Have you bought a new apartment in the south of France or Paris? Congratulations! Unfortunately, you have to wait until the day of delivery before you can receive the key. Depending on when you signed the purchase agreement, this could take up to two years.
You will receive an invitation from the project developer for a pre-inspection approximately three months before delivery so that you can finally walk around your new-build apartment. At this stage, you will still stumble over workmen taking care of the finishing touches. On this day, you can invite your kitchen supplier, who can take measurements for the kitchen and any custom wall cabinets. After the pre-inspection, you can prepare for the delivery day when you receive the keys.
The checklist for delivery of a new apartment in France
There are several things you need to arrange before the day of delivery. The last 5% instalment payment must be paid to the project developer. You received the PDL (point de Livraison) for the electricity and water meters during the pre-inspection. On the day you enter the apartment, the water and electricity supply must be in your name. Of course, we will help you with these administrative matters. You must also have taken out home contents insurance. Our partner, Allianz, also assists in this.
Of course, we will be present on the day of delivery to carry out the final inspection with you. Most project developers have a handy system where all matters are photographed directly with an iPad and recorded in a digital document. After the visit, you sign this document to schedule the work immediately. This phase never concerns major defects but rather minor details in terms of finishing.
Ten-year warranty on what?
The ten-year warranty on new construction is simple. During the first year, you have a warranty on everything that does not work. In the second year, you have a warranty on everything that moves, from tap to window, door, or shutter. For the remaining eight years, you will have a warranty on the construction, i.e., walls, floor, and roof. The Home Owners Association, aka Syndic also has building insurance, so you are always well assured of living without inconveniences.
You can take with you various documents, such as the bill of sale or reservation contract signed at the time of purchase, but also the descriptive note that mentions each layout, material, and element present in the accommodation.
If you have purchased a home on paper, the day of delivery of your new home is a long-awaited step. This is when the developer hands you the keys to your home. On this big day, it is highly recommended that you arrive early so that you can also inspect the common areas before the start of the visit.
It is important to check whether the essential elements (exterior finishes, mailboxes, intercom, stairs, garage doors, landscaping, etc.) comply with what was foreseen in the sales contract. Although necessary, this step is often seen as a simple formality by buyers who prefer to focus on private areas.
But checking whether the garage door opens with the beep is helpful. And that you know which letterbox your name will be on. And where the water meter is located (usually somewhere in the hallway). Communal areas are part of the Syndic . Your monthly service costs are used, among other things, to maintain these areas.
Delivery of your new home: take your time
On the day of delivery of your new accommodation, you must have the descriptive notice of your property and the reservation contract with you to check that all elements comply. When visiting your new home, it is advisable to take the time to check all the details of your private areas. Ideally, The visit lasts two to three hours, depending on the area to be inspected.
The delivery report will mention any defects and lack of conformity. During delivery, special attention is needed to detect cracks or defects.
The most important points to check in your new apartment
Once in your home, you should check that the heating system works properly. In nine out of ten cases, you have a reversible air conditioning system that cools and heats. Also, do not forget to check the operation of the taps, flushing, switches and sockets: detecting abnormalities at the delivery time is better so they can be replaced quickly.
You can test sockets yourself with a smartphone charger. Also, use a paper towel to check the air circulation in the VMC vents.
Check tiled floors or walls by tapping them lightly. If the tiles sound hollow, they will come loose in the medium term. Unsightly joints and sloppy paintwork can also be included in the inspection report. Ultimately, the project developer also wants a satisfied customer.
The front door, the condition of the windows, the shutters, the glazing (thermal and sound insulation), and the electrical panel are also checked. Do you want to connect to an Internet fibre optic subscription? Then, take a photo of the white box near the meter cupboard to which the ‘fibre’ is attached. You can then easily arrange the connection online.
Please allow 2 to 3 hours, depending on the area to be inspected, to complete the reception of your new home in good condition.
At the end of the visit, you must report any defects in a written report to obtain repairs. Adding photos may help substantiate your complaint. The manufacturer and you must retain a dated and signed copy of the report.
Have you forgotten something during the inspection?
You have 30 days to report any defects not visible during the visit. The guarantee of perfect finishing lasts one year and concerns the reservations stated in the delivery report and those noted in the first month after delivery.
Take advantage of this time to carefully measure the area of all rooms: outside a 5% margin of error, you can request repairs. The real estate developer, for its part, has one year to carry out the compliance work. Please note that defects noticed after the 30-day period may be considered latent defects and are covered by the ten-year warranty. So, you have ten years to request repairs from the real estate developer.
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