Furnished property handover in Punta Cana: inventory, defects and evidence

1. Agree what is being delivered before the appointment

Request the signed agreement, furniture annex, plans, equipment list, approved substitutions and any agreed completion specification. A furnished marketing photograph does not identify every item that belongs in the sale. Match the annex to the actual unit, including its identifier, parking and storage where relevant. Ask for missing specifications before the visit rather than settling them from memory at the door.

Record furniture quantities, brands, models, sizes, finishes and included accessories wherever those details were agreed. For a proposed substitute, document the exact replacement and obtain the appropriate written agreement; a similar appearance alone does not establish equivalence. Bring the current version of the annex so everyone compares the same baseline.

Arrange enough time, daylight, electricity and water for the inspection. Confirm who can explain equipment and who can authorise corrective work. Use an independent inspector or qualified contractor for technical questions and an independent lawyer for contractual ones. Their roles are different; a sales representative's walkthrough is not a substitute for either.

2. Use a room-by-room inventory worksheet

Make one line per item or clearly defined set, and connect it to a numbered photograph or document. Start at the entrance and follow the same route through every room, balcony and included storage space. Count accessories as well as large appliances: a television without its remote or a bed without the agreed mattress can still leave a practical gap.

3. Observe condition without attempting unsafe tests

Check visible finishes, doors, windows, cabinets, furniture stability and appliance accessories. Ask for normal operation to be demonstrated using the manufacturer's instructions. Record what was actually demonstrated and any limitation, such as disconnected water or unavailable power. An appliance being present does not establish that it functions, and one successful demonstration does not establish its remaining useful life.

For moisture, unusual smells, damaged fittings, cooling problems or apparent leaks, describe the observation and request assessment. Do not turn a visual symptom into a diagnosis. Leave electrical panels, exposed wiring, gas systems, structural concerns and other safety checks to appropriately qualified professionals. Do not remove covers, defeat protective devices or carry out improvised tests.

If the property cannot be inspected adequately, record the reason and ask your advisers how to handle the outstanding check under the agreement. A rushed appointment should not become a claim that every system was verified.

• Inspect a resale property before buying

4. Turn discrepancies into an evidence-backed defects log

Give each discrepancy an identifier, location, plain description, evidence reference and requested next step. Distinguish an incomplete item, a mismatch with the annex and a suspected technical fault. Record who received the log and whether they acknowledged the issue, accepted the proposed action or disputed it. Keep the original record alongside later updates.

These examples are fictional, not findings about a particular project: D01, living-room air conditioner, visible condensation below the unit during the demonstration; request a qualified assessment, with no cause assumed. D02, bedroom television, remote listed in the annex but not found; request the missing accessory or an agreed resolution. Neither example establishes a warranty entitlement or a legal deadline.

For every unresolved item, request a named contact, access arrangements and a target date. If a date is only your proposal, label it that way. After corrective work, record the reinspection result and attach new evidence; do not overwrite the initial photographs. Keep disagreements visible rather than marking an item complete because somebody says it is minor.

5. Record keys, meters and property-specific access

List keys, access cards, remotes, parking credentials and any equipment manuals delivered, with quantities and acknowledgement of receipt. Confirm how access credentials are transferred or reset securely. Record accessible meter identifiers and readings with permission, and clarify whose name each utility account is in, what transfer remains and who will handle it.

Ask the condominium or community administrator for the rules and procedures that apply to this exact property. A unit in Cap Cana, Bávaro, Cocotal or Ciudad Las Canas may involve different building and community arrangements; the area name alone does not establish permissions. Check move-in procedures, contractor access, parking allocation, emergency contacts and any separate amenity registration.

Take photographs only with appropriate permission and avoid capturing guests, identity documents or private belongings unnecessarily. Keep door codes, access credentials and sensitive documents out of public albums and listings. Share a restricted evidence folder with the relevant parties and retain a clear copy of the handover record.

6. Separate inspection, possession, title and rental readiness

An inspection records condition. Key handover records access or possession arrangements. Title transfer is a separate legal matter. Rental readiness adds another set of operational checks. Do not treat completion of one as proof that all four are complete, even when appointments happen on the same day.

Before signing any handover document, ask your independent lawyer to explain its wording, unresolved items, reservations and relationship to the purchase agreement. Do not assume a signature automatically waives rights, or that noting a defect automatically permits withholding or cancelling a payment. Obtain transaction-specific advice before making either decision.

If you intend to rent the property, separately verify the applicable permissions and building rules, insurance suitability, utilities, connectivity, guest access, cleaning and manager responsibilities. A furnished apartment with keys is not automatically ready to accept a booking. Use the management agreement to assign outstanding operational tasks rather than letting them disappear into the defects list.

7. Close the loop after the visit

Send a dated inventory and defects log through the agreed communication channel. Request acknowledgement, preserve any disputed responses and keep versions in order. Schedule rechecks for incomplete demonstrations and corrective work. Only mark a line resolved when the agreed action has been checked and the result recorded.

Create a final owner file containing the agreed annex, inventory, evidence references, unresolved issues, contact details, manuals and secure access-transfer record. Keep legal documents and sensitive credentials appropriately restricted. This workflow provides an organised factual record; it does not certify construction quality, determine ownership or replace professional advice.