The First 3 Months: Critical for Builder Engagement
When owners first take possession, there’s a natural focus on settling in. However, it’s also when initial defects start to emerge, such as loose fittings, faulty doors, electrical quirks, or early water leaks.
These issues might seem minor in isolation, but if left unlogged or unmanaged, they accumulate and often lead to frustration and delays in resolution.
This is why the first 3 months post-handover are pivotal:
- Builders are still engaged and active on-site or nearby.
- Subcontractors are within their defect liability period.
- Trade relationships are still fresh, making issues easier to resolve.
Proactively identifying and logging defects immediately as they occur not only ensures timely rectification but also keeps the builder engaged while the project is still front of mind.
Spotting Systemic Defects Early
One of the key advantages of early logging is the ability to identify systemic issues—those that recur across multiple apartments or areas. Some examples may include:
- Leaking balcony thresholds.
- Air conditioning drainage
- Fire door alignments
If these are reported and managed as isolated defects, the underlying design or construction fault can go unnoticed. By contrast, a centralised digital system allows stakeholders to:
- Tag related defects together.
- Highlights trends and recurring failures.
- Proactively addresses root causes.
By the time the 18-month building inspection takes place, these systemic issues can already be identified, documented, and resolved, greatly reducing the burden of post-18-month inspection remedial work.
Creating a Living Digital Record
Digital defect management isn’t just about ticketing issues. It’s about creating a living, breathing record of the building’s early-life performance. This record:
- Provides owners and strata committees with confidence in the defect resolution process.
- Gives developers visibility on subcontractor performance and risk areas.
- Supports builders in defending against unfair claims while identifying legitimate ones.
- Enables data-driven decisions about long-term maintenance planning.
This approach moves strata schemes from reactive to proactive asset management—a shift that’s critical as buildings become more complex and regulated with increasing value.
The Payoff: A Clean SBBIS Report and Smooth Bond Release
By the time the 18-month statutory inspection occurs, a well-managed building should:
- Ensure most defects are logged, tracked, and closed out.
- Provide the independent inspector with a clear audit trail of rectification.
- Avoid surprises as the serious issues were addressed early.
- Reduce conflict between owners and developers during bond release negotiations.
This approach not only streamlines compliance with the SBBIS but also builds trust between all parties involved, including owners, developers, builders, and strata managers.
