How to accept a crew's work stage by stage and not miss poor workmanship
Accept work stage by stage, while it can still be seen: pipes and cables before plastering, underfloor heating and the drain before the screed, waterproofing before tiling. At every stage, check against a list, take photos, write remarks down with the spot and what to fix, and check again after the fix. A single inspection at the end of the renovation won't show what's already covered.
Why stage by stage and not at the end
A renovation is built up in layers: each new one covers the last. When the apartment is finished you only see paint, tiles and the floor. A wrong sewer slope, an unprotected cable, a hollow under a tile or missing tape around a window will show up later - as a leak, a crack or a cold spot. Fixing them then means opening up the finish.
That's why almost every stage in the app route ends with the item “Accept the stage”: the owner or designer checks the work, and only then does the crew move on. And before hidden work is covered there are separate items - “Record the result” and “Accept the work before the screed is poured”.
Agree on the rules in advance
Before the renovation starts, discuss with the crew:
- how you accept work - stage by stage, with site visits or from photos;
- what the contractor photographs before covering - every wall in full, a tape measure in the shot;
- what requirements you accept against - wall flatness, surface category for paint, tile tolerances; since 1 February 2026 the quality of finishing in Russia is determined by the client's requirements (Amendment No. 3 to SP 71.13330.2017), so it's worth writing them into the contract;
- how remarks are passed on and how long fixes take.
If you have a designer, they usually look at the contractor's work first. More in Renovating with a designer.
What to check at each stage
Below are the checks from the acceptance items of the app route. It's not an exhaustive list, but without these it's better not to accept a stage.
Partitions
Room dimensions, vertical walls, conformity with the design; diagonals, opening widths. Drywall partitions are photographed before the second side is boarded: frame, backing, cables.
Plumbing
Pressure test - checking tightness under pressure: the gauge photographed at the start and end of the test. The sewer flushed with water, the water drains without delay, the joints are dry. Slopes checked before the boxing is closed. All pipes, manifolds and outlets photographed before covering.
Electrical
Points per the plan, the panel labelled, lines tested and insulation measured, walls with cables photographed. In detail: Apartment wiring: what to check before plastering.
Air conditioning and ventilation
Air conditioning lines pressure-tested, the drain laid with a slope, a separate power line to each unit; photos with a tape measure before plastering. Ducts, holes for supply ventilators and the hood outlet are ready.
Rough finishing
Vertical walls, 90° corners, flatness and moisture; the main tools are a 2 m straightedge and a level. In detail: Rough finishing: the order of work.
Screed
Before the pour - photos and acceptance of the pipes, cables, drain and underfloor heating. After - flatness with a straightedge, the level, the slope to the drain, a moisture measurement. In detail: Floor screed.
Ceilings
A flat plane, joints, no sagging. Look under side lighting - that shows every defect. The frame and everything above the ceiling are photographed before boarding.
Tiling
Flatness, joints, no hollows: tap the tiles - a dull sound means a hollow. Before tiling, make sure the waterproofing in wet areas is done and dry: tiles are not waterproofing.
Wall finishing
Inspect the walls in daylight and artificial light, check the coating is even.
Flooring
No squeaks, gaps or level differences between pieces. Walk over the whole area.
Final installation, furniture and final acceptance
All sockets, switches, light fittings and plumbing fixtures work; switch everything on at once - that reveals errors in the load calculation. Furniture doors and drawers open, appliances are connected - check while the contractor is still there. At the end - a punch list for every room, in daylight.
How to write remarks
A remark should make sense without you. A good remark has:
- The spot: “kitchen, wall by the window, left of the socket”.
- What's wrong: “gap under a 2 m straightedge about 6 mm”.
- What to do: “bring the flatness to the agreed 3 mm”.
- A photo: the whole spot and the detail, with the straightedge or tape measure in the shot.
Pass remarks on in writing and keep them with the stage. A spoken “we'll redo it” gets forgotten, especially when several contractors work on site.
Re-checking
After a fix, don't accept the stage on the contractor's word. Go through your list: fixed - tick it off and photograph it, not fixed - keep it, new - add it. Accept the stage only when the list is closed.
How to confirm acceptance
Ideally, for every stage you keep: the list of remarks and notes on the fixes, photos of hidden work, test reports (pressure test, insulation measurement) and a dated acceptance mark. At the end of the renovation these are used to check the completed work against the budget before the last payment and to sign the acceptance certificate - once the list of issues is fully closed.
How to accept work in the Doma app
The contractor marks items, attaches photos and taps “Send for review”. The work goes to the designer, or to the owner if there's no designer on the property. The reviewer opens the stage, looks at the items and photos and chooses “Accept work”, “Accept” or “Approve”, or “I have remarks” - then writes what to fix, and the team gets a notification. Accepted work can't be unmarked: it stays in the property history together with the photos. Which buttons each member sees: Reviewing and accepting work.