Provisional reception checklist: the 47 points to inspect
The exhaustive checklist used by our experts on 1,200 receptions since 2018. 47 points across 9 categories: shell, roof, façades, floors, walls, ceilings, sanitary, electrics, exterior. Printable in A4 landscape.
The complete checklist + its bonuses.
- Printable 47-point checklistA4 landscape format, 6 pages, check-boxes, space for handwritten notes per point.
- Visual guide of common defects8-page PDF with annotated photos of the 25 most frequent defects in new construction.
- Reservation costing tableCost brackets (low / median / high) to quickly cost each defect type.
- 2-page technical glossaryBuilding terms explained so you can speak your contractor's language.
- Pocket reminderLaminatable A6 card to slip into your pocket with the 10 critical points never to forget.
Three steps to lead your inspection by the book.
The day before · materials and 30-min preparation
Print the checklist in A4 landscape (1 copy for you, 1 for the contractor). Prepare your kit: laser measure, spirit level, strong torch, camera (or smartphone), telescopic mirror for tricky areas, aluminium foil for draft tests, disposable gloves. Re-read your specifications to spot points specific to your contract.
On the day · systematic inspection 2 to 3 hours
Follow the checklist in the suggested order (exterior → interior → equipment). Tick each validated point, note anomalies in the margin with a numbered photo. For each defect: room, description, dimension, photo, cost estimate (your estimate serves as a negotiation baseline). Never skip a category even if it looks OK: a perfect floor can hide a laying defect visible only in grazing light.
After inspection · synthesis and transfer to the minutes
At the end of the inspection, count OK / KO / to-watch points. Transfer anomalies onto the official minutes (downloadable separately on our site). Have the checklist signed by the contractor in addition to the minutes: it is an extra piece of evidence useful in case of dispute over the completeness of the adversarial inspection.
More than 180 buyers used it in 2026.
« Without the checklist, I would have missed a tile-laying defect at 2,400 €. Zero investment, infinite ROI. »
« Methodical, exhaustive. My contractor respected every line, it became our common reference. »
« I used it for the 2 receptions of my rental investment. It spares me stress. »