Apartments
Focus on interior workmanship, functionality and accessible unit services.
- Interior finishes & joinery
- Electrical & plumbing
- AC & ventilation
- Doors, windows & glazing
- Balconies & drainage
New-Build Handover Snagging
Know your home
before handover.
An ELUMEX engineer inspects your new property before you sign, photographing each identified defect, marking it on the floor plan and assigning a priority. Keep your DEWA connection active so electricity, water and AC can be tested on the day.
Request an inspection
DubaiAbu DhabiRas Al Khaimah
- For
- Buyers receiving a new property from the developer
- Book
- Once your developer confirms the handover date
- You get
- A snagging report with photos, defect locations, and priorities
Why before you sign
Identify defects
while there’s time to act.
Your new property is a significant investment. Arrange your pre-handover snagging inspection once the developer confirms access, ideally before signing the handover documents. Recording defects at this stage gives you a clear basis to request rectification as part of the handover process. Issues reported afterwards may need separate follow-up through the developer’s defects-liability procedure, subject to your sale agreement and applicable regulation.
- 01
Your home deserves a closer look
A beautiful finish can conceal blocked drains, faulty sockets or poor cooling. Our pre-handover snagging inspection checks workmanship and accessible systems, so you understand the home you’re receiving.
- 02
Someone on your side
Your developer carries out their own completion checks. Our independent inspection is a separate assessment focused on your interests, with identified defects clearly documented for you to raise.
- 03
Peace of mind starts with clarity
Your snagging report records identified defects with photographs, locations and priorities. It gives you a clear reference for discussing outstanding issues and checking repairs during the defects-liability period.
How it works
From handover notice
to your keys.
- 01
Handover notice
Share your developer’s handover notice and property details. ELUMEX will confirm the inspection scope, quotation, and availability.
- 02
Inspection appointment
Coordinate access with your developer and confirm the inspection date. Ensure electricity, water, and AC are operational for functional testing. Prepare for your inspection
- 03
Detailed property inspection
Our inspectors assess workmanship, finishes, and accessible electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, documenting identified defects.
- 04
Inspection report
Receive your snagging report within 24 hours, including photographic evidence, defect locations, and priority classifications.
- 05
Developer rectification
Submit the inspection report to your developer for review and rectification of applicable defects.
- 06
Final handover & keys
Complete the developer’s handover formalities and proceed with key collection once the property is ready.
ELUMEX’s standard inspection includes Steps 1–4. Re-inspection and handover representation are additional services available upon request and quoted separately. Developer rectification remains the developer’s responsibility.
Example inspection report
A look inside our
inspection report.
Explore how ELUMEX documents property defects through detailed photographs, precise locations on floor plans, priority classifications and recommended corrective actions.
View sample inspection report
Illustrative example of the garage section of a handover report. Tap a finding or a pin.
What we check
Assessing essential systems
and finishing details.
Even brand-new properties can have incomplete workmanship, finishing defects and functional issues. Our inspectors assess accessible property components, carry out visual and functional checks, and use specialised equipment where appropriate to identify and document defects before handover.
01Plumbing & drainage
- DrainageFlow at every outlet, camera checks for construction debrisDrain camera
- Water pressurePressure and flow at each tap and shower
- Hot & cold waterSupply, temperature and mixer operation
- Fixtures & connectionsTaps, WCs, seals and pipework under sinks
- Water heaterHeating, safety valve and connections
Drain camera
02Electrical
- SocketsEvery socket tested for correct wiringSocket tester
- Safety switchesRCD / ELCB trip testSocket tester
- EarthingEarth connection at outlets and the boardMultimeter
- Distribution boardCircuit labels match what they actually switch
- Switches & lightsEvery switch and light fitting operated
Socket testerMultimeter
03HVAC & air conditioning
- Cooling performanceSupply and return air temperatures, room by roomThermo-hygrometer
- AirflowAir delivered at each accessible grilleAnemometer
- ThermostatsSettings, response and operation
- Condensate drainageTrays and pipes draining, no early leaks
- Thermal scanSurface temperature patterns and cooling irregularitiesThermal camera
Thermo-hygrometerAnemometerThermal camera
04Interior finishes & wet areas
- Tiles & stoneHollow areas, chips and visible repairs on new surfacesHollow tile detection
- Levels & alignmentFloors, walls and tile edges out of trueSpirit level
- Drainage slopesWet-area floors fall to the drain, without ponding
- Grout & sealantsGaps and cracks in joints, skirting and silicone
- Moisture & leakageDampness or staining that points to waterproofing failureMoisture meter
Hollow tile detectionSpirit levelMoisture meter
05Doors, windows & glazing
- Operation & alignmentEvery door and window opens, closes and fits
- Seals & gasketsGaps, damage and breaks in continuity
- Glass conditionScratches, chips and condensation trapped in the glazingInspection light
- Tracks & drainageSliding tracks, rollers and clear drainage outlets
- Locks & hardwareLocks, handles, hinges and door closers
Inspection light
06Roof & exterior
- Roof waterproofingMembrane, ponding and visible damage on accessible roofs
- Roof drains & outletsOutlets clear and draining, no debris or gravel blockage
- External walls & façadeCracks, render and paint finish on accessible walls
- Balconies & terracesFloor falls, drainage outlets and balustrades
- Boundary walls & gatesWalls, gates and their operation
Joinery, kitchens and appliances are on the same checklist, as is the pool where a villa or townhouse has one. Your quotation confirms the scope for your property.
Apartment or villa
Different properties.
Different inspection priorities.
From apartments to townhouses and villas, ELUMEX adapts the inspection scope to the property’s layout, accessible systems and external areas.
Townhouses & villas
All internal checks, plus external areas and villa features.
- Roofs & waterproofing details
- External walls & drainage
- Gardens, gates & garages
- Water tanks & pumps
- Pools & spas, where applicable
All checks are subject to property features, safe access, available utilities and the agreed inspection scope.
Every ELUMEX inspection
- Engineer-led25+ years in construction
- 2–4 hours on siteVisual, non-destructive
- Report within 24 hoursPrepared using Onsite
- Re-inspectionWhere your quotation includes it
Frequently asked questions
Questions before handover.
Short answers. Anything specific? Message us on WhatsApp.
What is a snagging inspection?
A snagging inspection is a detailed check of a new property before you accept it from the developer, recording defects and unfinished work so they can be put right. In Dubai it happens between the handover notice and signing the handover certificate. We test the services live, check finishes, glazing and wet areas, and give you a photographed list with a location and priority for every item.
When should I book a handover snagging inspection?
Book as soon as your handover notice arrives or the developer confirms the property is ready to inspect, and before you sign the handover certificate. That leaves time for the developer to repair what we find and, where your quotation includes it, for a re-inspection before you take the keys. Send us the date on your notice when you get in touch.
Should I sign the handover certificate before the snagging?
We’d inspect first, so the snag list exists before your signature does. If you’re asked to sign with items still open, make sure the list is attached to the certificate or acknowledged in writing by the developer. This is general information, and your SPA sets the actual terms.
What happens at a Dubai property handover?
Usually the handover notice, the final payment, the inspection, the handover certificate, title deed registration with the Dubai Land Department, your DEWA account and then the keys, though developers vary the details. The timeline on this page shows where the inspection sits and why it comes before the certificate.
The developer already inspected the unit. Do I still need my own?
Yes, if you want a list made for you. An inspector working for you records what you would otherwise discover in your first weeks of living there: a slow drain, a socket wired wrong, a bedroom the AC barely reaches.
Will the developer fix what you find?
That depends on your sale agreement and the defects-liability period that follows handover. What we give you is a clear, dated list to raise in writing, with a photo and a location for each item, so nothing is left open to interpretation. Our DLP inspection page explains the period after handover. This is general information; your own contract is what counts.
Is snagging worth it with a well-known developer?
Yes. A developer’s name tells you about the project; how your particular unit was finished is a separate question. Each apartment and villa is fitted out by site teams working to a deadline, and the faults that matter most, involving water, wiring and cooling, are the ones you can’t judge by looking. Finding them before you sign keeps them on the developer’s list.
How long does a handover inspection take, and can I be there?
Typically 2–4 hours on site, depending on the size and condition of the property; a large villa can take longer. You’re welcome to attend for all or part of it. If you can’t, we inspect once access is arranged through the developer’s handover team, and the report reaches you either way.
Talk to us
Got your handover notice?
Send the unit, its size, the community and the date on your notice. We’ll confirm the scope and attend on the slot you agree with the developer.
Also useful: DLP (End-of-Warranty) Snagging Inspection