A snagging list is right for many purchases — but it’s especially valuable when the property is newly built, newly converted, or recently refurbished, where the biggest risks are often workmanship defects, incomplete items, and “it looks finished but isn’t finished properly” details.
If you’re buying a more traditional, lived-in home, a snagging list can still help — but you’ll usually get better value from a Level 2 or Level 3 Survey (or a combination), because older homes tend to involve condition, maintenance and defect risk rather than “snags”.
Below is a detailed way to decide.
1) What a snagging list is actually for (and what it isn’t)
A snagging list is ideal for:
- identifying defects and poor finishes
- catching incomplete work before you accept handover (or before you release final payment)
- checking functionality of doors/windows/fixtures
- highlighting external finishing issues (seals, gutters, paving falls, drainage discharge)
- creating a clear, written record so the developer/contractor can put issues right
A snagging list is not designed to:
- provide a full “building health” assessment like a pre-purchase survey
- confirm structural adequacy or hidden defects in older building fabric
- replace specialist testing of electrics, gas, drains, or damp diagnostics
- investigate beyond non-intrusive checks
So the best question is: are you mainly worried about workmanship and completion quality, or the building’s broader condition and risk?
2) When a snagging list is almost always the right choice
✅ You’re buying a new-build
New-builds often come with:
- minor cosmetic defects (paint, plaster, flooring, tiling)
- incomplete finishing (sealant, trims, adjustment of doors/windows)
- functional issues (locks, closers, extractor fans, radiator balancing)
- external completion items (gutters, downpipes, paving falls, landscaping)
A snagging list helps you identify issues early and get them fixed while the developer is still responsible.
✅ You’re buying a newly converted property
Conversions can look beautiful but are snag-prone because multiple trades overlap. Snagging often finds:
- inconsistent finishing at junctions (old/new)
- poorly sealed bathrooms/kitchens
- joinery fit issues
- ventilation and condensation risk “teething problems”
- external weathering details not properly finished
✅ You’re buying a refurbished home marketed as “fully renovated”
Fresh décor can hide rushed workmanship. A snagging list is useful because it checks:
- whether finishes are actually well executed
- whether fixtures work as expected
- whether wet areas are sealed properly
- whether doors/windows have been adjusted correctly
✅ You’re purchasing off-plan or with a handover/defects period
A snagging list becomes part of your “handover toolkit”, especially if you have:
- a pre-completion viewing
- a developer’s defects liability period
- retention or staged payments (for private builds)
3) When a snagging list may be less appropriate on its own
⚠️ You’re buying an older, lived-in property
Older properties usually have:
- age-related movement and settlement
- wear and tear and historic repairs
- damp risk factors linked to construction type and maintenance history
- roof and rainwater ageing
- services nearing end of life
In that situation, a snagging list won’t give you the insight you need about risk and repair strategy. A Level 2 or Level 3 Survey is usually more appropriate.
⚠️ The property is unusual, altered, or you suspect hidden issues
If you’ve noticed:
- cracking
- damp smells or staining
- patch repairs
- roof concerns
- structural alterations (knock-throughs/extensions/loft conversions)
…then snagging alone may miss the bigger picture. You may need a survey, and then use snagging as a follow-on for recent works.
4) A simple decision framework (quick and practical)
A snagging list is right if you answer “yes” to two or more:
- Is the property new-build, newly converted, or recently refurbished?
- Are you worried about quality of finish rather than long-term condition?
- Are there handover dates, defects periods, or staged payments involved?
- Do you want a clear list to send to a builder/developer to get things fixed?
- Is your main risk “poor workmanship” rather than “building ageing”?
A Level 2 or Level 3 Survey is likely better if you answer “yes” to two or more:
- Is the property older (especially pre-1990s, and certainly period)?
- Are you concerned about damp, cracking, roof issues, or movement?
- Has the building been extended or structurally altered?
- Are you planning major changes after purchase?
- Do you need guidance on repairs and future maintenance?
5) The best approach for many buyers: snagging + survey (when it makes sense)
Some purchases benefit from both, because they solve different problems:
Example 1: period property with a new extension
- Level 3 Survey: assesses the overall building, movement/damp risk, roof, maintenance liabilities
- Snagging list: focuses on the quality and completion of the new extension works (doors, finishes, sealing, drainage falls)
Example 2: “fully renovated” older home
- Level 2/3 Survey: checks underlying building condition and signs of concealed defects
- Snagging list: checks workmanship, incomplete finishing, and functional issues in new kitchens/bathrooms
Example 3: new-build flat
- Snagging list: internal fit-out, finishes and functionality
- (sometimes) additional checks: ventilation, condensation risk, and targeted service observations
6) Timing: when snagging is most effective
If you decide snagging is right for you, timing is key:
- Pre-completion (ideal): defects can be addressed before handover if access is allowed
- Immediately after completion: best if pre-completion snagging isn’t possible
- During the defects period: still useful, but leverage can reduce over time
The sooner you document snags, the easier they are to resolve.
7) What you should expect from a professional snagging list
A professional snagging deliverable should be:
- room-by-room and elevation-by-elevation
- clearly written (location + defect + photo references)
- practical to send to the developer/contractor
- focused on workmanship, finishes, function, and external completion details
- detailed enough that a contractor can’t dismiss it as vague or subjective
Not sure whether you need snagging, a survey, or both?
Email mail@howorth.uk or call 07794 400 212. Tell us what you’re buying (new-build, conversion, refurbishment, older home), the approximate age, and any concerns you’ve noticed. We’ll recommend the most sensible approach—snagging, Level 2/Level 3, or a combined plan—so you get the right protection for your purchase.