What’s a snag list?

A snag list is an inventory of the things you are not happy with when a building project is finished, but in reality it’s anything but simple.

Snag list occurs in phases at the end of a building project and is essentially a ‘defects liability period’, where faults can be noted and subsequently put right or fixed by the builder. It is a necessary evil turned-to-good for the homeowner and a final closure for the builder that the job is finalised and accomplished. Although the longer the snagging list, the more irked the builder will be, as each item takes from the final profit.

Phases

Snag lists are often done in phases: when the job is just complete, and also, six months down the road or even year, basically because ‘cracks’ and other faults can often occur after the drying out period. It is preferable to engage an architect to check for snags. Sunshine Property Management  has a complete nationwide database of fully qualified registered architects. Engineers and chartered surveyors can also undertake ‘snagging’, and increasingly, solicitors are often involved in the process. A professional snag list can cost anything from...

The snag list should cover

• External walls
• Paths, driveways, garages
• Gardens and boundaries
• Roof and guttering
• Central heating
• Electrics
• Doors
• Walls and ceilings
• Windows
• Attic space
• Stairs and cloakrooms
• Bathrooms, en-suites
• Kitchen and utilities
• Flooring
• Decorating/painting

The type of items covered would be cracks in ceilings and walls, skirting boards not properly affixed, internal doors that don't open or close properly, uneven or unfinished plasterwork, crooked light switches, loose wiring, poor insulation, leaking pipes, faulty joints, missing parts (of utilities) and surrounding gardens, particularly if landscaping and paving was agreed.