New Build Snagging Checklist — Room-by-Room Inspection

A snag is any defect the developer should fix before you accept your new-build home — and the day of handover is your best chance to catch them. This checklist walks you through every area room by room: walls, ceilings and floors, windows and doors, the kitchen, bathrooms, heating, water and electrics, the loft, garage and outside, and the certificates and warranties to collect before you sign off. Enter your email to unlock the full list here and we'll send a printable PDF copy to take on site. Photograph every defect and submit your list to the developer in writing.

49 checks, 7 areas — emailed as a PDF to take to your handover

A room-by-room inspection list for new-build snagging: every room, windows and doors, kitchen, bathrooms, heating and electrics, loft, garage and outside, plus the paperwork to collect before you sign off. Enter your email and we'll unlock it here and send you a printable PDF copy.

Every room (walls, ceilings, floors)Windows & external doorsKitchenBathrooms & en-suitesHeating, water & electricsLoft, garage & outsidePaperwork before you sign off

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Frequently asked questions

Snagging is the process of inspecting a newly built home for defects — from cosmetic issues like uneven paintwork and poor sealant to functional faults like doors that won't close, leaking pipes or a boiler that wasn't commissioned properly. You list the snags and the developer is responsible for putting them right, usually within a defined period after completion.
Ideally at or just before legal completion, and again in the first weeks of living there as more issues surface (some only show once the heating runs or after settling). Many buyers do a thorough inspection on handover day and submit the list straight away; you can also commission a professional snagging inspection, but this checklist covers what most buyers can spot themselves.
In writing, dated, with photographs of each defect and its location — email is ideal so there's a record. Ask the developer to confirm a timescale for the fixes in writing too. Keep your build warranty (NHBC, LABC or similar) details to hand, as they set out your rights if issues aren't resolved.
No. Snagging catches the builder's defects on a brand-new home. A survey assesses the condition of an older property, and neither looks at the risks around the plot — flood zones, ground stability, radon, or what comparable homes actually sold for. Those are a different check: our house check reads them from official data for any UK address.

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