Snag List

A Snag List is a fully comprehensive list of items that a builder has not completed correctly, and lists defective work and evident damage to be repaired, to complete a property to an acceptable standard of finish prior to closing a new home purchase. It is a visual inspection of completed works.

Where substantial Building Regulation breaches are evident, appropriate advice will also be provided.

A Snag List is carried out on a newly built property, as opposed to a second hand property which requires a Pre-Purchase Survey. The two should never be confused.

On completion and submission of the Snag List, the required works are attended to by the builder prior to closing of the sale. If required, the property can be re-visited by one of our surveyors to ensure that the recommended Snag List works have been completed correctly.

Snag Lists are Vitally Important

Carrying out a thorough Snag List on a newly built property is vitally important to ensure that you receive an acceptable quality of finish, making sure that you do not have a multitude of problems and irritations after you move in.

New developments are constructed for the most part using various sub-contractors for different components of the construction and services. The various sub-contractors usually work on a price per unit basis, often unfortunately being more concerned with working quickly than working well, resulting in a deficient quality of finish.

A Snag List ensures that the builder carries out his obligations to you by completing the house or apartment finish properly. After all, why should you have to go to the hassle and expense of carrying out repairs yourself when you have paid the builder to finish the property correctly in the first place?

Snag Lists – Important Tips

Never allow yourself to be unduly pressured by a builder into carrying out a Snag List prior to actual completion of the property works. In our experience a Builder will often ask you to carry out the Snag List weeks before the property is actually complete.

Also keep in mind that a property should not be inspected if it has not been fully cleaned. Dust and debris can cover defects.

We do not advise that you ask the builder for a recommendation on whom to use to prepare your Snag List as it can create an inherent conflict of interest. Some builders may have arrangements with snaggers who will carry out a low cost ‘soft’ snag list that is more advantageous to the builder than to you. Many of these snaggers may be uninsured and unqualified and should not be used. Our experience is that the quality of service and outcome will likely be lacking.

To prevent this from happening to you, you should only use a Registered Building Surveyor to carry out your Snag List.

We prepare Snag Lists for buyers of Houses and Apartments in Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and surrounding counties.

Please contact us to arrange, or ideally fill in details on any of our query forms on this site. We will come back to you as soon as possible with a quote and to arrange.