How to do your own Snagging Inspection

As a new home owner you have the ability to snag or find defects yourself. Below I have compiled a simple check list for you to follow when inspecting your new property. It is important that you do this methodically starting with the external elevations of your new house then moving to the internal areas.

We also have some sample reports for you at the bottom of this page.

First start with the externals

• Check your drive or paths are not damaged or hold water after rain
• Is the landscaping acceptable, such as the turf and there are no dead plants
• Is the fencing ok, does the gate open and close properly are there gaps underneath it that need filling
• Look at the front of your house are there any damaged bricks or render if it is rendered
• Check the windows and window sills for any damage
• Are the windows sealed, is the mastic damaged
• Is the soil or chippings around the house 150mm lower than the DPC
• Are the air bricks blocked and is the ground sloping away from them
• Check the facia boards and soffit for damage
• Check the roof tiles or slates for any damage or if they are kicking at the valley, are the ridge tiles damaged and securely fixed

Follow the same principal with your gable elevations then move onto the rear. Once you have completed the external of the house, inspect your garage using the same method as when you inspected the external of your property, front sides and rear,however for the internal of your garage use the list below.

In the garage

• The brickwork in the pikes are fully filled to the underside of the felt with no gaps
• Are the electrics working correctly and the backboard has a DPC behind it
• Does the garage door work properly and is not damaged or scratched
• Are the walls and floor slab clear of any access mortar droppings
• Do the internal pillars project above the bottom of the roof truss giving support to the pikes

Now you have inspected and snagged the externals of the house you can move to the inside. Start at your front door and work inwards to the hall and to each room that radiates from it.

Moving inside

• Check the front door for any damage or scratches and it opens and closes properly
• Check the paintwork including all the woodwork, walls and ceiling for damage poor quality
• Check the floor slab for damage or any floor coverings that has been fitted
• Do the doors close and latch, is there any damage to the door or furniture
• Check the walls for damage poor plastering etc
• Check windows, do they open correctly, are they or the glass scratched or damaged
• Check kitchen units and worktops for damage, do the doors and drawers align
• Do the appliances work
• Check the kitchen and wet rooms wall and floor tilling for damage or lipping tiles
• Are the kitchen electrics working correctly such as the grid switch, do the indicated switches operate the appliance that are on them such as the dishwasher, extractor hood etc
• Check the patio doors open and close and are not damaged, check the glass is not scratched

Again follow this principle for the stairs and landing then move into the rooms that radiate off it. I would do this in a clockwise direction then you are not bouncing around from room to room and your builder will be able to follow it.

When you have finished compiling your snagging/defects list for the internal of your house, you can now examine your loft or roof space for any defects. 

And finally your loft/roof

• Your insulation, is it flat and level without any missing or gaps
• Is the felt intact and not damaged
• Check that any roof vents are connected and the felt around them is not cut out too big, this should also be sealed
• Do your soil stacks have air admittance valves fitted (Dergo Valve) or are they connected to roof vents
• Check the blockwork is filled and tight up to the underside of the felt on the pikes.

Once you have compiled your list you can now give it to your builder.

Whilst this list is not exhaustive it will give you a start and hopefully point you in the right direction. However my advise would always be to use a third party professional to snag your new build, they will produce a professional defects inspection report for you to give to your builder. Please see below for a couple of example reports that we have given.