“How to check your BTO for defects list” from Renotalk which I find it useful to share here:
In general, USE every thing in there and run checks during the afternoon with full natural light.
1. Check that all your keys (including letter box key) opens your main door properly.
2. Turn on all the lights (if it comes with) to make sure they are working perfectly, i.e. none of the lights are blown or any of the starters are faulty. If your wiring are hidden as some new flats are, pray that everything is wired properly.
3. Turn on all the taps, faucets, showers and let the water run. If water chokes in your sink, something's in its way (could be plaster etc).
Since BTOs do not come with showers installed, bring a hose along with you, stick it into the sink's tap and flood your floor. If water collects on the bathroom floor and takes forever to drain, your floor isn't sloped properly to encourage proper drainage.
4. Taste the water. While it may sound silly, it should taste... clean, and free from corrosion. Not that stainless steel pipes corrode easily, and this being a new flat and all. But just because the pipes are newly installed doesn't mean the pipes are new (they're not). Bring along a clear drinking glass. Fill it up and see if there are any unnatural particles.
5. Open ALL the windows to their fullest. Check to see if they function properly. Pay attention to the handles to ensure they are not loose. Also check that they all turn and lock properly. If you have to force the handle into lock position, the handle will loosen up within a short time. This is a problem because most handles are dead bolted onto the frames. And once they are loose, there is nothing to be done but re-bolt them onto another area, leaving unsightly holes on your frame and your handles will not be levelled with your other windows.
6. Use all the toilets by flushing them and ensure they work properly - see how long it takes for the water tank to fill up and flush again. Faulty water tank plumbing may hinder replenishment of the tank's water.
7. If your unit comes with a fancy accordion pole hanger for drying clothes, play around with it to ensure everything is bolted properly and its mechanisms are functioning smoothly.
8. If your walls are tiled, take a thick (a 50-cent works) coin or marble and start tapping on each of them to check if any of the tiles are hollow or loose.
9. Although you would not be able to confirm this within 7 days, be on a constant look out for water leakage/damage on your ceilings after your upstairs neighbor has moved in.
10. Always remember that just because it's a newly built flat doesn't mean everything in it is new. That means piping, gates, windows etc. Check for rust, LISTEN for defects, look for cracks (on the toilet bowls and sinks), and ensure window rubber linings are not dried or rotten.
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