Snagging is the process of inspecting a newly built property to identify defects and unfinished work — the “snags” — before or at handover, so the developer can fix them. It is the buyer’s quality check on a new unit.
Where you’ll see it
You’ll see snagging just before taking handover of a new build. The buyer, often with a professional inspector, goes through the unit listing faults — from poor finishes to faulty fittings — which are compiled into a snagging report for the developer to address.
Why it matters
Snagging is the best moment to get defects fixed at the developer’s cost, while there is still leverage at handover and the unit is within its defect liability period. Skipping it can mean paying later for issues that were the developer’s responsibility.
What it is not
Snagging is not a valuation or a legal due-diligence check — it concerns the physical condition and finish of the unit. It is also not the same as the formal defect liability period, though it feeds into claims made during it.
Example
Before accepting handover, a buyer commissions a snagging inspection that lists chipped tiles, a misaligned door and a faulty socket; the developer rectifies them before the buyer takes occupation.
Connected documents and parties
Snagging report, handover checklist; buyer, inspector, developer.
Going deeper: related reading: snagging report and defect liability period.
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