Before interior work begins in your new flat, document its condition, check for unresolved defects, and confirm the measurements and service points your design will depend on. These steps can help you avoid covering a leak with cabinetry, placing furniture over a needed socket, or ordering a wardrobe that does not fit the finished room.

Receiving your apartment keys is an exciting moment. It is also the right time to pause before ordering furniture or starting decorative work. This new flat handover checklist for Bangladesh homeowners explains what to record, what to ask the developer to address, and how to prepare for a useful interior discussion with AG.

Start with a room-by-room condition record

Walk through the apartment in daylight before workers or materials arrive. Take wide photographs of every room and close-ups of visible issues. Include floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows, sanitary fittings, and the kitchen. Date the records and identify each location clearly.

Create one defect list with the room, observation, photograph reference, person responsible for responding, and current status. For example, “Bedroom 2, stain beneath window, photo 08, developer response pending” is more useful than “wall problem.” Share the list with the relevant developer or building representative and keep written responses.

Separate existing defects from the improvements you want AG to design. That distinction makes the interior scope clearer and provides a record of the condition before work starts. Your interior planning review should not be treated as a structural or electrical safety certification.

Check walls, ceilings, and floors before covering them

Look for visible cracks, peeling paint, stains, damaged plaster, chipped tiles, and uneven-looking surfaces. Photograph what you see rather than assuming its cause. Ask an appropriately qualified professional to assess significant, recurring, or unexplained cracking before decorative work conceals it.

Check the corners where built-in furniture will sit. A wall that looks straight from the doorway may still require adjustment for cabinetry. Ask the installation team to verify levels, alignment, and the dimensions that matter to the proposed design.

Keep access to areas awaiting repair. A wardrobe, wall panel, or false ceiling can make an unresolved problem harder to inspect later. Agree which repairs must be completed and checked before the interior team proceeds.

Investigate dampness and water stains first

Inspect around windows, bathroom-adjacent walls, kitchen plumbing, balcony doors, and ceiling corners. Damp patches, bubbling paint, or a musty smell deserve investigation before installing boards, wallpaper, or cabinetry.

Fix the source of a leak or moisture problem and allow affected materials to dry appropriately before covering them. Painting over mould or dampness does not resolve the cause. If the source is unclear or the affected area is concealed, ask a suitable specialist to investigate and recommend the next steps.

For example, if the wall behind a proposed bedroom wardrobe is damp, pause installation in that area. Record the condition, identify who will investigate and repair it, and agree how readiness for installation will be confirmed. Other design decisions may continue while that issue is resolved.

Review plumbing and drainage with the right specialist

Ask the developer or a qualified plumber to demonstrate the operation of supplied taps, toilets, visible connections, and drains. Record leaks, slow drainage, loose fittings, or other concerns. Discuss any testing needed before pipework is hidden by cabinets or finishes.

Confirm where isolation valves, access covers, and cleaning points are located. The interior layout should preserve practical access for maintenance. Avoid enclosing these points behind fixed joinery that cannot be opened.

Decide early whether the kitchen sink, washing machine, water heater, or other appliances will move. A change in location may affect plumbing, electrical connections, cabinetry, and the project scope together. Do not undertake improvised flooding or pressure tests yourself.

Match electrical and AC points to the furniture layout

Record the positions of sockets, switches, lighting points, the distribution board, and existing AC provisions. Then compare them with the proposed bed, sofa, TV unit, desk, kitchen equipment, and wardrobes. A socket inside a planned cabinet may require a different design or an agreed service adjustment.

Have a qualified electrician assess the installation and any proposed changes, including circuit suitability, protective devices, earthing, and appliance requirements. A socket working during a quick check does not establish that the electrical installation is safe or suitable for every intended load. Do not open panels or handle exposed wiring.

Ask the AC installer to review unit locations, drainage routes, and maintenance access before finalising ceilings and cabinets. Keep service access in the drawings so routine maintenance does not require dismantling a finished interior.

Test doors and windows and preserve access

Open and close doors and windows using their normal controls. Note sticking, damaged handles, incomplete seals, or locks that need attention. Ask the developer to demonstrate any unfamiliar fittings and record the keys supplied.

Check door swings against planned furniture, and consider how curtains or blinds will operate around windows. Review balcony thresholds and any signs of water entry. Do not lean outside or attempt unsafe checks of exterior fittings.

Measure the delivery route as well as the rooms. Lift dimensions, corridor turns, entrance openings, and stair access can affect how a sofa or cabinet is manufactured and brought into the apartment.

Verify measurements before approving custom furniture

A sales brochure or original floor plan is useful for an initial conversation, but production should rely on verified site measurements. Record wall lengths, ceiling heights, beams, columns, openings, and service positions relevant to the design.

Check dimensions after any work that changes the usable space. New floor finishes, wall treatments, or ceiling construction can affect clearances. Confirm appliance model dimensions and the manufacturer’s required ventilation and service spaces before cabinetry is released for production.

Share the furniture you intend to retain with AG, including measurements and photographs. Designing around existing pieces from the beginning is easier than trying to fit them into a completed arrangement.

Confirm building rules and responsibilities

Speak to building management about permitted work hours, contractor entry, lift booking, material storage, waste removal, and protection of shared areas. Ask what approvals are needed for proposed alterations before authorising them.

Collect available handover documents, relevant drawings, equipment manuals, warranty information, and contacts for outstanding defects. Ask which repairs are the developer’s responsibility and which proposed changes belong in your interior quotation. Avoid assumptions about coverage; obtain project-specific answers in writing.

Any proposal affecting structural elements, shared services, or the building exterior needs appropriate professional review and the required permissions. Confirm feasibility before including such changes in an interior programme.

A final checklist before interior work starts

• Photographs and a room-by-room condition record are saved.
• Unresolved defects have a named contact and an agreed next step.
• Leaks, dampness, and other issues that affect finishes have been addressed or isolated from the work programme.
• Relevant measurements and appliance dimensions are verified.
• Electrical, plumbing, and AC changes have been reviewed by suitable specialists.
• Building access rules and delivery arrangements are understood.
• The interior scope identifies inclusions, exclusions, repair responsibilities, and approval points.

Why involve AG before ordering furniture?

AG’s design process connects consultation, measurements, design development, BOQ preparation, and execution. Bringing your handover findings into that discussion helps connect the condition of the flat with the home you want to create.

For a full-apartment interior, this coordination matters. A wardrobe location affects access to nearby services. Ceiling details affect lighting and AC maintenance. Appliance choices influence cabinetry. Discussing these elements together helps identify work that might otherwise be missed between separate decisions.

Ask AG to review your floor plan, understand the issues you have recorded, and clarify the proposed design and execution scope. Where specialist assessments or developer repairs are needed, agree those responsibilities before work proceeds. The aim is to begin with a measured brief and clear decisions rather than unresolved assumptions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I start interior design before receiving the flat?

Yes, an initial brief and layout discussion can begin using available plans. Final dimensions, existing conditions, and relevant service positions should be verified on site before production or installation decisions depend on them.

Should every handover defect stop all interior work?

Not necessarily. A minor issue in one area may not prevent design work elsewhere. Problems affecting safety, moisture, access, or the surfaces being covered need appropriate attention before dependent work proceeds. Agree the sequence with the relevant professionals.

Does a new flat need fresh measurements?

Yes. Custom furniture and service coordination should be based on the actual apartment. Do not assume that brochure dimensions capture every finished wall, beam, opening, or installation clearance.

What should I send AG for the first discussion?

Send your floor plan, apartment size, location, room photographs, defect list, budget range, and preferred move-in date. Include details of furniture you will keep and any appliances already selected.

Prepare your new flat with AG

Before committing to cabinets, ceilings, or custom furniture, bring AG a clear picture of your apartment and your priorities. We can discuss a coordinated interior scope that considers your family’s daily use, the available space, and the work required before installation begins.

Featured image: AI-generated concept illustration of a new apartment before interior work, not a photograph of an AG project.