Start with what is there.

A clear record helps the installer decide what needs a closer look. Separate things you can see, things you have been told and things that still need inspection.

Three kinds of information.

Observed: A visible crack, loose-looking edge, stain or change of level. Record the location and what you see without assigning a cause.
Documented: Old drawings, product information, previous invoices or a handover note. Keep the source and date with the information.
Unknown: What is behind a finish, the condition of the underlying surface or the route of concealed services. Mark these as unresolved.

Observation checklist.

Photograph the whole room and the relevant close details Mark proposed tiled areas on a simple sketch Note the finishes you want to keep Identify visible transitions and changes of level Gather any existing product or construction records Write down areas that need inspection List who can answer questions about earlier work

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Keep a location with every note.

“At the doorway beside the timber floor” is easier to discuss than “the edge is odd”. Give each photo a short description. If the room is occupied, record what is movable and what needs a separate conversation before work can start.

Carry the facts into the survey.

Leave space for the installer to add the inspection findings.

Open the survey brief