Your Practical Completion Inspection is the final independent check of your new home before you accept the keys. A little preparation makes the day run smoothly and helps you get the most from your inspection. Here is a clear, step-by-step guide for new-home buyers across South East Queensland.
Step 1: Book Early
The single most useful thing you can do is book your Practical Completion Inspection as soon as your builder gives you an indication of when the home will reach practical completion. Handover dates can move, but securing an inspection slot early means you are not scrambling in the final week.
Aim to have your inspection carried out three to five business days before you are due to sign handover documents. This window gives time for the report to be reviewed and for any items to be discussed with your builder before the contract is concluded. Booking early also means you can choose a date that suits you rather than taking whatever is left.
It also helps to confirm a few practical details when you book: the home's address and lot number, your builder's name and your site supervisor's contact, and the approximate floor area so the right inspection scope and price are set from the start. A Practical Completion Inspection is from $660 for homes under 220m², so knowing the size up front avoids any surprises. Getting these basics locked in early means the only thing left to do as handover approaches is confirm the final date.
Step 2: Gather Your Contract and Specifications
A PCI is not only about the quality of the finished work — it is also about confirming you received everything you were contracted to receive. To make that possible, gather your building contract, your full specification, your colour and selection schedule, and any variation documents agreed during the build.
These documents let your inspector cross-check the finished home against what was promised: the right tiles, the specified tapware, the agreed cabinetry, the inclusions you paid for. Without them, even the most thorough inspection can only assess quality, not contract compliance. Having them ready turns your PCI into a complete picture.
If your build involved variations along the way — an upgraded benchtop, an extra power point, a change to a floor covering — make sure those variation documents are in the bundle too. Variations are easy to lose track of over a long build, yet they are exactly the kind of item that should be reflected in the finished home. Bringing the complete paper trail means nothing you agreed to and paid for slips through unchecked.
Step 3: Know What Practical Completion Means
Practical completion is the point in your contract at which the builder considers the home essentially finished and ready for handover. In Queensland, the timing and process are governed by your building contract — commonly an HIA or MBA standard contract — which sets out the notice your builder gives and the process for raising final items.
Understanding this milestone helps you set expectations. A PCI is designed to assess the home in its finished state, so the more complete the home is on the day, the more useful the inspection. If you know significant work is still in progress, a quick conversation with your builder about timing helps everyone.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an InspectionStep 4: Make Sure the Home Is Ready
For the inspection to capture the home accurately, it should be at practical completion — trades finished, the site reasonably clear, and services connected where possible. Power and water being on allows your inspector to check that fixtures, fittings and wet areas function as intended.
This is a collaborative point, not a hurdle. Your builder wants the home presented at its best, and so do you. A home that is genuinely at practical completion lets the inspector assess paintwork under proper lighting, test windows and doors, check drainage falls, and confirm wet areas against AS 3740 and NCC Volume 2 Part 3.8.1.1.
It also helps if the home is reasonably clean and accessible on the day. Clear access to the meter box, the hot water system, under-sink areas and the roof space lets your inspector assess elements that are easy to overlook, such as the termite management notice required under AS 3660.1 and the connection of services. None of this needs to be perfect — your builder is still finalising the home — but the more accessible it is, the more complete the assessment can be.
Step 5: Attend the Inspection (and What to Bring)
You are welcome to attend your PCI, and many buyers across corridors like Morayfield choose to. Attending lets the inspector walk you through findings on site and answer questions in context. If you cannot attend, your detailed report is delivered afterwards regardless.
If you do attend, bring your contract and specification documents, comfortable footwear, and a notebook or phone for your own notes. Allow a couple of hours and try not to schedule anything tight immediately afterwards, so there is room for a proper walk-through. Your inspector handles the technical assessment against the QBCC Standards and Tolerances — your job is simply to be informed.
Step 6: Use Your Report Effectively
After the inspection, you receive a detailed PDF report with photographs, referencing the specific QBCC Standards and Tolerances clauses, NCC sections and Australian Standards relevant to each item. This is the document that does the work.
Provide the report to your builder so any items can be addressed before handover proceeds. Because every item is clause-referenced, your site supervisor has clear, specific information to act on — which is exactly how a constructive handover should run. We work alongside builders, and a well-documented report helps both sides reach a good outcome. You can also read more about your rights and the Standards and Tolerances Guide on the QBCC website.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an InspectionA Quick Pre-PCI Checklist
To bring it all together, here is a simple checklist to run through in the week before your Practical Completion Inspection:
Confirm the inspection date sits three to five business days before you are due to sign handover documents.
Gather your paperwork — the building contract, full specification, colour and selection schedule, and all variation documents.
Check the home is at practical completion with your builder, so trades are finished and services are connected where possible.
Decide whether you will attend in person, and if so, allow a couple of hours and bring comfortable footwear and your documents.
Plan how you will use the report — note that it arrives as a detailed PDF with photographs, ready to share with your builder.
Keep the lines open with your site supervisor so any items in the report can be discussed constructively before handover proceeds.
Running through this short list turns a potentially stressful milestone into a straightforward one. If anything on the list is not yet sorted as the week begins, that is your cue to make a quick call — to us to confirm timing, or to your builder to confirm the home's readiness. A five-minute conversation a few days out prevents almost every last-minute scramble.
Related Reading
Still deciding which inspections you need? Our guide on PCI vs stage inspections compares your options. For timing, see When Should I Book My Handover Inspection. And once you are in your new home, understanding what your builder's warranty covers helps you make the most of your 12-month defect liability period.
A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector (QBCC Licence 1318443) attends every Practical Completion Inspection personally — rated 5.0 from 65 reviews across South East Queensland. Call 07 3180 8041 or book your inspection online.