Before your carpenter’s final payment, compare the installed work with the approved quote and drawings. Open every shutter and drawer, record unfinished work and defects, then reconcile the final bill against written changes and payments already made.
Prepare for the Inspection
Ask for the furniture to be cleaned and ready for inspection. Dust, tools and packaging can hide scratches, unfinished edges and missing fittings.
Keep these documents available:
- The final quotation and approved drawings.
- The material and hardware schedule.
- Written approvals for changes or substitutions.
- A record of payments already made.
- The carpenter’s final bill.
- Any earlier list of pending work. Inspect in daylight and with the room’s normal lighting switched on. Use a torch for dark cabinet interiors.
Walk through one room at a time and assign each unit a clear name, such as “Bedroom 1 wardrobe” or “Kitchen drawer unit beside sink.”
1. Check That the Agreed Work Is Complete
Start with the scope, before looking at small finish defects.
| Check | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Furniture units | All quoted wardrobes, cabinets, desks and other units are installed |
| Dimensions | Key dimensions match the approved drawings or recorded changes |
| Internal arrangement | Shelves, partitions, hanging rails and drawers match the agreed layout |
| Accessories | Handles, locks, trays, baskets and other fittings are present |
| Finishing components | Fillers, exposed panels, plinths and trims are complete |
| Related work | Agreed touch-ups, cleaning and debris removal are finished |
Look for items that are easy to postpone: missing shelf supports, unfinished cable openings, uninstalled handles or an exposed side panel awaiting laminate.
A unit can look complete from the doorway while still missing part of its agreed scope.
2. Open and Close Every Shutter
Do not test only the largest wardrobe door or one kitchen cabinet.
Operate every hinged, sliding and lift-up shutter using its intended handle or mechanism.
Hinged Shutters
Check that each shutter:
- Opens and closes without rubbing adjacent panels.
- Does not catch on the floor, countertop or nearby furniture.
- Aligns reasonably with adjoining shutters.
- Has consistent gaps appropriate to the design.
- Closes fully without needing to be lifted or forced.
- Has secure handles and fittings.
- Performs the specified soft-close function, where included. There is no single gap measurement suitable for every cabinet system. Compare the installation with the approved detail and hardware requirements.
Hinge quantity also depends on the door. Blum’s technical guidance, for example, links hinge selection and quantity to front dimensions and weight. Do not assume every shutter needs the same number. Page 167
Sliding and Lift-Up Shutters
Ask the installer to demonstrate normal operation.
Check for scraping, unexpected movement, incomplete closure and interference with internal drawers. Have the installer confirm that stops, retainers and other required components are fitted.
Do not force a mechanism that sticks. Record the problem and have it corrected.
3. Test Every Drawer
Pull each drawer through its intended travel and close it several times normally.
| Check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Movement | Smooth operation without sticking, scraping or unusual resistance |
| Extension | Full or partial extension as specified |
| Closing | The agreed soft-close or push-to-open function works |
| Front alignment | Drawer fronts align with surrounding cabinetry |
| Clearance | Drawers clear shutters, handles and adjacent walls |
| Drawer box | Base, sides and joints appear secure and undamaged |
| Hardware | Visible model details match the approved specification where identifiable |
Check internal wardrobe drawers with the outer shutters open in their normal position. A drawer that works only when a door is forced unusually far back needs attention.
Ask for a demonstration with a suitable everyday load within the hardware’s stated capacity. Do not stand, sit or lean heavily on an open drawer.
A smooth empty drawer does not prove its load rating. Keep the product specification as part of the handover record.
4. Inspect Shelves, Rails and Cabinet Interiors
Look inside every compartment, including the areas above eye level and beneath drawers.
Check that:
- Shelves sit securely on the intended supports.
- Adjustable shelf supports are complete.
- Hanging rails and brackets are firmly installed.
- Back panels are properly fitted.
- Interior finishes match the agreed specification.
- There are no exposed sharp screws or rough, accessible edges.
- Pipe and cable openings are neatly finished.
- Required service access remains available. Have the installer demonstrate removable panels or access arrangements.
For wall-mounted cabinets and tall furniture, ask the installer to confirm the fixing and any required anti-tip measures. A homeowner’s visual inspection cannot verify concealed anchors or the suitability of the wall behind them.
5. Check Laminate, Paint, Polish and Edges
Inspect the furniture from normal viewing positions first, then examine visible defects more closely.
Surface Finish
Look for:
- Scratches, chips or dents.
- Bubbles or lifting laminate.
- Glue marks and stubborn residue.
- Unapproved colour or texture differences.
- Patchy paint or polish.
- Grain direction that differs from the approved design. Use the approved physical sample and finish code when discussing a mismatch. Phone photographs alone may distort colour.
Edges and Joints
Check shutter edges, shelf fronts, handles and frequently touched corners.
Look for loose edging, exposed core material where it should be finished, rough cuts and gaps that appear incomplete.
Distinguish an intended joint from a defect. Ask the carpenter to explain anything unclear against the approved construction detail.
Do not scrape surfaces or use strong solvents to test the finish. Ask the carpenter to remove residue using a method suitable for the material.
6. Check Where the Furniture Meets the Room
Some problems become visible only when the furniture is used alongside doors, appliances and other fittings.
Check whether:
- Room doors open without hitting new furniture.
- Wardrobe shutters clear the bed and bedside units.
- Kitchen drawers clear appliance handles.
- Furniture leaves sockets and switches accessible as planned.
- Cable openings suit the equipment they were designed for.
- Curtains and windows operate without obstruction.
- Agreed service panels remain accessible. If plumbing, lighting or appliance connections were included, have the responsible trades demonstrate them. Do not assume the carpenter’s handover covers work excluded from their quotation.
7. Record Damage and Unfinished Work
Inspect nearby flooring, walls, doors and other retained items.
Compare any damage with photographs taken before installation, where available. Record which contractor will handle repairs rather than relying on a general promise that “someone will come back.”
Separate outstanding items into three groups:
| Category | Examples | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Safety or stability concern | Loose wall unit, sharp exposed fixing | Avoid using the affected item and arrange correction |
| Functional or scope issue | Drawer will not open, missing shelf, incorrect hardware | Agree the required correction and completion date |
| Finish or housekeeping issue | Glue residue, small touch-up, debris left behind | Record the location and agreed remedy |
A short, precise list is easier to resolve than a message saying “finishing is poor.”
8. Create a Written Snag List
A snag list is simply a record of defects and incomplete work.
Use one row per issue.
| Location | Issue | Agreed correction | Responsible person | Target date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedroom 1 wardrobe | Left shutter rubs adjacent shutter | Adjust and retest operation | Carpenter | Agreed date | Open |
| Kitchen drawer unit | Specified organiser missing | Supply and install approved organiser | Contractor | Agreed date | Open |
| Study desk | Adhesive residue on exposed side | Clean using suitable method | Carpenter | Agreed date | Open |
Photograph visible issues and record short videos of operational problems.
Send the list to the carpenter and obtain acknowledgement. After corrections, retest the affected items before marking them complete.
9. Reconcile the Final Bill
Compare the bill with the agreed quotation and approved changes.
A straightforward reconciliation is:
Agreed contract amount + approved additions − agreed omissions or credits − payments already made = balance due.
Check that:
- Added work has a recorded scope and price.
- Removed items have been treated as agreed.
- Materials or hardware have not been charged twice.
- Delivery and installation charges match the quotation.
- Applicable taxes and invoice details are clear. Discuss any outstanding work alongside the agreed payment terms. If you agree to defer an amount until specified corrections are completed, record the amount, conditions and completion date together.
Avoid treating an arbitrary retention percentage as a universal rule.
10. Collect Handover Information
Before closing the project, collect:
- The final invoice and payment acknowledgement.
- The final snag list and completion record.
- Approved material substitutions.
- Hardware details and available warranty documents.
- Care and cleaning instructions.
- Keys, spare fittings and agreed leftover materials.
- The contact and process for reporting later problems. Clarify the distinction between product warranty and workmanship support. Ask who handles a return visit, adjustment or replacement, and whether any charges apply.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Should I inspect every shutter and drawer?
Yes. Similar-looking units can have different installation issues. Operate each one and check its clearance, alignment and agreed closing function.
What if the carpenter says adjustments will happen later?
Record the exact adjustments, responsible person and return date. Confirm how they relate to the agreed completion and payment terms.
Can I check concealed plywood after installation?
Only to a limited extent. Delivery photographs, material records and inspections before assembly are more useful for verifying concealed components.
Should small scratches go on the snag list?
Yes, if they are defects in the supplied work. Record their locations and agree an appropriate repair or replacement rather than leaving the remedy unclear.
How much final payment should I hold back?
There is no universal amount for every project. Follow the agreed payment terms and document any mutually agreed arrangement for outstanding work.
What if a problem appears after final payment?
Report it promptly with photographs or video and the relevant invoice details. Use the agreed workmanship-support or product-warranty process to establish who will inspect and resolve it.
Plan your next steps with Houspire
Start with dated drawings and an itemised scope so you have something concrete to inspect against at handover. Explore Houspire’s design plans to see what the design stage can help you decide.