What we check. Every system, every checkpoint.

The complete checklist

Every system, every surface, every checkpoint. This is what a PropDefect inspection covers across BTO, condo, EC, and landed properties. Items vary slightly by property type: landed adds roof, perimeter drainage, and pool systems; condos add smart home commissioning and curtain wall glazing. If you are walking the unit yourself, the visual items you can check without instruments are written up room by room in our BTO handover checklist, and our free defect checklist app records what you find as you go.

Architectural & Finishing

• Paintwork: runs, missed areas, surface defects, coverage consistency
• Plaster & skim coat: cracks, surface uniformity, edge finishing
• Tile work: every tile tap-tested for hollow bonding, alignment, edge condition, grouting
• Cabinetry: door alignment, soft-close function, drawer slides, edge banding, hardware
• Countertops: surface defects, alignment, sealing, edge finishing
• Built-in fittings: wardrobes, vanities, kitchen islands, shelving
• Doors & windows: alignment, sealing, lock function, weather-stripping, glazing

Plumbing

• Water pressure: every tap tested cold and hot
• Drainage rates: sink, shower, floor traps, drainage gradient verification
• Leak detection: visible pipework under sinks, behind vanities, ceiling stains
• Hot water supply (where a heater is installed): heater commissioning, time-to-hot verification, mixing valve function. In a new HDB flat, HDB provides the water-heater point rather than the heater, so we check the point instead
• Sanitary fittings: toilet flush mechanism, cistern leak, bidet/shower function
• Floor trap function: drainage rate, anti-siphon, odour

Electrical

• Every socket: polarity test (live, neutral, earth)
• RCD trip test: verifies residual current device responds to leakage
• Distribution board: labelling, accessibility, capacity adequacy
• Lighting: every fixture, every switch tested
• Ceiling fans: operation, balance, speed control
• Air-conditioning: cold air output, condensate drainage, control unit function
• Network points: connectivity verification on requested points

Structural

• Wall cracks: measured, located, classified by severity (hairline / structural / settlement)
• Ceiling cracks: same classification
• Beam alignment: visible structural irregularities
• Settlement evidence: door alignment shifts, tile edge separation, gap openings
• Floor levelness: spot checks across rooms

Bomb Shelter (HDB & private)

• Door seal: continuous seal verification on all four sides
• Hinge alignment: smooth operation, no scraping
• Serial label: present and legible on the shelter door, QR code scanning to a valid (not void) status
• Ventilation: air vents clear, fan operation if motorised
• Interior surfaces: paint, sockets, no water marks or efflorescence

Air-Conditioning

• Unit alignment: mounting, levelness, accessibility
• Drainage: condensate pipe slope, no leaks, no pooling
• Multi-zone systems (condo/landed): each zone tested independently
• Outdoor unit placement: clearance, accessibility, condensate management
• Control unit: remote function, scheduling, mode switching

Service Yard & Outdoor (where applicable)

• Floor drainage: gradient verification, drainage rate
• External taps: function, sealing, drainage
• Outdoor electrical: weatherproof rating, RCD protection where required
• Service door: alignment, sealing, weather resistance

Landed-Specific Additional Scope

• Roof & roof-deck: tile alignment, flashing, drainage, accessibility
• Perimeter drainage: site drainage, soakaways, storm drainage, scupper drains
• Boundary walls: finishing, settlement, drainage gradient
• Swimming pools: tile bonding underwater, balance tank, filtration, copings
• Garages: drainage, door function, ventilation
• Plumbing risers: vertical pipework, vent pipes, isolation valves
• External plant: water tank, pump room, main switchboard if applicable

Condo-Specific Additional Scope

• Smart home systems: door access, intercom, smart lighting commissioning
• Premium tile/stone: bonding of large-format and imported slabs, where lippage and hollow spots are common
• Balcony drainage: gradient, planter box waterproofing
• Curtain wall glazing: sealing, alignment, tinting consistency
• HVAC system: multi-zone commissioning, VRV systems where present

What's NOT in our scope

Some things sit outside a defect inspection. PropDefect does not assess:

• Land or boundary disputes: that's a licensed surveyor's role
• Building plan compliance: that's a registered architect or professional engineer's submission
• Major structural defects requiring intervention: we identify and refer to a structural engineer
• Asbestos or hazardous materials: referred to a licensed hazardous-materials specialist
• Pre-purchase property valuation: different scope, different profession

When something falls outside our scope, we tell you, note it in the report, and point you to the right specialist to follow up.