Apartment Handover in a New Development: What to Inspect and How to Prepare a Snagging Report
The excitement of receiving your keys is often an investor's greatest vulnerability. By signing the final documents without carrying out a thorough inspection of the property, you effectively assume financial responsibility for construction defects that should be the developer's obligation to remedy. Correcting uneven floors, replacing leaking window systems, or repairing defective ventilation can consume a substantial portion of your renovation budget.
To avoid paying for the developer's workmanship issues out of your own pocket, every buyer should clearly understand how to inspect an apartment before handover and properly document any defects from both a technical and legal perspective. Given Batumi's humid coastal climate, this process requires particular attention to detail and a solid understanding of building standards.
To avoid paying for the developer's workmanship issues out of your own pocket, every buyer should clearly understand how to inspect an apartment before handover and properly document any defects from both a technical and legal perspective. Given Batumi's humid coastal climate, this process requires particular attention to detail and a solid understanding of building standards.
Leave a Request
Enter your details
It's absolutely free
Documentation Before the Inspection
A physical inspection of the apartment has little value if the development itself has unresolved legal or regulatory issues.
Before you step inside your future apartment, the developer must provide official confirmation that construction has been completed. The Handover Acceptance Certificate should only be signed after the building—or the relevant section of it—has received an official Commissioning Permit from the municipal authorities.
You should also request documentary proof that the building has been permanently connected to all municipal utility networks, rather than relying on temporary construction utilities.
If electricity or water supplies remain unstable, it will be impossible to properly test the apartment's electrical installations, plumbing, and other engineering systems.
The Most Critical Inspection Points: Investor Checklist
A standard property handover inspection in Batumi focuses on several critical building components. Batumi's subtropical climate, high humidity, and frequent wind-driven rain quickly expose even minor construction defects.
You should:
- Ventilation Performance: Place an ordinary sheet of paper over the bathroom ventilation grille while a window is slightly open. If the paper does not adhere to the grille, the ventilation draft is insufficient. This significantly increases the likelihood of mold growth during the first winter season.
- Waterproofing and Window Systems: Carefully inspect the installation joints around windows and curtain wall glazing. Moisture stains, drafts, or condensation inside double-glazed units indicate serious installation defects that normally require complete replacement of the affected window system at the developer's expense.
- Wall Alignment and Floor Level: Use a laser level or a straightedge to verify the geometry of the walls and floor. Vertical deviation should generally not exceed 3 mm per meter. Uneven screed may later cause laminate flooring to creak and prevent proper installation of built-in furniture.
You should:
- test every electrical outlet using a multimeter;
- verify water pressure at all plumbing connection points;
- inspect finished plaster surfaces for cracks or shrinkage.
Location Matters: How Different Areas Affect the Inspection Process
A property's investment potential and technical risks are closely connected to its location.
Different districts of Batumi present different construction challenges, requiring buyers to focus on different aspects during the handover inspection.
Different districts of Batumi present different construction challenges, requiring buyers to focus on different aspects during the handover inspection.
Inspection Priorities by Location
The Snagging Report: How to Ensure the Developer Corrects Defects
Every deviation from the approved construction standards should be documented in writing.
Do not rely on verbal promises from the site manager that "everything will be fixed tomorrow."
If the apartment fails to meet the required standard, you should prepare a formal Snagging Report (Defect List) describing every identified issue in detail and supporting each item with photographs.
The report should be prepared in two original copies:
Only after a follow-up inspection confirms that all defects have been corrected should you sign the final handover documents.
Given the technical complexity of the process, hiring an independent snagging inspector or building surveyor is often one of the best investments a buyer can make, preventing unexpected repair costs in the future.
If the apartment fails to meet the required standard, you should prepare a formal Snagging Report (Defect List) describing every identified issue in detail and supporting each item with photographs.
The report should be prepared in two original copies:
- one copy remains with the buyer;
- the second copy is signed and acknowledged by the developer's representative.
Only after a follow-up inspection confirms that all defects have been corrected should you sign the final handover documents.
Given the technical complexity of the process, hiring an independent snagging inspector or building surveyor is often one of the best investments a buyer can make, preventing unexpected repair costs in the future.
Why Work with Cappuccino Estate?
Purchasing directly from a developer without professional representation creates the risk of overlooking critical legal provisions during contract negotiations—provisions that may later determine your ability to enforce your rights during the property handover process.
The team at Cappuccino Estate specializes in Batumi's primary real estate market and establishes a strong legal foundation long before construction is completed.
We carefully verify every developer's reputation and ensure that purchase agreements include clear contractual obligations and enforceable penalties for construction defects and delivery delays.
While we do not perform technical snagging inspections ourselves—this is the responsibility of qualified independent engineers—we ensure that every transaction is legally structured so that the developer remains fully accountable for correcting any verified defects before the handover process is completed.
To see our catalog, just click the button below
The team at Cappuccino Estate specializes in Batumi's primary real estate market and establishes a strong legal foundation long before construction is completed.
We carefully verify every developer's reputation and ensure that purchase agreements include clear contractual obligations and enforceable penalties for construction defects and delivery delays.
While we do not perform technical snagging inspections ourselves—this is the responsibility of qualified independent engineers—we ensure that every transaction is legally structured so that the developer remains fully accountable for correcting any verified defects before the handover process is completed.
To see our catalog, just click the button below
FAQ
1. Can I refuse to sign the Handover Acceptance Certificate if the defects are only minor?
Yes. You are fully entitled to refuse acceptance of the property until all defects, including seemingly minor issues such as scratches on window frames or improperly installed electrical outlets, have been corrected. The key requirement is to record your refusal formally within the written Snagging Report.
2. What should I do if the developer refuses to sign the Snagging Report?
If this happens, the report should be sent to the developer's registered legal address by registered mail with an inventory of contents. This documentation may become crucial evidence should the dispute later proceed to court.
3. Can I begin renovation work while the developer is still correcting defects?
This is strongly discouraged. Beginning renovation before the official Handover Acceptance Certificate has been signed may legally be interpreted as acceptance of the apartment in its current condition. The developer could subsequently argue that you accepted the property and therefore no longer bears responsibility for correcting unfinished construction work or hidden defects.
Yes. You are fully entitled to refuse acceptance of the property until all defects, including seemingly minor issues such as scratches on window frames or improperly installed electrical outlets, have been corrected. The key requirement is to record your refusal formally within the written Snagging Report.
2. What should I do if the developer refuses to sign the Snagging Report?
If this happens, the report should be sent to the developer's registered legal address by registered mail with an inventory of contents. This documentation may become crucial evidence should the dispute later proceed to court.
3. Can I begin renovation work while the developer is still correcting defects?
This is strongly discouraged. Beginning renovation before the official Handover Acceptance Certificate has been signed may legally be interpreted as acceptance of the apartment in its current condition. The developer could subsequently argue that you accepted the property and therefore no longer bears responsibility for correcting unfinished construction work or hidden defects.
Contact Us
Get in touch with us by phone or via messengers for a consultation and help choosing the right property.
+995 557 326 104
cappuccinoestate@gmail.com
cappuccinoestate@gmail.com
Georgia, Batumi
