Certify It
Protect Your Home, Finalise with Confidence
Get the knowledge and structure to close out your project properly, safeguard your investment, and create a complete home manual.
"The final stage of any project is often the most overlooked, but getting it right is essential. Certify It helps you protect your investment, tie up loose ends, and set your home up for long-term success."
— Oliver Steele-Perkins
Certify it is for self builders and homeowners who:
are nearing the end of their project and want to close it out properly
unsure what’s required for certification, warranties, and handover
looking to understand the final steps and sequencing before completion
to avoid loose ends that could cause issues later
wanting a complete Homeowner Manual with all documentation in one place
If you're nearing completion and want to complete the project cleanly and professionally Certify It is designed for you.
Why Certify It?
Many homeowners reach the end of their build without a clear process for sign-off, final accounts, or organising documentation, leaving loose ends that can cause future problems.
Certify It ensures you finish strong, with everything wrapped up professionally and nothing overlooked. It gives you the structure and support to:
✔ Protect your investment: Ensure warranties, certificates, and approvals are in place
✔ Avoid future headaches: Get your documents, manuals, and paperwork fully organised
✔ Close the books: Manage financial retentions, settle the final account, and manage defects properly
✔ Move forward with confidence: Know that your home is compliant, covered, and ready to live in
What Certify It helps you do
Final sign-off isn’t just a formality, it’s what protects your home, your investment, and your peace of mind. This phase brings everything together, ensuring the paperwork is complete, accounts are settled, and you’re ready to move in and enjoy your home knowing that all the paperwork is up together.
Certify It is supported by the Essentials Workspace, where you can track sign-offs, gather your documents, and manage the final account with ease.
Step 1
Final Sign-Off & Certification
Everything you need in place to legally and formally complete your project and secure final approval.
Completion Certificates and testing. Organising electrical, plumbing, ventilation, commissioning and compliance documentation.
Building Control sign off: Managing final inspections, declarations, and the sequence required for completion certification.
Structural Warranty close out: Coordinating final inspections and warranty sign-off alongside Building Control approval.
Step 2
Financial Close-Out
Closing out the final account and protecting your financial position after construction.
Final accounts: Reviewing completed works against payments made and agreed scope.
Retentions: Understanding when funds should be released and what should remain outstanding.
Practical Completion: Managing completion, reducing disputes, and closing out remaining snagging items properly.
Step 3
Home Operation and Maintenance Manual
Keeping your project information organised so your home remains protected long after completion.
What your O&M manual should include: Certificates, warranties, maintenance information, finishes schedules, and key handover documents.
Live project records: Using structured templates to organise and store important project documentation within the Essentials Workspace.
Protecting your home: Why accurate records matter for maintenance, future works, insurance, and resale.
Step 4
Defects Period & 12-Month Review
Managing post-completion issues professionally and protecting your position after handover.
Understanding the defects period: What remains the contractor’s responsibility after Practical Completion.
Managing outstanding items: Tracking unresolved defects and ensuring issues are formally addressed.
12-month review and retention release: Preparing for final inspections, sign-off, and release of retained funds.
“Oliver worked with us on a major rebuild of an historic house in Berkshire … broke down the component elements in a way that was easy for us as the client to understand and follow.”
— Hugh Chambers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Certify It is built on decades of experience closing out residential projects the right way. From managing final accounts to chasing certificates, I’ve seen what gets missed when the finish line is rushed, and how costly that can be. This phase ensures nothing is left outstanding, giving you a clean, confident handover.”
Essentials Workspace
Your online project space where you can manage your project from start to finish.
The workspace keeps everything in one place, helping you stay organised, efficient and connected with our Knowledge Base.
Document tracking template: Keep tabs on tests, certificates, approvals, manuals and finishes schedules with a clear, editable checklist
Smart file structure: A ready-to-use digital filing system so all your documents, warranties, and records stay organised and accessible
Live Project Support with Oliver
Fortnightly Support Sessions
Bring questions from your own project, learn from other homeowners completing their project, and stay connected to experienced guidance throughout the closing phase.
You don’t have to manage your project alone
As part of the Homebuilding Essentials you’ll be invited to join Oliver for a live session designed to give you clear answers and shared learning in a relaxed, supportive group setting.
Whether you're working from the design and budgeting phase, managing a build, or preparing to wrap up your project, these calls are your opportunity to:
Bring questions from your own project
Listen in on what others are asking
Get honest, practical advice based on experience
"The final phase of your project isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about protecting your future.
Certify It makes sure you’re covered, organised, and ready to live comfortably in the home you’ve worked so hard to build."
— Oliver Steele-Perkins
Connecting every stage of the homebuilding journey
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Plan It
Plan It equips you with the knowledge, tools, and structured processes to confidently design, budget, and prepare your homebuilding project, ensuring a smooth and well-managed build.
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Build It
Build It equips you with the expertise, guidance, and step-by-step processes to manage your construction project effectively, ensuring quality, cost control, and timely completion.
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Certify It
Certify It equips you with the knowledge and processes to navigate final inspections, compliance, and certification, ensuring your project is completed with the documentation needed to validate your investment