An interior design handover should confirm that the agreed work is complete, usable, documented, and ready for your household. Review the approved scope first, inspect every room in good light, test accessible functions safely, record incomplete or damaged items on one snag list, collect keys and care documents, and photograph the final condition before signing.
This checklist is a practical review tool, not a substitute for your agreement, technical inspection, or professional advice. Use your BOQ, approved drawings, and written variations as the baseline.
What Does Interior Handover Actually Mean?
Handover is the transition from project work to everyday use. It connects physical inspection with documents, demonstrations, open-item tracking, and clear next contacts.
The RIBA Plan of Work separates handover from later use and aftercare. For a Bangladesh apartment, the family should know what was delivered, how to use it, what remains open, and how to report a concern.
If you are still planning the project, read the interior design timeline in Bangladesh so inspection and correction time are built into the programme.
Prepare Your Handover File Before the Walkthrough
Do not inspect from memory. Assemble one digital or printed reference file and use the latest approved versions.
| Document or record | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Agreement and final scope | Rooms, services, responsibilities, exclusions, and handover terms |
| Final BOQ or quotation | Listed items, quantities, specified materials, hardware, and finishes |
| Approved drawings | Correct revision for layouts, elevations, lighting, ceilings, and furniture |
| Written variations | Added, removed, substituted, or relocated work and its approval |
| Material schedule | Product descriptions, colours, finish codes, and approved samples |
| Payment and receipt file | Amounts already paid and the record required for the agreed closing process |
| Test or commissioning records | Any checks required by the written scope for relevant services or equipment |
| Warranty and care information | Provider, coverage, exclusions, start point, reporting route, and supplier papers |
Mark missing documents before the meeting. Not every project includes every item. Compare delivery with the documents promised for your scope, without adding new work at the end.
For material terminology, use the interior materials guide for Bangladesh alongside your approved schedule.
Plan a Calm, Methodical Inspection
Book the walkthrough when installed work is accessible. Daylight helps reveal paint variation, scratches, uneven edges, sealant quality, and alignment. Carry the approved file, phone camera, removable labels, and room list.
Start at the entrance and move in one direction. Finish each room before moving on. Review surfaces normally, then examine working parts without loads or actions beyond their intended use.
For a Dhaka apartment, confirm access for correction visits. Lift hours, security approval, loading rules, noisy-work restrictions, and service shutdowns can affect scheduling.
Room-by-Room Interior Handover Checklist
Use the agreed design and BOQ as the inspection baseline.
| Area | Practical checks |
|---|---|
| Entrance and foyer | Door movement, locks included in scope, shoe storage, mirror security, switches, visible finish damage |
| Living and dining | Furniture alignment, wall panels, display storage, lighting functions, curtain movement, floor protection, loose decor included in scope |
| Bedrooms | Bed and side units, wardrobe access, drawer movement, dressing area, switch locations, curtain clearance, sharp or unfinished edges |
| Kitchen | Cabinet fronts, drawers, countertop joints, sink area, appliance clearances, ventilation interface, water signs inside base units |
| Bathrooms | Vanity, mirror, accessory fixing, visible sealant, drainage observation, fixture operation included in scope, dry storage areas |
| Balcony or utility | Drain access, cabinet suitability for its location, washing-machine interfaces, weather-exposed finishes, service access |
| Ceiling and walls | Paint consistency, cracks, stains, joint lines, access panels, light cut-outs, touch-up quality |
| Floors and skirting | Chips, scratches, hollow or loose areas that need professional review, transitions, exposed gaps, protection residue |
Record the observation without diagnosing it. A stain may have several causes. Ask the relevant specialist to identify the source before cosmetic repair hides it.
Check Cabinetry, Drawers, Doors, and Hardware
- Compare cabinet size, position, finish, and internal arrangement with the approved elevation.
- Open every door and drawer normally. Look for rubbing, binding, unexpected noise, or collision with nearby handles, walls, curtains, and appliances.
- Check that visible gaps are reasonably consistent with the approved design and construction method.
- Confirm handles, knobs, hinges, shelf supports, hanging rails, and other specified hardware feel secure.
- Verify soft-close or push-open action only where it was specified.
- Inspect exposed edges, corners, laminate or veneer joints, glass, mirrors, and countertop interfaces.
- Look inside sink and vanity cabinets for moisture, unfinished openings, or obstructed service access.
- Confirm removable shelves, baskets, accessories, and keys listed in the scope are present.
Ask for product-specific cleaning and care instructions for every material family.
Review Electrical and Plumbing Interfaces Safely
Homeowners can observe accessible operation, but technical electrical testing requires suitable competence, according to the Institution of Engineering and Technology. Do not remove covers, open panels, touch exposed wiring, or attempt live tests.
With the project representative, operate accessible lights and fans, note damaged accessories, and confirm specified fixtures and controls are present. Collect any circuit labels, test records, or demonstrations included in the agreement. For scorching, exposed conductors, unusual heat, sparking, or repeated tripping, stop use and seek a competent electrical professional.
For plumbing interfaces in scope, observe taps, sinks, visible connections, and drainage under normal use. Look inside cabinets while water runs. Note drips, slow drainage, standing water, loose fittings, or blocked valve access. Confirm air-conditioning drain interfaces if included.
The Bangladesh National Building Code provides a national safety framework. A walkthrough cannot replace applicable inspections, approvals, or specialist checks.
Create One Clear Snag List
A snag list records agreed work that is incomplete, damaged, misaligned, nonfunctional, or inconsistent with the approved information. It should be specific enough for another person to find and verify the issue.
Use these fields:
| Field | Example format |
|---|---|
| Item ID | K-04 |
| Room and location | Kitchen, sink base cabinet, left interior panel |
| Observation | Visible water droplet at connection after normal tap use |
| Reference | BOQ item or drawing revision, if relevant |
| Evidence | Wide photo plus close photo |
| Agreed owner | Named company, supplier, client, or building party |
| Next action | Inspect source before repair |
| Target and status | Agreed date, open, in progress, ready to recheck, closed |
Separate observations by urgency. Safety concerns and unusable essential functions need faster professional attention than cosmetic marks. Give each location, observation, and status its own line.
Confirm Cleaning and Readiness for Use
Final cleaning should match the scope. Inspect after dust, labels, residue, packaging, and debris are addressed. Check cabinet interiors, drawer channels, countertops, glass, mirrors, sanitary areas, and floors.
Cleaning makes inspection possible. Record any surface hidden by dust or protective film and arrange a later check.
Ask which cleaning methods could damage finishes. Care advice should address Bangladesh humidity, monsoon moisture, dust, cooking residue, and air-conditioning use.
Collect Keys, Remotes, Manuals, and Supplier Papers
Use a handover inventory rather than accepting a loose bag.
- Door, drawer, cabinet, and storage keys included in scope.
- Remotes and controllers for supplied lighting, fans, curtains, or other equipment.
- Product manuals and care sheets.
- Supplier warranty cards, invoices, model details, and serial numbers where provided.
- Spare tiles, laminate pieces, finish samples, paint references, or hardware promised in the scope.
- Final contact route for snag follow-up and after-sales reporting.
- Copies of test records, marked drawings, or photographs promised for concealed work.
The related guide to interior design warranty and after-sales service in Bangladesh explains how to separate company workmanship support from a supplier’s product warranty.
Record the Final Condition With Photos
Photograph every room, important finish, service interface, serial label, and snag. Keep dated originals with consistent names such as master-bedroom-wardrobe-01.
Photos preserve the handover condition before belongings cover details. Store them with approvals, receipts, manuals, and the snag list in one shared folder.
Sign Acceptance Carefully
Before signing any handover or acceptance record, read what the document says. Confirm completed items, unresolved items, attached pages, key count, document count, and the next review step. Do not sign a blank or incomplete checklist.
If work remains, record how open items will be tracked. Signing can have different effects under different agreements. Seek professional advice if the wording is unclear. This is not legal advice.
Bangladesh’s National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate says a complaint should be written and accompanied by the purchase receipt. Keep agreements, receipts, approvals, photographs, and communication organised.
Final Handover Sequence
- Confirm the latest scope, BOQ, drawings, variations, and promised documents.
- Inspect each room in a fixed order and photograph its overall condition.
- Review cabinetry, hardware, finishes, cleaning, and listed loose items.
- Observe accessible service functions safely and refer technical tests to competent people.
- Create one numbered snag list with evidence, ownership, action, and status.
- Count keys, remotes, manuals, care information, and supplier papers.
- Recheck corrected items and close them only when the observation is resolved.
- Read the acceptance record fully and retain a complete signed copy.
Before appointing a team, use these questions to ask an interior design company and review common interior design company red flags in Bangladesh. Handover quality begins with written expectations at the start, not a rushed inspection at the end.
Plan a Home Interior Project With a Clear Finish
Established in 2011, DIT Studio is a residential-first Home Interior Specialist with 15+ years of experience and 500+ completed projects. Explore the home interior design and handover process, read the complete interior design guide for Bangladesh, or visit the DIT Studio homepage to discuss a documented project scope and handover plan for your home.