Handover is when many contractors disappear. For us it is a named phase on the programme - joint walkthrough, written snag list, and a close-out pack you can hold.
The joint walkthrough
Client, project lead and finishing supervisor walk the building room by room. Every mark goes on a list with an owner and a date. Nothing is “we will look at it later” without a name.
The close-out pack
- As-built drawings and key product data sheets
- Warranties and service contacts for equipment
- Paint and finish schedules for future repair
- Snag list signed closed - or still open items with dates
If you cannot find who to call six months later, handover failed - even if the photos looked finished.
After the keys
We stay reachable for seasonal settlement and genuine defects covered by the agreement. That is not unlimited free work - it is continuity. The difference matters, and it should be written down.
A simple test
Before you celebrate, ask: do I have the drawings, the warranties, the closed snag list, and a phone number that still works? If any answer is no, you do not have handover yet - you have a ceremony.
