A final inspection is an opportunity to identify changes between the sale and settlement. It is not a second chance to renegotiate every feature you have reconsidered. The useful task is to document differences from the condition and inclusions agreed in the contract, then give your conveyancer time to assess them.
Use our conveyancing referral service to find independent support early in the purchase. Once engaged, contact that professional directly about a change. Our settlement guide covers the wider process; inspection access and remedies depend on your jurisdiction and contract.
Arrange access early enough to act
Ask when the contract or local rules permit a final inspection and book with the agent. Consumer Affairs Victoria describes inspection rights during the week before settlement and checking that contracted items remain in the right condition. That timing should not be assumed to apply nationally.
Take the inclusions list, relevant contract terms and any earlier inspection notes. A building report can help distinguish a pre-existing issue from an apparent new change, but it may not record every appliance or cosmetic detail. Do not treat the final walkthrough as a replacement for professional building or pest inspection.
Capture facts rather than conclusions
- Identify the room or location, the item and what appears different.
- Take dated photographs or video with a wider view as well as detail, where access and privacy permit.
- Compare with earlier records and note whether the previous condition can actually be established.
- Record missing contracted inclusions, new damage, uncompleted agreed work or possessions left behind.
- Note when you inspected, who attended and any explanation given, without treating it as verified.
- Send the evidence and relevant clause to the conveyancer promptly, with the settlement date clearly stated.
A hypothetical missing-inclusion issue
Imagine the contract includes a dishwasher but the final inspection shows the space empty. Photograph the kitchen, identify the inclusions clause and report the issue. An assurance that a replacement is 'on the way' is not the same as an agreed contractual resolution. Ask the conveyancer how any arrangement should be documented and verified.
For a new leak or suspected damage, avoid diagnosing the cause or attempting repairs yourself. A suitable specialist may need to assess it. Tell the conveyancer what is observed and what remains uncertain so they can coordinate the evidence with the available legal options.
Do not decide the remedy yourself
Not every difference creates a right to delay, withhold funds or terminate. Ask about the contract's condition obligations, notice requirements, insurance allocation and potential consequences of failing to settle. Do not deduct a repair estimate from the settlement amount or refuse settlement on the assumption that the law permits it.
Possible responses may involve a documented repair agreement or another negotiated solution, but availability depends on the facts and parties. Request written confirmation of any arrangement, who checks completion and how it affects settlement. Your conveyancer may recommend a lawyer if the matter exceeds their scope.
Close the record after the issue is addressed
Save correspondence, inspection evidence and the final agreement. Confirm the outcome with your conveyancer before assuming the issue is resolved. If urgent safety concerns exist, avoid using the affected area or equipment and seek appropriate assistance rather than waiting for the ordinary settlement process.
A final-inspection boundary
What if I notice an issue that was already present at purchase?
Tell the conveyancer and explain the evidence honestly. A pre-existing defect may have different consequences from new damage, depending on disclosures, conditions and local law. The final inspection alone does not create a new right to reverse the purchase.
