Don’t Sign Until You’ve Done This
Possession day is exciting — but it’s also the last moment of meaningful leverage with your builder. Once you sign the possession letter and pay the final instalment, any defects discovered later become significantly harder to get corrected. The builder’s team is present, available, and legally obligated to fix defects before handing over — use this window.
This checklist takes 2–3 hours. Every minute is worth it.
Before You Visit the Site
1. Confirm Occupancy Certificate (OC) is received
The builder must have the Occupancy Certificate from PMC/PCMC before offering possession. An OC confirms the building is fit for habitation as per the sanctioned plan.
Without OC:
- Your home loan cannot be fully disbursed (most banks hold back 5–10%)
- You cannot legally connect to PMC water supply as a permanent connection
- The building is technically unauthorized for occupation
Ask the builder in writing: “Please confirm the OC number and date of issue.” A builder who offers possession without OC and says “it’s in process” is giving you an unacceptable handover. Do not pay the possession amount until OC is confirmed.
2. Get the possession letter in advance
Ask for the possession letter to be emailed before your visit. Review the amount payable (final instalment + society corpus + any outstanding dues) and confirm it matches your payment schedule.
3. Carry the right tools
- Phone with camera (photo + video everything)
- Small marble or ball (to test floor levelness)
- Phone charger (to test power sockets)
- Torch/flashlight (for dark corners, ceiling checks)
- Screwdriver (to check fitting quality)
- List of your sale agreement specifications
The On-Site Inspection: Room by Room
A. Common Areas (Before Entering Your Flat)
- Lobby — quality of tile, finish, lighting, letter boxes
- Lift — brand, capacity plate, emergency phone functioning
- Stairwell — handrails secure, lighting working
- Parking — confirm your specific spot (photograph slot number)
- Compound — boundary wall complete, gate operational
- Generator — confirm generator capacity and coverage (lifts? flats? common areas only?)
B. Flat Entrance
- Main door — solid (not hollow-core), aligns and closes smoothly, latch working
- Door frame — no gaps between frame and wall
- Peephole installed
- Door stopper present
C. Living Room and Bedrooms
Walls and ceiling:
- No cracks visible (especially diagonal cracks near corners — structural concern)
- No water stains or damp patches on ceiling or walls
- Plaster finish is smooth and even
Floor:
- No hollow tiles (tap each tile with a coin — hollow sound = debonded, will crack)
- Roll a marble — check for tilt
- All tiles cut cleanly, no broken edges
- Grout lines even and clean
Electrical:
- Every switch tested (bring a phone charger to test sockets)
- Ceiling fan wiring provision present in each room
- AC conduit points present where promised in agreement
- MCB switches label correctly
Windows and balcony:
- Window frames — no gaps, slide/open smoothly
- Window glass — no scratches or chips
- Balcony parapet height (minimum 900mm per BIS standard)
- Balcony floor — no water pooling (slight slope toward drain is correct)
- Balcony door — waterproof threshold, no gap at bottom
D. Kitchen
- Counter height comfortable (standard 850mm)
- Sink — test water flow, check drain speed
- Gas pipeline provision — confirm stub present (if piped gas building)
- Exhaust fan provision — stub or fan as per agreement
- Chimney provision (if included in agreement)
- Cabinet doors align and latch (if modular kitchen included)
- Floor tiles — no hollow tiles
E. Bathrooms (Each One)
- Water pressure — turn on every tap simultaneously; pressure should be consistent
- Hot water geyser — test heating (5–8 minutes to warm)
- Flush cistern — fill and flush; verify no running water after flush
- Shower point functioning
- Drainage speed — fill wash basin, check drain time (should clear in 15–20 seconds)
- Wall tiles — no hollow tiles; grout intact
- No leaks under sink
- Exhaust fan functioning
- Towel rod provision (hooks or rods as per agreement)
- Mirror provision (if in agreement)
- CP fittings brand — verify it matches your agreement specification
F. Specific Quality Checks
Paint quality:
- Coverage even — no patchiness, roller marks, or drips
- Colour consistent across all walls of same room
- Cuts (wall-ceiling joint, wall-frame joint) are clean lines
Plumbing:
- No exposed pipes (should be concealed in walls/chase)
- No visible rust on pipes or joints
- Water meter installed and reading zero
If You Find Defects: What to Do
Document everything: Photo and video every defect, with the flat number and date visible if possible.
Raise in writing: Before leaving possession day, submit a written punch list (snagging list) to the builder’s site supervisor. Get their signature or a WhatsApp acknowledgement that they’ve received it.
Common defects and typical timelines:
- Hollow tiles: Replace within 30 days
- Paint touch-up: 15 days
- Door/window alignment: 15 days
- Plumbing leak: 7 days
- Electrical fault: 7 days
RERA structural defect liability: Any structural defects reported within 5 years of possession must be rectified by the builder at no cost. This is your legal right under RERA Section 14(3). Document possession date clearly — the 5-year clock starts here.
Don’t sign possession for major defects: If you find a major defect (water seepage, structural crack, missing OC), do not sign the possession letter until the issue is resolved or you have a specific written commitment with timeline from the builder.
What to Collect at Possession
From the builder, collect:
- Possession letter (signed by builder, with OC number mentioned)
- Occupancy Certificate copy
- Completion Certificate copy
- No-dues certificate (no outstanding payments from your side)
- Original property documents (handed back after loan NOC from bank)
- Society share certificate (or confirmation it will be issued within 30 days)
- Amenities handover list (what’s commissioned — lift, gym, pool, etc.)
- Builder’s defect liability commitment letter
- Water and electricity connection papers
After Possession
- Register the property within 30 days (some sale agreements specify this timeline)
- Initiate home loan final disbursement with your bank
- Inform your home loan bank of possession (updates their records)
- Begin interior work — give the flat 2–3 weeks for paint to cure before heavy furniture
Related Reading
- Property Snagging Guide Pune 2026
- Builder Possession Delay — Legal Rights Pune 2026
- How to Check a Builder’s Reputation Pune 2026
- Conveyance Deed & Society Formation Guide Pune 2026
The Bottom Line
Possession day is the last time you have maximum leverage with your builder. A 2–3 hour inspection is not excessive for a ₹70L–2 Cr transaction. Document every defect in writing before signing. Confirm OC before paying the final amount. Collect every document on the day. The effort invested at possession prevents months of frustrating follow-up later.
