New Build Snagging List

What this sheet is for

Keep every fault in a new build on one dated sheet, so the record of what was reported and when exists in your handwriting rather than in a builder's inbox.

Who it is for

Anyone taking handover of a new build or a newly converted property, and anyone chasing a developer months after moving in.

How to use it

1. Walk the property room by room in daylight, before furniture goes in.
2. Write what is wrong plainly, and photograph it with the sheet reference written on a note in the shot.
3. Record the date reported and the reply you were given, even if the reply was nothing.
4. Only initial the sign-off column when you have seen the repair yourself.

What is on the sheet

The layout is fixed at a size that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the A4 and Letter files are visually identical and print at full size on either. Rows are set at a height that an adult can actually write a date and a few words into with a pen — most printable tables are built in a word processor and never tested with one.

Questions

How long do I have to report snags?

That depends entirely on your contract, your country and the warranty or scheme the property is registered under — they differ a great deal. Read the terms that apply to your purchase and report faults the way those terms require.

What counts as a snag?

In everyday use, a defect in finish or workmanship rather than a design fault: doors that catch, paint runs, missing seals, taps that drip. Where the line falls for your property is set by your own contract and warranty.