Why it is worth checking the "invisible"
The number of new flats in the region is growing - from developer investments in Wałbrzych and Świdnica to new municipal and rental buildings in Dzierżoniów or Świebodzice. However, new does not mean flawless: the installation in the building is carried out by subcontractors under time pressure, and typical defects - swapped wires in a socket, discontinuous protective conductor, loose connections in the board - are undetectable to the naked eye and symptom-free... until the time comes.
What you can check yourself at handover
- every socket - using the simplest socket tester (costing a few dozen zł) or at least a phone charger: check if it works and if the tester does not signal a connection error;
- every switch and lighting point - with a "test" bulb in hand;
- the TEST button on RCDs - each one should trip immediately;
- circuit descriptions in the consumer unit - whether they exist and correspond to reality (try: turn off "kitchen" and check what actually went out);
- doorbell, intercom/video intercom, TV and LAN sockets;
- the number and layout of points against the contract and finishing standard.
What an electrician with a meter will check
- continuity of the protective conductor in every socket - the most common and dangerous handover defect: the socket works, but does not protect;
- correct polarity (swapping L with N);
- RCD operating times and currents - by measurement, not just the button;
- loop impedance of circuits;
- insulation resistance - whether anyone has punctured a cable during finishing works.
You can read more about what these tests mean in the guide about measurements and reports. From the handover, you receive a report - you enter defects into the developer's handover report, and they are obliged to address and rectify them.
Documents worth asking for
- electrical measurement reports of the premises (the developer should have these);
- circuit diagram or description of the installation;
- warranty cards for devices (video intercom, electric heating, heat recovery).
Before finishing: the last cheap moment for changes
Between handover and finishing renovation, changes cost the least: additional sockets, points for smart home, air conditioning power supply, network cabling. The same point added after plastering and painting costs several times more - and leaves marks.
Handover with measurements takes 1-2 hours and costs a fraction of a permille of the apartment price - and installation defects are among the most expensive to repair after the fact. Book a visit for technical handover - we will arrive with meters and a report.
Download: free apartment electrical safety checklist (PDF) - what to check yourself, warning signs and when to call an electrician.
