New build snagging checklist: how to snag a new home room by room
A snag is any defect or unfinished job in a new home: a scratched window, a door that sticks, a missing bead of sealant. Snagging is going through the property methodically, writing each one down, and giving that snag list to the builder to put right.
This guide covers what to take, how to work through the house, and what to check in each room. The checklists are designed to print, so you can take them round with you. It is written for new homes, but the same method works for flats, refurbishments and commercial projects.
Contents
When to snag
The best time is before you complete, if the developer allows a pre-completion inspection. It is easier to get things fixed before you have moved in and filled the rooms with furniture. If that is not possible, snag as soon as you get the keys, before the furniture arrives.
Most new homes in the UK come with a 10-year structural warranty, and in the first two years the builder is usually responsible for fixing defects. Check your own warranty documents for the exact terms. It is worth doing a second check, sometimes called a back snag, a few weeks after the builder says the first list is done. Do a final one before the two years are up, as some problems such as shrinkage cracks only show once the house has dried out.
What to take
- A phone or tablet to photograph and record each snag
- A bright torch, to shine along walls and ceilings at a low angle
- A spirit level, the longest you can manage
- Binoculars, for the roof and other high-level details you can only see from the ground
- A tape measure
- A plug-in socket tester
- A small step ladder, for the loft hatch and high-level checks
- Masking tape or small stickers to mark snags on site, if the builder agrees
- The floor plans and your specification, so you can check what was promised
How to work through the house
- Use the same order in every room. Start at the door and go clockwise. Look at the ceiling, then the walls, windows, doors, floor and finally the fittings. Using the same order every time means you won't miss anything.
- One issue per snag. "Bedroom 2 window: scratched glass, and handle loose" is two snags. Separate items are easier to assign, track and sign off.
- Say exactly where it is. Write "Kitchen, left of the sink, second wall unit", not "kitchen cupboard".
- Photograph everything. Take one wide photo to show where the snag is and one close-up. Circle or arrow the defect so nobody has to guess.
- Use daylight and the torch. Shining a torch along a wall at a shallow angle shows up uneven plaster and poor paintwork that you can't see head on.
- Try everything that moves. Open and close every door, window, drawer and tap. Flush every toilet. Switch on every light.
Outside
- Brickwork: chipped or cracked bricks, mortar smears, gaps or holes in the joints, and patches that don't match
- Pointing around windows and doors is complete and the mastic seal is continuous
- Roof: no slipped or broken tiles, and the ridge and verge are neat (use the binoculars)
- Gutters and downpipes are straight, securely fixed and joined
- Airbricks and vents are clear, not blocked by soil or paving
- Paths, drive and patio drain away from the house with no standing water
- The damp-proof course is at least 150 mm above the ground
- Fences and gates are complete, upright and open and close properly
- Outside lights, the outside tap and any outside socket work
- The garden is free of builders' rubble, especially just under the turf
Hall, stairs and landing
- The front door opens, closes and locks easily, and the seals touch all round
- There are no draughts or light showing around the front door frame
- Stair treads don't creak or move, and the handrail and spindles are firm
- Smoke and heat alarms are fitted and working
- The doorbell, intercom and any alarm panel work
Kitchen
- Cupboard doors and drawers are level, evenly spaced and close fully
- The worktops have no chips, scratches or open joints, and the upstands are sealed
- The sink and taps work, there are no leaks underneath, and the sink drains quickly
- Every appliance is the model in your specification, is undamaged and switches on
- Appliance spaces are the full width needed, measured at the back as well as the front. Radiators, pipes or skirting boards must not reduce the space or stop the appliance from going fully in.
- The extractor fan works and vents outside
- The tiling and grout are even and complete, with no cracked tiles
- The plinths and end panels are fitted
Bathrooms and en suites
- Silicone around the bath, shower tray and basin is continuous and neat, with no gaps
- The shower runs at a steady temperature and the screen doesn't leak
- The bath and shower tray are free of chips and scratches, and drain fully
- Toilets flush properly, refill and don't keep running
- The extractor fan works, including any overrun after the light goes off
- Tiles are level and fully grouted, and none sound hollow when tapped
- The towel radiator heats up
Living rooms and bedrooms
- Ceilings are free of cracks, nail pops and uneven patches, checked with the torch
- Walls are flat and the paint coverage is even, with no patches, drips or bare corners
- Windows open, close, lock and have keys, and the restrictors work on upper floors
- The glass and frames are free of scratches and chips
- Doors fit their linings with even gaps all round, close on the latch without catching, and the handles are tight
- Skirting boards and architraves are fixed, and the joints are filled and painted
- The floor is level, with no creaks, gaps or damaged flooring
- Every socket, switch and light works, and the faceplates are straight
- Wardrobes and fitted furniture are complete and the doors line up
Heating, electrics and plumbing
- The boiler or heat pump fires up, and you have the manuals and the commissioning certificate
- Every radiator gets hot all over, and the valves aren't leaking
- The thermostat and heating controls work and are explained to you
- The consumer unit has every circuit labelled, and you have the electrical certificate
- The stopcock is accessible and you know where it is
- The water pressure is reasonable at every tap, and the hot water arrives in a reasonable time
- You know where the gas, electricity and water meters are, and have noted the first readings
Loft and garage
- Loft insulation is laid evenly with no gaps, and doesn't block the eaves vents
- There is no daylight through the roof and no sign of leaks or damp
- The garage door opens and locks smoothly, and any remote control works
- The garage floor is free of large cracks, and power and lights work if specified
After the inspection
- Write it up straight away. Number every snag and include the photos, so the builder's site team can find each one.
- Send it in writing to the developer's customer care team, and keep a copy along with the date you sent it.
- Ask for a timescale for the repairs, and check the work when they say it is done.
- Back snag. Check each item off on the original list, and send a new list of anything still outstanding.
- Keep everything until the end of the builder's warranty period.