Planning interiors after possession in Bangalore starts with a careful handover check. Use this checklist before new apartment interiors begin.
Getting the keys to a new apartment is exciting – but the weeks between handover and interior work are when you can catch problems cheaply. Once wardrobes and a kitchen are installed, fixing a leak or re-routing wiring becomes expensive. Use this checklist before your interior designer starts.
Before you sign the handover
- Walls and ceilings: look for cracks, uneven plaster and damp patches, especially on external walls and below bathrooms of the flat above.
- Flooring: tap tiles for hollow sounds, check levels and gaps, and note chipped or mismatched tiles.
- Doors and windows: check alignment, locks, and that sliding windows seal properly during rain.
- Plumbing: run every tap and shower, flush every WC and check for slow drains and leaks under sinks.
- Bathroom waterproofing: ask the builder how it was done and whether a ponding test was carried out.
- Electrical: test every switch and socket, check the distribution board labels and the sanctioned load.
Before interior design begins
- Measure everything: get an accurate site measurement – builder drawings are rarely exact.
- Plan appliance points: chimney, hob, built-in oven, microwave, dishwasher, water purifier, washing machine and ACs all need power and plumbing in the right places.
- Check the kitchen: confirm the positions of the gas line, sink outlet and exhaust before designing the modular kitchen.
- Decide on civil changes early: breaking a wall, adding a partition or upgrading bathroom tiles must happen before carpentry.
- Society rules: find out working hours, material movement rules and any deposit your association needs.
- Moisture check: wardrobes on external walls need a gap or a moisture barrier, especially during Bangalore’s monsoon.
Why this matters for your interiors
Most interior problems we see in new Bangalore apartments trace back to things that were not checked at handover – a damp wall behind a wardrobe, a sink outlet in the wrong place, or too few electrical points in the kitchen. Ten days of careful checking saves weeks of rework.
Planning the design next
Once the basics are sorted, pick a direction for your home. Browse five complete 3BHK styles on our 3BHK interior design ideas page, or read our 3BHK interior cost guide.
Tools to carry on inspection day
- A measuring tape and a printed floor plan to mark sizes and defects.
- A phone charger or small tester to check every socket.
- A torch for lofts, shafts and under-sink areas.
- A coin or small tool to tap tiles for hollow sounds.
- A bucket, to test floor slopes in bathrooms and balconies.
- A spirit level or level app for floors and counters.
- Masking tape to mark defects, and your phone camera to record them.
Six more things worth checking
- Floor slope in wet areas. Pour water in bathrooms, the utility and balconies and confirm it runs to the drain without pooling.
- Ceiling height. Measure it in each room; it decides the false ceiling design. See our false ceiling guide.
- Wall squareness. Corners that are out of square affect wardrobes and kitchen units.
- AC provisions. Check sleeve positions, drain points and where the outdoor units will sit.
- Balcony and window sealing. Look for gaps at frames and signs of water entry.
- Mobile and internet. Check signal strength and where the fibre point enters, as it affects router and TV positions.
Record everything in writing
List every defect with a photograph and the room, and hand it to the builder in writing before or at possession. Ask for a date by which each item will be fixed, and re-inspect before interior work begins. Defects are far easier to have corrected before furniture hides the walls.
What comes next
With the flat checked, the planning order is: furniture layout, electrical points, false ceiling and lighting, then materials and finishes. Start with electrical planning before interiors and how long home interiors take, and see what drives interior cost before you compare quotations.
Frequently asked questions
Walls and ceilings for cracks and damp, hollow or uneven floor tiles, door and window alignment, every tap, drain and flush, bathroom waterproofing, and every switch, socket and the distribution board.
Take an accurate site measurement, plan appliance power and plumbing points, confirm the gas line and sink outlet positions, decide civil changes early and find out the association’s rules.
External walls can carry moisture, particularly in the monsoon, so wardrobes there need a gap or a moisture barrier behind them.
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Related: New apartment interiors · Apartment interiors · Turnkey interior design