What to Check Before Handover of Your New Home in Dublin

Handover day is the last realistic moment to flag defects before they become your responsibility to fund. Everything below feeds into the snag list before handover — this is what every Dublin buyer should verify before handing over the bank draft.

Walk the Property Empty

Always inspect with the property empty. Furniture, boxes, even floor protection film hide finish defects you would catch in seconds in a bare room. Work through a room-by-room snagging inspection checklist so nothing is skipped.

Test Every Service Live

• Every socket — use a plug-in tester, not just a phone charger
• Every light switch including dimmers and two-way
• Every tap, hot and cold, until temperature stable
• Every shower, run for two minutes, watch the drain
• Every radiator, on full, top to bottom
• Every smoke and CO alarm — press the test button
• Extractor fans in bathrooms and utility

Look at What People Forget

• Attic insulation depth and coverage
• Stop-cock location and operation
• External tap, isolation valve
• Garage / shed sockets and lighting
• Boundary fences and gate operation
• Driveway falls — water should run away from the house

Get the Paperwork

BER, HomeBond, compliance cert, manuals, commissioning certs. Without these, future warranty claims become harder — and if you are unsure which cover you have, compare HomeBond vs Premier Guarantee. See the full pre-closing checklist for the complete document list.

Or Just Book a Professional

A SnagSafe inspection covers all of the above plus the technical checks a buyer can't easily perform — a full house inspection before completion. SnagSafe's Dublin snagging service books in around 5–7 days notice in Dublin.