New-build Abnahme: document your flat before you sign

The signature that flips everything

The Abnahme is the most important moment of buying a new build, and the one people prepare for least.

Before the Abnahme

The Bauträger has to prove the work is free of defects.

You are in the stronger position. You don't have to prove anything.

After the Abnahme

You have to prove the defect was already there.

Without a record, it's your word against the Bauträger's.

That's why what you record before you sign counts: complete, unchanged, and with a timestamp nobody can move later.

What BildProof records

Every room, no gaps

A guided AR scan over walls, floor and ceiling. The app shows how much of each room you have actually covered, so there's no “I think I got everything”.

Sealed and timestamped

Every photo gets a fingerprint plus a qualified DGN timestamp (eIDAS). Any later change visibly breaks the seal.

Your list of defects

Each defect with photo, room and time, as a document you can hand to the Bauträger or send straight away.

What BildProof isn't: building advice, or a replacement for a building surveyor. We don't judge whether something is a defect. We record, sealed, what was there and when. Many buyers use both.

Frequently asked questions

What happens at the Abnahme of a new-build flat?

With the Abnahme (formal acceptance) you declare that the work was built essentially as agreed. From that moment the burden of proof flips: before, the Bauträger (developer) has to prove there are no defects; after, you have to prove a defect. That is why the condition should be fully documented before you sign.

Do I have to list defects in the Abnahmeprotokoll?

Yes. Known defects belong in the Abnahmeprotokoll, otherwise you can lose rights over them. A complete photo record with a timestamp helps you prove the condition beyond doubt later.

Do I need a building surveyor?

A building surveyor (Bausachverständiger) usually costs several hundred euros and judges the quality of the work. BildProof does not replace that. It documents the condition completely and seals it so it holds up as proof. Many buyers use both.

What does it cost?

Scanning is free. You pay €9.99 per report, only when you send it.

More in the guides for new-build buyers: preparing the Abnahme, reservations, deadlines and defects afterwards.

Document first.
Then sign.