The Steed Art Journal / Execution & handover
What should you check at renovation handover?
Photography from the Steed Art company profile.
The short answer
Review the completed work against the agreed scope, approved drawings and selections. Walk through the space with your project team, record outstanding items in a written snag list and agree who will resolve them and when. Request the documents, operating information and aftercare contacts relevant to the products and work included in your project.
Keep these in mind
- Use the agreed specification as the reference for completion.
- Record outstanding items with their location, action and responsible party.
- Clarify documents and aftercare arrangements before closing the project.
Prepare the documents you will check against
Bring the agreed scope, approved drawings, finish selections and authorized changes together before the walkthrough. If something changed during execution, include the current approved version. This helps distinguish an outstanding item from work that was never part of the agreement.
Arrange a joint review with the team responsible for delivery. Give yourself a way to record each room and each relevant scope item. Photographs can help identify a location, but a short written description should explain what action is needed.
Walk through room by room
Review visible finishes, fitted furniture and installed items against the agreed specification. Ask the team to demonstrate the normal operation of the fittings and equipment it has installed. Specialist systems should be checked and documented by the responsible professionals; a general walkthrough does not replace their work.
For joinery, discuss doors, drawers, handles, shelves and agreed internal fittings. For surfaces and fixtures, note any incomplete areas or items that differ from the approved selection. Keep the review tied to the actual project scope.
- Agreed rooms and tasks accounted for
- Approved materials, finishes and fittings checked
- Doors, drawers and storage demonstrated
- Relevant installation or commissioning information requested
- Cleaning, remaining materials and waste arrangements confirmed
Make the snag list useful
Give each outstanding item a clear location and description. Record the proposed action, responsible party and agreed follow-up date. If an item needs investigation before a remedy can be agreed, record that next step rather than leaving it as an unclear complaint.
Keep the list in one shared version and confirm when each item has been addressed. Ask how completed actions will be reviewed. A written record helps both sides understand what remains open after the main work is finished.
| Record | What to include |
|---|---|
| Location | Room and specific item |
| Observation | What is incomplete or needs review |
| Action | Agreed remedy or next investigation |
| Responsibility | Person or team handling the action |
| Follow-up | Agreed date and method of confirmation |
Request the information you will need afterwards
Ask which manuals, product details, care instructions and warranty documents apply to the supplied items. Confirm the contact for follow-up questions and how any agreed aftercare will work. Avoid assuming a standard warranty period: the terms depend on the product, supplier and project agreement.
Where updated drawings or records are part of the scope, confirm that they are included in the handover. Steed Art's company profile describes finish checks, snag resolution, cleaning and handover as part of completion; the final project agreement should identify what that means for your space.
Common questions
What is a snag list?
It is a written record of outstanding items identified during a project review. For each item, record the location, required action, responsibility and agreed follow-up.
Is there one standard warranty for every renovation item?
Do not assume a single term applies to everything. Ask for the terms and contact details relevant to each supplied product and the work described in your agreement.
About this guide
This planning guide draws on Steed Art’s company profile and service scope. Photographs show work included in that profile. Confirm specifications, prices, responsibilities and programme against your own property and written agreement.
Read our editorial approachTake the next step
Bring the questions.
We’ll discuss the space.
Share photographs, plans if available and a short description of what you want to change.
