The Pre-Inspection Visit Explained

The Complete Guide to the Pre-Inspection & Delivery of a New Build Property in France

Everything International Buyers Need to Know Before Collecting the Keys of Their New Build Property

Chapter 3 of 9 - Estimated reading time: 10–12 minutes

The Pre-Inspection Visit explained: What to Expect During Your Inspection

Standing in your new home for the very first time is a memorable moment. Whether you've purchased a contemporary apartment overlooking the Mediterranean, a ski property in the French Alps or a luxury villa in the countryside, the Pré-Livraison represents the point at which architectural drawings and marketing brochures become a tangible reality.

Although it's an exciting occasion, it's also one of the most important appointments of your entire purchase. The way you approach this inspection can influence how smoothly the official delivery proceeds and may help avoid unnecessary inconvenience after you've taken possession of your property.

Understanding what happens during the appointment and what is expected from both you and the developer will help you make the most of this valuable opportunity.

Arriving at the Development

Your appointment will usually begin at the developer's sales office, site office or another designated meeting point within the development. Depending on the size of the project, you may be welcomed by the sales representative who has accompanied you throughout your purchase, a customer service manager or a member of the technical delivery team responsible for overseeing the completion of your property.

Before the inspection begins, the developer will normally explain how the appointment will proceed. They may outline the planned route through the property, explain which areas are ready for inspection and advise whether certain communal facilities remain under construction. This is also an ideal opportunity to ask any practical questions before you begin.

Remember that the objective is to work together. Both you and the developer share the same goal: ensuring that your new home is ready for a successful delivery.

A First Impression Is Important - but Don't Rush

As you step through the front door, your instinct may be to admire the views, imagine where your furniture will go or begin taking photographs for family and friends. While there's nothing wrong with enjoying the moment, it's important not to let excitement distract you from the purpose of the inspection.

Rather than walking randomly from room to room, pause for a moment and take an overall look at the property. Does it feel complete? Is it clean? Are there any obvious signs of unfinished work? Is there any visible damage that immediately catches your attention?

These initial impressions can often highlight issues that may otherwise be overlooked once you begin examining individual details.

Conducting a Methodical Inspection

One of the most effective ways to inspect a new build property is to adopt the same routine in every room. This reduces the risk of missing something simply because your attention has been drawn elsewhere.

Begin by looking upwards. Examine the ceiling for marks, cracks or uneven finishes before moving your attention to the walls. Check painted surfaces, plasterwork and decorative finishes under natural light wherever possible, as imperfections are often easier to identify during daylight.

Next, inspect the flooring. Whether your property features porcelain tiles, engineered timber flooring or carpeting, look for scratches, chips, uneven joints or areas that may have been damaged during construction.

Finally, move on to the windows, doors, electrical fittings and built-in furniture before testing any accessible equipment within the room.

Following the same sequence throughout the property creates a disciplined approach that greatly reduces the likelihood of overlooking important details.

Looking Beyond Cosmetic Finishes

While buyers naturally notice scratches, paintwork or damaged tiles, the Pré-Livraison should extend well beyond cosmetic appearance.

Every accessible feature should be tested wherever possible.

Open and close every window to ensure they operate smoothly. Lock and unlock entrance doors. Test sliding doors, shutters and blinds. Operate light switches, inspect electrical sockets, run taps and verify that water drains correctly from sinks and showers without leaks.

Kitchen cupboards should open and close correctly, internal doors should align properly within their frames and fitted wardrobes should operate smoothly.

Where services are fully connected, ask the developer to demonstrate the heating, air conditioning, hot water system or any smart home technology that has been installed.

The objective is to confirm not only that everything looks right, but that it functions as intended.

Comparing the Property with Your Purchase Specification

Your purchase contract and Notice Descriptive become invaluable during the inspection.

Rather than relying on memory, compare the completed property against the agreed specification. Confirm that the flooring, kitchen finishes, sanitary ware, appliances and optional upgrades correspond with the choices you made during construction.

If you've requested additional electrical sockets, upgraded worktops or bespoke finishes, verify that these have been completed correctly.

Occasionally, developers may substitute products if original materials become unavailable. Such substitutions are often permitted provided they are of equivalent or superior quality. If anything differs from your expectations, ask the developer to explain the reason before assuming an error has occurred.

Clear communication at this stage often resolves questions quickly.

Don't Forget the Exterior

If your property includes a terrace, balcony, garden or roof terrace, these areas deserve the same careful attention as the interior.

Inspect external flooring, balustrades, drainage, lighting and external taps where provided. Check that doors leading onto terraces open and close correctly and that locks function properly.

If your apartment includes private parking or a storage cellar, take the opportunity to verify their location, accessibility and condition.

These areas form part of your purchase and should be inspected with the same level of care.

Inspecting the Communal Areas

On larger developments, the communal areas are an important part of both the lifestyle offering and your long-term investment.

Where access is available, walk through the main entrance, corridors, lifts and shared facilities. Swimming pools, landscaped gardens, gyms, wellness areas and residents' lounges may still be undergoing final preparation, particularly if the development is being completed in phases.

If certain facilities are not yet available, don't hesitate to ask when they are expected to be completed. Understanding the developer's timetable will help manage expectations and provide reassurance regarding the final stages of the project.

Asking Questions Throughout the Inspection

The Pré-Livraison is not simply about identifying defects; it is also an opportunity to become familiar with your new home.

Ask the developer to explain how the heating system operates, where utility meters are located and how building access systems function. If the property includes home automation features, request a demonstration before delivery.

You may also wish to ask practical questions regarding refuse collection, post boxes, building management, maintenance responsibilities and emergency contact procedures.

No question is too small. The more familiar you become with your property now, the easier the transition will be after delivery.

Recording Your Observations

As you move through the property, make detailed notes of anything that requires attention.

Photographs are particularly useful, especially when accompanied by a brief written description indicating the exact location of the observation.

For example, rather than simply noting "scratch on wall", record something more precise, such as:

"Master bedroom – north wall adjacent to wardrobe – approximately 20 cm paint scratch requiring repair."

This level of detail helps avoid misunderstandings and allows the developer's contractors to locate and rectify the issue more efficiently.

Your observations will normally be transferred to a formal inspection report, forming the basis of the work to be completed before or shortly after delivery.

Maintaining Perspective

It's worth remembering that discovering a number of minor observations during the Pré-Livraison is entirely normal.

Even the highest quality developments often require small finishing adjustments before completion. A loose cupboard handle, minor paint blemish or silicone touch-up should not necessarily cause concern.

What matters is how the developer responds.

A professional developer will acknowledge legitimate observations, record them accurately and explain how and when they intend to address each item.

The purpose of the Pré-Livraison is not to achieve absolute perfection on the day of the inspection, but to ensure that any outstanding issues are identified and managed appropriately before or after delivery.

What Happens When the Inspection Ends?

Once the inspection has been completed, the developer will usually summarise the observations recorded during the visit and explain the next steps.

Any agreed remedial works will normally be scheduled before the official Livraison wherever practical. In some cases, particularly where specialist materials or contractors are required, certain minor items may be completed shortly after delivery by prior agreement.

Before leaving, ensure you understand what happens next, whether any further communication is expected and when you are likely to receive confirmation of your official delivery appointment.

The more informed you are at this stage, the more confidently you can look forward to collecting the keys to your new home.

Coming Up in Chapter 4

In the next chapter, we'll explore one of the most important aspects of the entire delivery process: snagging, known in France as réserves. You'll learn what should and should not be recorded, how observations are documented, what the developer is legally obliged to rectify and the timescales involved in completing any outstanding works.

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