How to Do a Snagging Inspection: Step-by-Step Guide

You have exchanged contracts on your new build, completion day is approaching, and you know you need to snag the property before you move in. But where do you actually start? What should you look for during a snagging inspection? And how do you make sure you do not miss something that costs you thousands later?

This guide walks you through exactly how to do a snagging inspection from start to finish. Whether you are learning how to snag a new build house for the first time or just want a structured method, follow these steps and you will inspect your property with the same thoroughness as a professional.

If you are new to the concept, read our guide on what snagging is and why it matters first. For a full defect-by-defect reference, see The Complete New Build Snagging Checklist.

What You Need for Your Snagging Inspection

A proper snagging inspection does not require expensive equipment. Gather these items before your visit:

• Torch — essential for checking inside cupboards, under sinks, and in loft spaces where builder lighting is poor.
• Spirit level — a small one (30 cm) is enough to check worktops, windowsills, and shelving are level
• Socket tester — a plug-in tester (around £10 from any hardware shop) that confirms every socket is wired correctly
• Camera or smartphone — for documenting every defect with a clear photo (or use the Snaggit app, which tags photos to specific rooms and items automatically)
• Tape measure — to verify room dimensions and measure gaps or misalignments
• Ladder or step stool — for checking extractor fans, loft hatches, and upper window seals
• Notepad and pen — unless you are using an app to record findings digitally
• The property specification — the developer's document listing fixtures, finishes, and included items. Bring it so you can check what was promised against what was delivered.

Allow at least two to three hours for a thorough inspection. Do not let the developer rush you. These snagging tips for new build properties will save you time and money — but only if you are methodical.

Step 1: Start Outside

Begin your snagging inspection at the exterior of the property before you set foot inside. Walk the full perimeter and check:

• Roof line — look for missing or slipped tiles, uneven ridge tiles, and gaps in lead flashing. Use binoculars if needed.
• Brickwork and render — check for cracked mortar joints, staining, mismatched bricks, or render that is already cracking or bubbling.
• Drainage — inspect gutters, downpipes, and ground-level drainage gullies. Are they securely fixed? Do they connect properly? Look for standing water near the foundations.
• Windows and doors — check external seals (mastic) are continuous and neatly applied. Open and close every window and external door. Check locks function correctly.
• Paths, driveways, and fencing — look for cracked paving, uneven slabs, poorly laid tarmac, and fence panels that are already loose or warped.
• Garden and boundaries — confirm turf is laid (not just mud) and boundaries match the site plan.

Pro tip: Photograph the exterior first while you have natural daylight. If your inspection runs long, you do not want to be checking the roof in the dark.

Step 2: Work Room by Room, Top to Bottom, Left to Right

Once inside, resist the temptation to wander. Work systematically through every room using a consistent method: start at the ceiling, work down the walls, then check the floor. Move left to right around the room so you do not skip a section. For each room, check:

• Ceilings — cracks, uneven plasterwork, poor paint coverage, and badly fitted light fittings or downlights
• Walls — dents, scratches, nail pops, uneven plaster, paint runs, and marks left by tradespeople
• Skirting boards and architrave — gaps between the skirting and the wall or floor, poorly mitred corners, visible filler, and unpainted sections
• Floors — squeaky floorboards, uneven tiles, poorly fitted carpet edges, scratched laminate or vinyl

Use your spirit level on any surface that should be flat or level — windowsills, kitchen worktops, and shelving.

Pro tip: Crouch down and look along walls and floors at eye level. Imperfections in plasterwork and flooring that are invisible from standing height become obvious from a low angle.

For room-specific defects, refer to our detailed kitchen snagging checklist and bathroom snagging checklist guides.

Step 3: Test Everything That Moves

Every door, window, handle, tap, and switch in the property must be tested — not just looked at. Builders frequently leave items that appear fine but do not function properly.

• Doors — open and close every internal and external door. Check they swing freely without catching on carpet or frames. Handles should be secure and latches should engage smoothly. Fire doors (usually the kitchen and garage doors) must self-close fully.
• Windows — open every window to its full extent. Check the locking mechanisms engage. Tilt-and-turn windows should operate in both modes. Check for condensation between double-glazed panes — this indicates a failed seal.
• Handles and ironmongery — every handle, lock, hook, and fitting should be tight and properly aligned.
• Light switches and sockets — flick every switch. Plug your socket tester into every socket. Check dimmer switches operate smoothly.
• Extractor fans — turn on the kitchen and bathroom extractors. They should run quietly and vent to the outside, not into the loft space.

Pro tip: Bring a phone charger and plug it into random sockets throughout the property. A socket tester confirms the wiring is correct, but actually drawing power confirms the socket works in practice.

Step 4: Check Every Surface for Defects

New build properties are handed over with all decorating complete — which means every surface should be finished to a sellable standard. Look closely at:

• Paintwork — runs, drips, missed patches, roller marks, and paint on surfaces where it should not be (window glass, door furniture, flooring)
• Tiling — cracked tiles, uneven grout lines, hollow-sounding tiles (tap gently — they should sound solid, not hollow), and lippage (where tile edges sit higher than adjacent tiles)
• Worktops — scratches, chips, and gaps where the worktop meets the wall. Sealant should be continuous and neat.
• Glass — scratched or marked window panes. Check every pane at an angle to the light.
• Woodwork — door frames, window frames, and staircases should be smooth and consistently finished.

Pro tip: Use your torch at a low angle against walls and ceilings. This raking light technique reveals imperfections in plasterwork that overhead lighting hides.

Step 5: Run the Water

Plumbing defects are among the most common — and most costly — snags in new build properties. Test every water outlet in the property:

• Turn on all taps — hot and cold, in the kitchen, bathroom, en-suite, and utility room. Let them run for at least 60 seconds.
• Check water pressure — is the flow strong and consistent? Run multiple taps simultaneously to test pressure under load.
• Inspect under sinks and basins — while taps are running, check beneath every sink for drips, leaks, or damp patches around pipe connections.
• Flush every toilet — check it fills and flushes properly. Look for leaks at the base and at the cistern connection.
• Run the shower — check temperature, pressure, and drainage. Water should drain quickly with no pooling in the tray or bath.
• Check the boiler — turn the heating on and verify every radiator heats up. Bleed any radiators that have cold spots at the top.

Pro tip: Bring kitchen roll or tissue paper. Place it around pipe joints under sinks and at toilet bases. Even a slow drip will show on tissue paper within a few minutes — something your eye might miss.

Finding defects but struggling to keep track of them all? Snaggit lets you log snags room by room, attach photos with annotations, and rate severity — so nothing gets lost in a messy notepad. Download it free before your inspection.

Step 6: Document Everything Properly

Finding defects is only half the job. If you cannot present them clearly to the developer, they are far less likely to act on them. For every snag you find:

• Take a clear photograph — include enough context so the developer can identify the exact location. A close-up of a crack means nothing without a wider shot showing which wall and which room.
• Note the location — room, wall (e.g. "left wall facing the window"), and height from floor.
• Describe the defect — be specific. "Paint defect" is vague. "Paint run on left wall, 1.2 m from floor, approximately 15 cm long" gives the developer no room to dismiss it.
• Rate the severity — distinguish between cosmetic issues (paint marks, minor scratches) and functional defects (leaking pipes, failed window seals, electrical faults). Functional defects should be prioritised.

Pro tip: Number your snags as you go. It makes cross-referencing your list with your photos far easier when you compile the final report.

Step 7: Compile Your Snagging List and Send It to the Developer

After your inspection, compile your findings into a single, structured document. A clear snagging list should include:

• A summary of the total number of defects found
• Each defect listed with its room, location, description, severity, and reference photo
• A request for a response within a specified timeframe (14 days is standard)
• Your contact details and the plot number or address

Send the list to the developer's aftercare team or site manager by email — it creates a paper trail. Keep a copy.

Once your snagging list is submitted, the developer is obligated to remedy defects that fall below acceptable standards under the NHBC Buildmark warranty (or equivalent). For more on your rights, keep an eye out for our upcoming guide on your snagging rights as a new-build buyer.

Pro tip: Send the list before legal completion if possible. Your leverage is strongest before you have completed the purchase. After completion, the developer's motivation to act quickly diminishes significantly.

Let Snaggit Handle the Hard Part

Steps 6 and 7 are where most DIY inspections fall apart. Scribbled notes get lost, photos end up in a camera roll with no context, and compiling a professional-looking report takes hours.

Snaggit has been built from the ground up to handle the documentation automatically. As you inspect each room, log defects directly in the app with photos, annotations, and severity ratings. When you are finished, generate a professional snagging report in one tap — formatted, numbered, and ready to send to your developer.