Settlement and early ownership
The final inspection: complete checklist
What to check against your contract and original inspection notes in the week before settlement — and exactly what to do if you find a problem.
- You're entitled to inspect the property at any reasonable time during the week before settlement.
- The purpose is narrow: confirm handover condition matches the contract, not to renegotiate the whole deal.
- If you find a problem, document it and contact your conveyancer immediately — don't agree informally with the agent or refuse to settle without legal advice.
- Confirm vacant possession or continuing tenancy, every inclusion, and agreed repairs are actually complete, not just promised.
When and why
You're entitled to inspect the property at any reasonable time during the week before settlement (Consumer Affairs Victoria, verified 29 Jul 2026). The purpose is narrow and specific: confirm the property is being handed over in the condition the contract requires, not to renegotiate the deal. Bring the contract, your inclusions and exclusions list, your original inspection photos, any building-report notes, and a phone or camera.
What to check outside
New damage since your original inspection; the roof and gutters from ground level; fencing and gates; the garage; landscaping and any included plants or structures; rubbish removed if the contract requires it; a pool's condition and equipment; and any included sheds, water tanks or solar equipment still present.
What to check inside
Walls, floors and ceilings for new damage; windows, doors and locks; lights and power points; taps and drains; hot water and heating /cooling; every included appliance actually present and apparently working; smoke alarms; and any visible new leaks.
Handover items to confirm
Vacant possession where the contract requires it, or that a continuing tenant remains where the property is sold subject to a lease; every inclusion listed in the contract is still there and excluded items are removed; agreed repairs are actually complete, not just promised; and — separately from the physical inspection — that you know how keys, remotes, access cards, alarm codes, manuals and warranties will be handed over on settlement day.
If you find a problem
- Photograph and record it immediately, with the date.
- Don't agree informally with the agent about a fix or a price adjustment.
- Contact your conveyancer or solicitor immediately, not after settlement.
- Let them advise whether to request rectification, seek an adjustment, delay settlement, or proceed — this decision has real legal and financial consequences and isn't one to make on the spot at the property.
- Don't refuse to settle without legal advice — the contract may not give you that option even where a real problem exists.
Worked example
A buyer's final inspection finds the dishwasher listed as an inclusion is missing, and a new crack has appeared in a bedroom ceiling since their original inspection. They photograph both, note the time, and call their conveyancer before settlement rather than raising it directly with the agent. Their conveyancer contacts the seller's representative in writing, and the missing dishwasher is resolved by a price adjustment; the ceiling crack is assessed as new and minor, and settlement proceeds with the seller agreeing to a small holdback pending repair.
Practical checklist
Final inspection checklist
- Bring the contract, inclusions list, original photos and any building-report notes
- Check exterior: new damage, roof/gutters, fencing, garage, landscaping, pool
- Check interior: walls, floors, windows, taps, appliances, smoke alarms, new leaks
- Confirm vacant possession (or continuing tenancy) and every inclusion is present
- Photograph and date anything new or missing, and call your conveyancer before settlement
Questions for a professional
- I found [specific issue] at the final inspection — what are my options before settlement?
- Can settlement be delayed, or should we proceed with an adjustment or holdback?
Official resources
Sources and methodology
- Before property settlement — Consumer Affairs Victoria (retrieved 29 Jul 2026)
Figures on this page are drawn from Delora's local knowledge graph, refreshed from these primary sources and checked for changes on a regular schedule. If a figure here looks out of date, the official source above is always the authority — please let us know.