Property Snagging & Handover Inspection

Property snagging and handover inspection in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE — independent room-by-room inspection of villas, apartments and commercial units before you sign, with thermal imaging, photographic defect report and classification by severity. Last reviewed: August 2026.

Handover is the last moment you have leverage. Once you sign for the unit and the keys change hands, defects become your problem to chase rather than the developer's obligation to fix — and the difference between a snag list written by an engineer and one written by an excited buyer with a phone is what the developer's contractor will actually act on.

What we inspect

• Finishes and joineryWalls, ceilings, paint, tiling, skirting, doors and wardrobes checked for cracks, level, alignment, hollow tiles, damage and poor workmanship.
• Doors and windowsOperation, alignment, locking, seals, glazing condition and the gaps that later become dust and cooling problems.
• ElectricalSocket and switch operation, circuit testing, distribution board labelling, earthing, lighting and RCD trip protection verification at the distribution board.
• Plumbing and sanitaryWater pressure and flow at every outlet, drainage, leaks under sinks and behind fittings, water heater installation, and seals to wet areas.
• HVACCooling performance measured at each outlet, thermostat operation, duct and grille condition, condensate drainage and filter access.
• Wet areas and waterproofingBathrooms, kitchens, balconies and terraces checked for falls to drain, ponding and evidence of failed waterproofing — the defect that costs most to correct after handover.
• Thermal imagingInfrared survey identifying moisture behind finishes, missing insulation and hidden leaks that are invisible on a visual walkthrough. In this climate, these defects develop quickly and are expensive once finishes have to come off.
• External and common areasWhere applicable — facade, balconies, parking allocation, and the condition of what you are paying service charges for.

Why thermal imaging matters here

A visual inspection finds what is visible. Water tracking behind a wall, a chilled water pipe sweating inside a ceiling void, or missing insulation above a bedroom shows as a temperature difference long before it shows as a stain. Finding these defects before handover puts the remediation cost on the developer, not on you after the finishes have come off.

Properties covered

• Villas and townhouses
• Apartments and penthouses
• Holiday homes and short-let units
• Offices and retail units
• Restaurants and F&B fit-outs
• Whole floors and multiple-unit portfolios

When to inspect

• Before handover — the strongest position, while the developer still holds the obligation and you still hold the signature
• After a snag list has been closed — to verify rectification was actually done rather than marked complete
• Before the defect liability period (DLP) expires — the last opportunity to raise defects at the developer's cost, and the deadline most owners miss
• Before purchase of a resale property — condition assessment informing the price or the decision
• Before a lease commences or ends — recording condition so dilapidation claims have a baseline

What you receive

• A written report listing every defect found, room by room
• Photographic evidence of each item, with location clearly identified
• Defects classified so the significant ones are not lost among cosmetic items
• Thermal images where anomalies were detected
• A report formatted to be issued directly to the developer or contractor
• Re-inspection reporting where we return to verify rectification

Independence

ITMAD is an accredited inspection body. We do not carry out repairs, fit-out or maintenance work, and we have no relationship with any developer or contractor. Every defect in the report is one somebody else has to fix, which is the only basis on which the list is worth anything to you.

Coverage

Inspection is carried out across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern Emirates, scheduled around your handover appointment — including at short notice, since handover dates move and the inspection has to happen before you sign, not after.