Handover (PCI) Inspections in Brisbane
The handover or practical completion inspection, often called a PCI, is your last detailed look over the home before you make the final payment and take the keys. For Brisbane buyers across the northern suburbs and the bayside east, our builder-inspectors walk the whole house inside and out and assess finishes, paint, tiling, grout and silicone, along with the operation of doors, windows, cabinetry and wet areas, against the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide. We record every defect and incomplete item in a clear report with photos that you can hand straight to your builder. Because final payment is your strongest point of leverage, having an independent list of what still needs attention helps make sure the home is genuinely finished before you release the money.
Book an InspectionHandover (PCI) Inspection from $660 · Same-day digital report · QBCC Licence 1318443 · Call 07 3180 8041
Why a handover (pci) inspection matters in Brisbane
The handover/PCI is your last leverage before the final payment — a documented defect list the builder is contractually expected to rectify. Get the date to your inspector early, because builders often give short notice.
At Brisbane handover we commonly flag paint finish and coverage, tiling lippage and grout and silicone quality, chips and scratches on glass, benchtops and cabinetry, door and window operation and alignment, and plumbing and drainage function, all judged against the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide using its viewing-distance rules such as 1.5m for walls.
Local conditions in Brisbane
Brisbane's new-build activity runs from the northern suburbs — Aspley, Bracken Ridge, Carseldine and the Fitzgibbon priority development area — out to the bayside east around Wynnum and Manly West. Much of it sits on reactive clay and some on filled or sloping lots, which makes the early slab and frame stages worth getting right. Our builder-inspectors cover the whole metro area and send a same-day photo report referenced to the NCC, the relevant Australian Standards and the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide.
What we check at the handover (pci) stage
At practical completion, before you sign off and pay the final claim, we check every finished element against the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide:
Finishes & function
- Paint, plaster, tiling, grout and silicone to the QBCC tolerances
- Doors, windows and cabinetry operation and alignment
- Floor, wall and ceiling finishes from a normal viewing position
Services & external
- Plumbing, electrical and functional checks
- External cladding, roof, gutters and drainage
- Site, paths and any damage before handover
Every item is photographed and referenced to the relevant Australian Standard, NCC clause or the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide, then delivered in a same-day digital report you can hand straight to your builder. See the full handover (pci) inspection details, or read how to choose a new-build inspector in Queensland.
Other inspection stages across Brisbane
Most owners book several stages so defects are caught before the next trade covers them. Alongside the handover (pci) inspection, we also inspect across Brisbane:
Suburbs we cover in Brisbane
We inspect new builds across the whole Brisbane City Council area, including:
Inspection pricing in Brisbane
Handover (PCI) Inspection FAQs — Brisbane
When do I book a PCI inspection in Brisbane?
At practical completion, once the builder says the home is finished, but before you make the final payment, so any defects can be listed while you still have leverage.
What standard are defects judged against at handover?
We assess finishes and workmanship against the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide, which sets viewing distances and acceptable limits for a new home.
How much is a handover inspection?
Handover inspections are $660 for homes under 220 square metres. You receive a detailed defect report with photos to give to your builder before final payment.
Your inspector
Your Brisbane inspection is carried out by a VG Inspect builder-inspector — a QBCC-licensed builder who inspects new builds full-time. Every VG Inspect inspector is a builder first and holds their own QBCC licence, and every report is checked before it's sent. You can verify any licence on the QBCC online licence search. VG Inspect holds a 5.0 rating across over 100 verified reviews and is fully insured.
Book your Brisbane handover (pci) inspection
Give us the date as early as you can — builders often give short notice. Same-day report.
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