Phase 1: Pre-Design (Before Anything Starts)
Phase 1 Pre-Design Checklist
- Receive builder handover and document all defects in writing (date and photograph everything)
- Check what the builder has completed — flooring, tiles, painting, electrical points
- Measure all rooms accurately (length, width, ceiling height, door/window positions)
- Note positions of all existing electrical points, switch boxes, and AC provisions
- Note existing plumbing points and drainage in kitchen and bathrooms
- Document existing tile pattern and grout lines (for matching or complete redo decision)
- Check for any seepage, crack, or water damage that must be fixed before interior work
- Get the builder's completion certificate and structural drawings if available
- Set your total interior budget with a 10% contingency buffer
- Shortlist and brief 2–3 interior designers — get detailed quotes
Phase 2: Design Phase
Phase 2 Design Phase Checklist
- Agree on design style, mood board, and colour palette
- Review and approve 2D floor plan with furniture layout
- Review and approve 3D visualisations for key rooms
- Confirm all material specifications in writing (brand, model, colour code, finish)
- Confirm electrical layout (point positions, switch positions, lighting zones)
- Confirm false ceiling design and cove lighting positions
- Approve kitchen layout and modular kitchen design
- Approve wardrobe internal layout for all bedrooms
- Confirm AC brand, capacity, and installation positions
- Sign interior design contract with clear scope, timeline, payment milestones
Phase 3: Execution Order (This Sequence Matters)
Phase 3 Execution Sequence
- Civil work first: demolition (if any), masonry changes, wall modifications
- Waterproofing: bathroom floors and walls, kitchen slab, terrace if applicable
- Rough electrical work: conduit laying, wiring, earthing (before walls are plastered)
- Rough plumbing: water supply and drainage routing changes
- Tiling: floor tiles, wall tiles in kitchen and bathrooms
- False ceiling: GI frame, gypsum board installation, cove LED strip housing
- Painting: putty, primer, paint on walls and ceiling (before carpentry installation)
- Modular kitchen installation
- Wardrobe and other carpentry installation
- TV unit, crockery unit, and other built-in furniture
- Final electrical fittings: switch plates, light fixtures, fan, AC indoor unit
- Plumbing fittings: taps, showerheads, sanitaryware, geyser
- Soft furnishings: curtains, blinds
- Accessories and decor: mirrors, artwork, plants, cushions
Phase 4: Final Checks and Punch List
Phase 4 Final Checklist Before Moving In
- All cabinet and wardrobe doors open, close, and align correctly
- All electrical switches and sockets tested — none dead
- All lights working, including cove LED strips
- All AC units running and cooling effectively
- All taps running with no leaks; all drains draining without blockage
- Painting touch-ups completed — no bare patches, roller marks, or paint on tiles
- Grout lines clean and epoxy-sealed where required
- False ceiling joints smooth — no visible seams or cracks
- Wardrobe internal shelves at correct heights, all accessories installed
- Kitchen countertop sealed, no chips or stains
- Site completely cleaned — no construction debris anywhere
- Punch list documented and signed off
Documents to Keep After Completion
- Signed interior design contract with scope and warranty terms
- Approved 3D drawings and material specification list
- All appliance warranty cards (AC, kitchen appliances, water heater)
- Paint brand and colour codes for all rooms (for future touch-ups)
- Tile brand, series, and size (for future matching if breakage occurs)
- Laminate brand and shade code for kitchen and wardrobes
- Electrical layout diagram showing wiring and circuit breakers
- Plumbing layout showing pipe routes (photograph before walls are closed)
- Interior designer's/contractor's contact for warranty claims
- Photographs of completed work — especially hidden elements
At Homeli, we hand over a complete project documentation kit at handover — all specs, warranty cards, and photographs compiled for you. This is part of our standard service and protects you for years after the project.
Start Your New Flat Project
Let Homeli manage your entire interior project from first site visit to handover — on time, on budget, with complete documentation.
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Civil → Waterproofing → Rough electrical and plumbing → Flooring → False ceiling → Painting → Carpentry → Final electrical fittings → Plumbing fixtures → Soft furnishings and accessories. Never install carpentry before painting — you'll damage the new furniture with paint overspray.
A standard 2BHK in Chennai takes 45–60 working days from design approval to handover. A 3BHK takes 60–75 days. Premium projects with custom carpentry or imported materials can take 90–120 days. Timeline starts after builder handover.
Keep: signed contract, approved drawings and material specs, all appliance warranty cards, paint/tile/laminate codes for future touch-ups, electrical and plumbing layout diagrams, and the designer/contractor's contact for warranty claims. Homeli provides a complete documentation kit at handover.