← All guides

Snagging checklist for a new build

8 min read

Snagging a new build is mostly about being systematic. Defects are rarely hidden; they are missed because the inspection wandered. Work room by room, in the same order every time, and check the same things in each.

Take a torch, a spirit level, a tape, and something to write on that keeps the photo attached to the item. Allow two to three hours for a typical house — considerably longer if it is your first.

Every room

Before the room-specific checks, these apply everywhere:

  • Walls and ceilings — cracks, dents, poor filling, roller marks, missed patches, visible joints.
  • Paintwork — runs, drips, thin coverage, overspray on fittings, poor cutting-in at edges.
  • Skirting and architrave — open mitres, gaps to the wall or floor, nail holes unfilled.
  • Doors — even margins, closes without binding, latches cleanly, handles secure, no damage to faces.
  • Windows — opens and locks, no scratches to glass, trickle vents fitted, seals intact, restrictors present upstairs.
  • Floors — level, no bounce or creak, no lifting edges, consistent gaps at thresholds.
  • Sockets and switches — level, aligned with each other, faceplates unmarked, all working.
  • Radiators — level, fixed firmly, valves accessible, pipework clipped and neat.

Kitchen

  • Unit doors and drawers aligned, consistent gaps, closing softly if soft-close is specified
  • Worktop joints tight and sealed; no chips to edges, especially at the sink cut-out
  • Sink and tap secure, no leaks under the unit — run the taps and check underneath
  • Appliances present, working, and matching the specification
  • Extractor working and actually vented, not just recirculating if ducting was specified
  • Silicone at the splashback and worktop junction neat and continuous

Bathrooms and en-suites

  • Tiles — lipping between tiles, chips, consistent grout lines, cuts neat at edges
  • Silicone continuous around bath, basin, shower tray and worktops
  • Shower — good flow, stable temperature, door or screen sealing without leaks
  • Bath panel secure and removable
  • Toilet flushes fully, seat aligned, cistern not running on
  • Extractor fan runs and has a working overrun
  • Waste pipes not visible where they should be boxed

Exterior

  • Brickwork — consistent pointing, no cracked or damaged bricks, no mortar staining on faces
  • Render — no cracks, consistent finish, clean edges at openings
  • Roof — no slipped or broken tiles, ridge tiles bedded, flashing dressed properly
  • Gutters and downpipes — secure, correct falls, no debris left from construction
  • External doors — weather seals, thresholds, locks all operating
  • Drainage — gullies clear, manhole covers seated and accessible
  • Paths, driveways and patios — falls away from the building, no ponding, no trip hazards
  • Garden — topsoil depth, fencing secure and to the boundary, gates operating

Loft and services

  • Insulation to full depth and not displaced by foot traffic
  • Loft hatch fits, is insulated and draught-sealed
  • Water tanks and pipework insulated where required
  • Consumer unit labelled clearly; test the RCD
  • Smoke and heat alarms fitted in the right places and interlinked
  • Boiler commissioned, with the paperwork present
  • Stopcock accessible and known to you

The bits people forget

These are the items most commonly missing from an otherwise thorough list, and several of them cost more to resolve later than any amount of paintwork:

  • Keys — every window key, and the right number of door keys
  • Warranty and commissioning documents for boiler, alarms and appliances
  • Meter readings and locations recorded on the day
  • Building control completion certificate and structural warranty documents
  • Spare tiles, paint and flooring if the contract provided for them
  • Protective film removed from appliances, glass and sanitaryware

Making the list count

A checklist finds defects; it does not get them fixed. What does is a record precise enough that nobody can reasonably dispute it: the item, its position on the plan, a photo, and a status that changes when the work is done.

That is what Snagger produces. Import the plan, pin each defect where it actually is, attach photos as you go, and issue the PDF before you leave. When the contractor returns, you close items off against the same list rather than starting a new one.