Updated
GL-S-07
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- A professional inspection of a property with a list of defects before handover
- Why it is needed
- So that the developer remedies defects at its own expense before the certificate is signed
- Who carries it out
- An independent technical specialist hired by the buyer
- When to carry it out
- Before the handover certificate is signed, not after
- What it gives
- A written document instead of verbal promises to fix things
02 / In plain words
What Snagging means
Snagging is a professional inspection of a property before handover, producing a detailed list of defects and unfinished work. Put simply: a specialist goes through the property and notes everything that has been done wrong — from crooked reveals and dead sockets to deviations from the design.
The point is for the developer to remedy the defects, at its own expense, before you sign the handover certificate. Once the certificate is signed without reservations, the buyer’s position weakens sharply: formally they have accepted the property in its current state, and everything then comes down to warranty obligations, if any.
The inspection is carried out by an independent specialist hired by the buyer, not by the developer’s representative. They know where problems usually hide: building services, joints, waterproofing, ventilation, deviations in area. Such an inspection costs a small fraction of the property’s value, and the list of defects for a new build is rarely empty.
A case from practice
When inspecting a new build, the specialist found dozens of defects, including problems with the building services that the buyer would not have spotted. The developer remedied all of them before the certificate was signed. The inspection cost many times less than those works.
When such an inspection is needed
- Handover of a new build
- A turnkey property from a developer
- A purchase after renovation
- A property for letting
- An investment purchase
- Acceptance after defects are remedied
03 / What it covers
What is usually checked
Finish
- Walls, floors, ceilings
- Doors and windows
- Quality of seams and joints
Building services
- Electrics and sockets
- Plumbing and drainage
- Ventilation and climate control
Structure
- Cracks and settlement
- Waterproofing
- Damp and signs of leaks
Compliance
- Deviations from the design
- Actual area
- Fittings under the contract
04 / How it works
How it works
Hire an independent specialist
Carry out the inspection before handover
Pass the list to the developer
Wait for the defects to be remedied
Re-inspection and handover
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
The inspection is carried out before the certificate is signed
02
The list of defects is put in writing
03
The specialist must be independent of the developer
04
A re-inspection is carried out after the remedial work
05
An empty list of defects for a new build is a rarity
Common mistakes
- Accepting a property without a technical inspection
- Accepting verbal promises to fix everything
- Signing the certificate before defects are remedied
- Inspecting the property yourself without experience
- Not re-inspecting after defects have been repaired
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
The specialist is found before the handover date, not on the day you are invited to collect the keys. The inspection is planned with time to spare and in daylight. The list of defects is passed to the developer formally, with the date recorded, and deadlines for remedying them are agreed. After the repairs a re-inspection is carried out — otherwise some defects are remedied only on paper.
What we do for you. We recommend a technical inspection for any property from a developer — especially if you are taking handover remotely and cannot walk through the flat in person. A specialist on site sees what is not visible in the seller’s photographs.
Igor VentsHead of real estate, Title Deed and property checks
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
A professional inspection of a property before handover, producing a list of defects that the developer must remedy at its own expense.
Before the handover certificate is signed. After signing without reservations, getting defects put right is considerably harder.
An independent technical specialist hired by the buyer. The developer’s representative in this role is a conflict of interest.
A small fraction of the property’s value. As a rule, considerably less than the cost of the works the developer ends up carrying out.
You rely on the contract and the law of the country: deadlines, warranties, liability. A list recorded in writing is the main argument.
Yes. Without it some defects remain unremedied or are remedied only formally — and you will already have signed the certificate.
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