If you're building a new home in Queensland and you haven't heard of a PCI inspection, you're not alone. Most new home buyers don't encounter the term until they're within weeks of handover — which is often too late to book the inspection they need.
Here's everything you need to know about what a PCI is, what it covers, and why it's the most important inspection of your entire build.
What is Practical Completion?
Practical completion is the point in the construction process where your builder considers your home essentially complete and ready for handover. At practical completion, your builder will notify you that the home is ready for you to accept the keys.
In Queensland, the timing and process for practical completion is governed by your building contract — typically a HIA or MBA standard contract. The contract will specify the notice period your builder must give you before handover, and the process for raising and resolving any final defects.
What is a PCI Inspection?
A Practical Completion Inspection — also called a handover inspection or pre-settlement inspection — is an independent assessment of your new home carried out before you sign the handover documents and accept the keys.
An independent building inspector attends your property and assesses every accessible area against the QBCC Standards and Tolerances, the National Construction Code and your builder's contract specifications. Every defect found is photographed and documented in a formal report that you present to your builder for rectification before handover proceeds.
What Does a PCI Cover?
A thorough PCI inspection covers every accessible area of the completed home. At VG Inspect this includes:
The external envelope — roof covering, flashings, gutters, downpipes, external cladding, brickwork, windows, doors, driveways, paths, site drainage and fencing.
The internal spaces — walls, ceilings, cornices, floor coverings, doors, windows, joinery, cabinetry, fixtures, fittings, electrical, plumbing and all wet areas.
The builder's contract specification — every item specified and paid for that isn't present or isn't completed to specification.
Site conditions — ground levels, drainage falls, termite barrier documentation and smoke detector installation.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an InspectionWhy Can't I Just Do It Myself?
Many new home buyers walk through their home before handover and feel confident they've identified the issues. In our experience, buyers consistently miss:
Waterproofing defects — non-compliant shower membranes are invisible once tiles are down and often only show up as water damage months later.
Structural concerns — bracing deficiencies, roof fixing problems and connection failures that require trained eyes and knowledge of the applicable standards.
QBCC tolerance breaches — a wall that looks slightly bowed to an untrained eye may or may not be outside the 4mm in 2-metre tolerance. Only measurement confirms it.
Contract compliance — items your builder was contracted to supply that simply haven't been installed.
When Should You Book?
Book your PCI inspection as soon as your builder notifies you of a handover date — ideally requesting the inspection 3 to 5 business days before you are due to sign handover documents.
Do not sign handover documents before your inspection is complete. Once you accept the keys, your legal position shifts from pre-handover (builder must rectify before payment) to post-handover (builder must rectify under warranty — a longer, more contested process).
What Happens After the PCI?
Your VG Inspect PCI report is a formal document that references specific QBCC Standards and Tolerances clauses and NCC sections for every defect found. You present this report to your builder and formally request rectification of all items before handover proceeds.
Your builder is legally obligated to respond. Under Queensland law and the QBCC Home Warranty scheme, defects identified at practical completion are the builder's responsibility to rectify before the contract is concluded.
Most builders respond to a formal, well-documented VG Inspect report within the timeframes required by your contract. The documentation is what makes the difference.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an InspectionWhat If My Builder Says the Defects Are Within Tolerance?
This is where the specific referencing in your VG Inspect report matters. Every defect we identify is measured and referenced to the applicable standard. If a builder claims something is within tolerance, we can point to the specific measurement and the specific clause that says it isn't.
Defect disputes without documentation are difficult to resolve. Defect disputes with a QBCC-referenced report are straightforward.
Book your PCI inspection before your handover date. It's the most important inspection of your entire build.
