What is a snag list, and how to run one

Updated 25 Oct 2026 · 5 min read

What a snag list is

A snag is a defect or an unfinished item: a chipped tile, a door that sticks, a missing cover plate, paint on a socket. A snag list, called a punch list in some places, collects them in one place so they get fixed before the client moves in.

It is also the record that they were fixed. At handover, a closed snag list with before and after photos shows the client exactly what was put right.

When to start

Not at the end. Note defects as soon as you see them on regular visits. A tile set at the wrong level is easy to fix before the grout goes in, and much harder after.

Then plan two formal walk-rounds: one when the contractor says the work is complete, and a final check before handover. A short check a few weeks after the client moves in is worth it too, because some problems only show with use.

How to write a snag that gets fixed

A good snag can be fixed by someone who was not there when it was found. Compare:

• One defect per snag. Three problems in one line get one fix.
• Describe it, do not diagnose it. Say what you see, and let the trade find the cause.
• Photograph every snag. A photo ends most arguments about what was meant.

How to run the walk-round

1. Agree a date with the contractor, and invite the client if they want to come.
2. Walk a fixed route: outside first, then floor by floor and room by room, always in the same direction.
3. In each room, look from top to bottom: ceiling, walls, floor, then fittings.
4. Test everything that moves or switches: doors, windows, taps, drains, lights, sockets, heating.
5. Log each snag the moment you find it, with a photo. Not from memory that evening.
6. Share the list the same day, grouped by trade, so each person sees their own work.

What to check in each room

• Ceilings: cracks, paint finish, light fittings level and secure.
• Walls: finish, marks, corners, switches and sockets straight.
• Floors: level, gaps, scratches, thresholds.
• Doors and windows: open, close and lock smoothly, with seals and handles in place.
• Joinery: doors aligned, drawers running, edges finished.
• Wet areas: water drains away, sealant complete, no leaks.
• Services: every light, socket, tap and appliance works.

Track every snag to closed

• Give each snag a clear status: open, fixed, or closed after checking.
• Check fixed snags before you close them. “Fixed” from the trade is a claim. Your visit or an after photo is the proof.
• Review open snags by person. Each trade should have one short, clear list.
• Watch the oldest ones. A snag open for weeks usually means nobody owns it.
• Reopen a snag that comes back, rather than starting a new one, so its history stays together.

A simple snag template

Whatever you keep it in, a snag list needs these fields. One snag per row or card.

Talking to the client about snags

Clients sometimes read a long snag list as a sign the job went badly. Explain early that every project has snags, and that a detailed list usually means the work was checked carefully.

Share the list in a form the client can follow: grouped by room, with photos, and with a clear status for each item. The conversation is then about dates, not about whether the job was done well.

Snags and handover

Agree with the client which snags must be closed before they move in, and which can be fixed after. Write that down, with a date for each.

At handover, give the client the list: what is closed, and what is still open with its date. Keep the closed list and its photos in the project record. If a question comes up later, it shows what was found and how it was put right.

Common mistakes

• Starting at the very end, when every fix is harder.
• Vague snags such as “finish not good”, which nobody can act on.
• A list in someone's notebook that the trades never see.
• Closing snags on someone's word, without checking.
• One long list with no owner for each item.