Snagging and Punch List

Who this is for

One numbered line per defect, until there are none left. Each snag gets a room, a description, the trade responsible and a date raised, and the sheet counts how many are still open so the list closes rather than drifts.

Buyers walking a new build before completion, anyone at the end of a renovation with a builder still on site, and landlords or tenants listing what needs putting right before keys change hands.

What this helps you track

• Every defect written down once, numbered, so nothing is argued about twice
• The room and the exact spot, which is what the trade needs to find it
• Who is responsible for each item and when it was first raised
• Which snags are fixed, which are outstanding and how many are left

How to use it

1. Write the property, who is inspecting and the date at the top, then walk the rooms in a fixed order so none is missed.
2. Use the walk-round list as a prompt, ticking each area once you have looked at it properly.
3. Number each defect as you find it and describe it plainly — 'hairline crack, left of window reveal' beats 'damage'.
4. Name the trade responsible and the date you raised it, then agree a date for the fix and write that in.
5. Tick the fixed box and write the date only once you have seen the work, not when you were told it was done.
6. The browser and spreadsheet versions count what is outstanding; on paper, count the unticked lines and carry them onto a fresh sheet.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser
• Excel / Google Sheets workbook

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The workbook uses plain formulas only — SUM, IF, COUNTIF and the like — so it opens in Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets without anything breaking, and every calculated cell is grey so you can see which figures it worked out.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

What is the difference between a snag and a punch list?

Nothing but the word. Snagging is the British term and punch list the American one; both mean the list of small defects left at the end of a job. This sheet works for either.

Does it say what counts as a defect?

No. What is acceptable depends on the contract, the specification and the standards your builder works to, and those differ. The sheet records what you found and what was agreed about it.

Can I use it for a rental inspection?

Yes. Many people use it between tenancies for the list of small repairs, with the trade column naming a handyman, a contractor or the landlord.

How do I show the same snag was raised twice?

Keep the original number and write the second date in the note column rather than adding a new line. A repeated snag is easier to argue about when it has one number and a history.