Creating a snagging list sounds straightforward — walk around, write down what's wrong — but doing it properly requires a systematic approach. A well-structured snagging list is far more than a notes document: it's a legal record, a communication tool, and a project management instrument. Here's how to do it right.
Plan Your Inspection Areas
Before you arrive on site, prepare a list of every area you need to inspect. For a new build house, this means every room on every floor, plus loft space, garage, all bathrooms and utility spaces, and the full external perimeter. For a commercial project, it means every floor, every zone, every plant room, and all external areas.
Using a pre-built snagging list template helps ensure you cover all areas systematically. Digital templates in apps like SnaggingTrack let you pre-configure your inspection route and checklist before arriving on site.
Use a Standard Template or App
A blank notepad is not a snagging list — it's a notebook. A proper snagging list requires structure: each item should have a reference number, description, location, trade, priority, and status. Without these fields, your list will be hard to manage, hard to share, and hard to track.
Use either a structured spreadsheet template (available free at our snagging template page) or a dedicated snagging app that captures all required fields on your mobile device.
Walk Through Room by Room
Conduct your snagging inspection systematically — start at the front door and work through every room in a logical order. Resist the temptation to jump around; you will miss items. In each room, work around the walls from left to right, then the ceiling, then the floor. Check every door, window, socket, light fitting, and radiator.
Log each snag immediately as you find it — don't try to remember items to add later. Even experienced inspectors lose track of items if they defer recording.
Photograph Every Defect
Photographs are essential. They provide irrefutable evidence of the defect as it was found, prevent disputes about whether an item existed at inspection, and give the repair team clear visual guidance on what to fix.
For each snag, take two photos: a context shot showing where in the room the defect is, and a close-up of the defect itself. Use annotations (arrows, circles) to highlight the specific issue if it's not immediately obvious from the photo.
A snagging app like SnaggingTrack lets you attach photos directly to each item as you log it — photos stay connected to their item rather than floating in a separate folder.
Assign Priority Levels
Not all snags are equal. A missing kitchen handle is annoying; a faulty electrical circuit is a safety issue. Priority categorisation helps the developer or contractor triage their remediation work and demonstrates to the client that you have assessed severity.
A simple three-level system works well: Critical (safety, habitability, or legal compliance issues), Major (significant defects that affect use or value), Minor (cosmetic and decorative items). Assign every snag to a category.
Share with the Developer or Contractor
Submit your snagging list to the developer or contractor in writing — email with a PDF attachment is the standard. Include the property address, inspection date, your contact details, and a clear statement that the items listed must be remediated before or by a specified date.
Keep a copy of your email and the snagging report. If the developer disputes items later, your timestamped, photographic record is your evidence. For new builds, submitting formally in writing preserves your rights under the NHBC warranty and Consumer Code.
Track Resolution to Completion
Creating the snagging list is only half the job. Tracking which items have been resolved, which remain outstanding, and which have been disputed is what turns a list into a management tool.
Update your snagging list as items are resolved — ideally with photographic evidence of the completed repair. This creates a closure record for each item and allows you to see at a glance what remains outstanding.
Digital snagging software automates this tracking — each item has a status (open, in progress, resolved, closed), and the platform shows live completion statistics. See our guide on snagging inspection software for how this works in practice.