From Contract to Key Handover: What Happens Next?

Follow the written schedule

Keep a calendar of payment dates and required documents. Use the agreed payment route, record references and obtain formal receipts. Inform the relevant party early if an administrative issue could affect timing.

Maintain the property file

Store the signed contract, schedules, receipts, identification documents, correspondence and any approved changes together. Confirm that amendments are documented rather than agreed only by message or telephone.

Inspect before accepting

For a completed or newly delivered home, inspect against the agreed condition and specification. Record unfinished, damaged or missing items with clear photos and a written list.

• Doors, windows and locks
• Water, drainage and visible plumbing
• Electricity and air-conditioning
• Surfaces, fittings and included items
• Meters and available readings
• Keys, access cards and manuals

Complete practical handover

Confirm possession, keys, utilities, maintenance contact and any property-management arrangement. If you are absent, your authorized representative should know exactly what they may sign and receive.

Keep the transaction file complete

After signing, store the final agreement, schedules, receipts, identification copies and written confirmations together. Record each payment against the contract obligation it satisfies. If any detail changes, obtain a written amendment or confirmation rather than relying on a message without context.

For off-plan property, retain progress updates and check the conditions linked to delivery. For resale, confirm when possession, furniture and utility responsibility transfer.

Treat handover as an inspection

Walk through the property systematically. Test doors, windows, water, electricity, hot water and air conditioning. Photograph meter readings, keys and any unfinished or damaged item. Agree in writing who will correct outstanding points and when.

After receiving the keys, address utilities, maintenance contacts, access cards, insurance and property management. A careful handover creates a clean starting point for ownership rather than treating the key photo as the end of the process.

Turn the guidance into a decision

Keep three short lists as you investigate: what has been confirmed in a document, what has been observed during a viewing and what still depends on an answer. This prevents an attractive feature or urgent deadline from hiding an unresolved point. The list should identify the exact property or unit, because a general statement about an area or project may not apply to the home you are considering.

When two options appear close, compare them under the same headings: location, usable layout, current condition, document position, complete cost, ongoing management and the timing of possession. Give greater weight to facts that are difficult to change. Furniture can be replaced; access, orientation, surrounding development and contractual obligations usually cannot.

Before any reservation or major payment, read your notes again and ask for updated written confirmation of price, availability and the terms that matter to your decision. A good purchase should remain understandable when the initial excitement has passed. If a legal, financial or tax point affects your circumstances, obtain appropriate independent advice before signing.