Snagging Checklist for a New-Build Home
What to look for when you snag a new-build home, room by room, and how to record each snag so the builder can fix it.
Updated October 11, 2026
What snagging is
Snagging means going through a new or refurbished home and noting everything that is unfinished, damaged or not working: the snags. The result is a snagging list that you give to the builder.
Snag as early as you are allowed to, ideally before you move in, while the rooms are empty. Your warranty sets how long the builder has to put defects right after completion, so check your policy for the period and for how to report them.
What to bring
- a charged phone for photos and notes
- a torch for cupboards, the loft and dark corners
- a spirit level and a tape measure
- a phone charger or a socket tester to try the sockets
- the floor plans and the specification you were sold
Checklist, room by room
Outside
- Brickwork and render: cracks, stains, missing pointing.
- Roof: slipped or broken tiles, gutters and downpipes fixed and connected.
- Paths, drive and garden: finished, level and draining away from the house.
- Outside doors and the garage door: open, close and lock.
Every room
- Walls and ceilings: cracks, uneven plaster, visible joints, missed paint.
- Floors: level, no squeaks, no gaps at the skirting boards.
- Doors: open and close without sticking, latch properly, even gaps.
- Windows: open, close and lock; no scratches on the glass; seals complete.
- Woodwork: skirting boards and architraves fixed, filled and painted.
- Sockets, switches and lights: fitted straight and working.
- Radiators: fixed firmly, heat up, no leaks at the valves.
Kitchen
- Cupboard doors and drawers aligned and running smoothly.
- Worktops: no chips, joints sealed.
- Appliances: fitted, undamaged and working.
- Sink and taps: no leaks under the sink, water drains away.
Bathrooms
- Tiles: no cracks, even grout lines, sealant complete around the bath, shower and basin.
- Toilet flushes and refills; taps and shower run hot and cold.
- Extractor fan works.
- No leaks under the basin or behind the bath panel.
Loft and services
- Insulation laid evenly and to the edges.
- Boiler, consumer unit and meters: accessible and labelled.
- Smoke alarms fitted and working.
How to record a snag
- One snag per entry. "Scratches throughout" cannot be fixed or ticked off.
- Say what you see and where: "Chip in the worktop, left of the hob."
- Take a photo and mark the spot, so nobody has to search for it.
- Number the snags, so you and the builder mean the same one.
- Send the list in writing and keep the date you sent it.
The snagging list on your phone
With the snag list app TagFix, you photograph each snag, circle the spot and note the room. The app numbers the snags, shows which are still open and turns the list into a PDF for your builder. One home with up to 25 snags is free.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.