COMMON DEFECTS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

 Flooring problems
 Roof and gutter blockages
 Wall cracks and weak foundations
 Plumbing and drainage
 Insulation materials and cladding
 Faulty or damaged window installation
 Electrical wiring
 Ventilation issues

WALLS AND CEILINGS

 Wavy and uneven surface

 Paint stains or cement residue
 Cracks, holes or chips in the wall or ceiling
 Missing plaster or paint jobs
 Any fungus or water marks
 Lumps, bubbles or flaky paint
 Any protruding objects (e.g. nails, stray pipes, loose wiring, etc.)

√ Make sure that there are no stains , rough patches or chips on the wall
√ Walls near doors and windows should not have watermarks
√ Inspect the straightness of the ceiling and wall corners

TILES AND FLOOR

 Any missing, cracked, chipped and slanting tiles

 Gaps in the wall skirting
 Hollow tiles. You can lightly tap the tiles and observe if there is a hollow sound.
 Paint stains or cement residue

√ To check for any defects in the floor and tiles, lightly tap the tiles with a screwdriver and observe if there
is a hollow sound. A hollow echo means the ground beneath that piece of tile might not be cemented
properly.

DOORS AND WINDOWS

 Poor workmanship, such as missing screws, damage, rust or dirt

 Any gaps between doors/windows and their frame
 Any dents, cracks or scratches on doors or window glass surface
 Improper installation
 Malfunctioning locks
 √ Gently open and close all doors and windows in your new home to ensure that they can be opened
easily without obstruction or squeaky sound.

FITTINGS AND FIXTURES

 Electrical points
 Taps
 Sinks
 Bathroom accessories
 Toilet accessories
 Security or alarm system

If possible, you should engage a professional electrician to help you in checking the electrical points and
connections to make sure that they are properly installed and work well. Make sure that all electrical
points are properly secured:
√ Properly aligned fittings
√ No gaps or exposed electrical wires
√ All switches and sockets are functional

WATER PIPES

 Exposed pipes
 Incorrect pipe fixtures

√ Turn on all pipes to check whether they are all working properly, such as the water pressure
√ Pour a pail of water down the drainage hole, and check if the water discharges quickly or if there are any
clogs in the basin drainage.
√ Pour a pail of water on the bathroom floors to check if there is a water ponding problem. A properly
sloped floor should not have water ponding issues.