented with the use of all the above-mentioned tools, which will make the question of how to accept an apartment from the developer much easier. So, for example, with the help of a level you can assess the evenness of the walls and floor, as well as the correct installation of heating equipment, the corner will be useful when you evaluate the geometry of the corners between walls, window slopes, as well as door openings, the lantern will be useful for inspecting bathrooms and etc. .
Many are interested in what to pay attention to when accepting an apartment without decoration, with rough repair or "turnkey". Next, we collected all the main nuances that future apartment owners should pay close attention to.
How to accept an apartment in a new building with rough decoration
Most often, when handing over an apartment to an investor with rough decoration or even "without decoration", the developer still performs part of the finishing works. Here is a sample list:
- rough floor screed
- distribution of the heating system (mounted immediately with radiators)
- installation of windows and entrance doors.
These are the basic components of any home and it is desirable that they are made of the highest quality, otherwise troubles in the form of flooding, faulty wiring, and as a result, fire simply cannot be avoided.
Checklist for the acceptance of an apartment from a developer with rough decoration
- The walls
Make sure they are located according to the plan of the apartment. There are no niches not foreseen by the planning, that they are not at an angle to each other, and that there are no horizontal differences between the floor and the ceiling. If the walls are made of brick or gas block, carefully examine literally every centimeter of masonry. It should be neat and not have through holes, cracks in the blocks and gaps between. By the way, if the cracks are not completely filled with solution, there is a possibility that mold may appear in the future. Thus, if this work is not done by a contractor, the tenant will have to do it themselves.
Importantly! Accepting an apartment from a developer involves checking dents, chips or protrusions on concrete walls. The angle between the walls must be the same everywhere and be 90 degrees, you can use a corner to check compliance with this requirement.
- Floor and ceiling.
They are located strictly horizontally, without signs of inflows and traces of the flood. The most problematic places are under the heating radiators. Floors and ceilings must be connected to the surrounding walls and be at an angle of 90 degrees. Here, again, a corner will be needed.
If communications pass through the floor and ceiling, it is necessary to concrete the seam carefully so as not to pierce it. And, of course, there should be no traces of water drops on the floor, walls and ceiling. Are you here? Yes, accepting an apartment from a developer is a very interesting thing, and it only gets more interesting!
- Door openings.
There should be no significant deviations in width, horizontal or vertical. The width can be checked with a tape measure (measure the hole in several places), and the correctness of the geometry of the hole can be checked with a level and a tape measure.
- Radiator.
It should be installed horizontally, at a distance of 3-5 cm from the wall, 7-12 cm from the floor and 5-10 cm from the windowsill (this can be measured with a tape measure). If the radiator is adjustable, the valve should work without excessive stiffness, but at the same time should not hang freely. The pipe leading to the radiator should not have traces of physical action (dents or scratches from impacts). Your acceptance of an apartment from a Kyiv developer can take place without your participation, because you can contact a special service at any time.
- windows
It is recommended to pay special attention to both the design of the window itself and the quality of its manufacture. First, experts advise to carefully inspect the glass for scratches and cracks, as well as factory defects (such as air bubbles or internal dirt). Next, check the presence of jambs on all windows and evaluate the quality of installation of window fittings. The handle should move smoothly and allow easy opening and closing of the window in any mode (including winter ventilation). If the paper cannot be pulled out with the sash closed, then the installation was done correctly and the window is sealed, otherwise the settings need to be adjusted. Accepting an apartment in a new building with decoration involves checking the quality of window installation from A to Z, so inspect the outside as well. There should be no scratches or damage to the finish of the frame, and there should be no voids or holes between the wall and the frame.
A little advice from experts: do not neglect the "passing" of the level around the balcony frame. The result of this simple action will not only surprise many, but also save money on the replacement of balcony blocks:) And also help to accept an apartment from the developer without leaving unnecessary questions and doubts.
- Ventilation.
The ventilation check should be carried out with the windows open in the "winter ventilation" mode. The procedure is quite simple: place a sheet of paper over the vent. If it remains attracted to the entrance of the channel, then there are no problems with ventilation.
- Sewerage and water supply.
In the "unfinished apartment" option, it is impossible to assess the quality of sewage. But in bathrooms (that's where you'll need a powerful flashlight) and kitchens, it makes sense to first make sure there's a sewer line with a tee to connect the outlet. And the second is to check the absence of chips, cracks and dents. If you seem to have reviewed everything, however, there is a question in your mind: what else should you pay attention to when accepting an apartment in a new building? Then check the functionality of not only the cold and hot water faucets, but also the shut-off fittings.
- Electricity.
It is impossible to visually assess anything here (except for the accuracy of installation of the switchboard), and it is still scary to "poke" a measuring screwdriver into the source of increased danger. This is especially true if you are not a licensed electrician. Therefore, it is recommended to invite an expert to carry out such an inspection, he will help to accept an apartment in a new building faster and more efficiently.
- Entry doors.
Its shape should traditionally be checked using a corner and a level. In addition, it is useful to evaluate the ease of reliability of the frame installation (there should be no gaps or through holes between the frame and the wall), the ease of opening the lock (from the point of view of adjusting the mechanism), the integrity of the cladding, the reliability of the fittings (and in some cases, their presence). By the way, to judge the quality of the installation of the entrance door, it is enough to try to open the door at 45 degrees.
How to accept an apartment in a newly renovated building
A furnished apartment means that the home is completely ready for future residents. Floor and wall coverings (usually tiles, laminate and wallpaper) are installed, interior doors are installed, window frames are installed, bathroom plumbing is installed, etc.
There is not much difference between the inspections, it is very similar to the inspection of an apartment with rough decoration, but you should not lose your vigilance and pay attention to a couple of important nuances.
Checklist of apartment acceptance from the developer with final finishing
- Tile.
Floor and wall tiles should not "walk" - do not be too lazy to tap each "rectangle" at least with your knuckles. A "dull" sound means that behind it there is a cavity in which condensate accumulates and mold grows. Tiles must be laid exactly in geometry and at the same height (without protrusions and depressions). Such simple tips will guide you in the question of how to properly accept an apartment in a new building from a developer. By the way, if you decide buy a house in Kyiv, we recommend contacting the best elite real estate agency THE Capital.
- Wallpaper and laminate/linoleum.
Wallpaper should be pasted evenly so that no overlaps or joints are visible. Of course, there should not be any "bubbles" and glue flows. The laminate should be smooth, without creaks. The plinth is tightly pressed to the floor or wall, and the sealant does not protrude from under it.
- Doors and doors.
What else to look for when accepting an apartment in a new building? We recommend checking the quality of construction and the evenness of all interior doors. This is similar to the front door check we talked about a little earlier. You should also pay attention to the strength of the door frame, there should be no chips and scratches.
- Plumbing.
To check the operation of the plumbing, simply flush the toilet tank 5-6 times. The tank should not leak, but it should fill up quickly enough and not make too much noise. Pay attention to the operation of the bathtub, sink and shower drains. To do this, fill them with water (not completely, but 10-20 liters should be enough) and evaluate the intensity of the flow.
Importantly! If when you enter your apartment you see a pile of construction debris (and not only it), it shouldn't be like that. All traces of the construction process must be removed by the developer.
Experts on accepting an apartment in a new building in Ukraine recommend checking the apartment slowly and thoroughly. Even if the developer's representative tries to pressure you and put you in an uncomfortable position ("How much longer will it take, it's already been half an hour and we have ten more inspections today"), you can inspect the premises for an hour, two hours, three hours or as long as you like. You need. Of course, it will not be superfluous to extend the fun for the whole day :)
See also: What is self-development and how to legitimize it?
Accepting a new apartment from the developer, what else to pay attention to
- All noticed defects must be marked with a marker or small, numbered and photographed and entered in the so-called "defect record", as well as handed over to the developer's representative after inspection.
- During the inspection, do not forget to measure all the parameters of the room, such as the height of the ceiling and the area of the walls. Write down (and photograph) all meter readings, their numbers and the presence/absence of seals.
- If you feel that you cannot find all the "flaws" of the developer, contact a professional. There are many companies on the market that will inspect your apartment before signing the act of acceptance and transfer and check for defects made by the developer.
We study the contract and measure the apartment
The moment when you are asked to sign the handover deed and hand over the keys to the apartment you have been waiting for and dreamed of for so long is a very emotional moment for most people. And many people who are in this euphoric moment want to become a full-fledged owner and tenant of their apartment as soon as possible and do not think about how to accept an apartment in a new building with rough decoration and such trifles as uneven walls, lack of sockets or gaps in the windows. And after the euphoria passes, they have to pay bitterly, correcting all the developer's mistakes at their own expense.
When you accept an apartment from a developer, experts advise to pay attention to what is stated in the contract and whether the list of completed works meets the terms of the contract.
For example, an investor may not demand from the developer screeds on the floor or plaster on the walls, if the contract states that the apartment will be rented without decoration. However, if the contract states that the balcony will be glazed, but in fact it is not glazed, the investor must demand such work from the developer.
Usually, during the conclusion of the contract, the employee of BTI measures the apartment, and if the total area of the apartment turns out to be smaller or larger than specified in the contract, the developer or buyer must pay extra or return the money for the extra or missing square meters and not worry about how to accept a new apartment, because everything is written in the contract.
See also: Where is it better to buy an apartment: in a new building or on the secondary market?
The main thing is that the amount that will have to be paid for additional square meters is indicated at the stage of signing the contract. You may think you will pay the same rate as when you bought the condo, but the developer may require you to pay the current price.
Accepting an apartment from a developer, what to pay attention to in the event of a conflict, recommendations of a lawyer.
If, after all, there is a conflict with the developer, then you need to write a statement to the senior manager or another responsible person with a request to eliminate the shortcomings in the apartment, describing in detail those moments that do not suit you. Your application must be accepted and you must issue a copy. You must also provide a deadline for remedying the deficiencies. Only after liquidating what is not satisfactory, you can sign the act of acceptance of the apartment from the developer. Otherwise, after signing the deed, it is very difficult to prove that the defects and the construction marriage are the work of the builders. The developer may later claim that the investor did not make a claim to the company at the time of signing the act of acceptance and transfer, and the problem with the apartment is the result of the actions of the buyer himself after the transfer of the apartment.
Now you know the procedure for receiving an apartment from a developer. Without special training, it is very difficult to detect marriage and defects, and also "by eye", without equipment. Therefore, decide for yourself how much you are ready to spend your precious time on this process or it is better to contact a special service that will professionally carry out the acceptance of your home. In any case, good luck! Subscribe to our updates real estate portal and receive the latest publications from the real estate agency THE Capital.