New-build snagging checklist

How to use this checklist

Walk the house in daylight with the latest drawings. Note the room, a short description, and a photo for every item. Do not rely on memory on the drive home.

This list is for buyers preparing for a snagging inspection and for inspectors who want a consistent pass. It is not a structural survey.

Every room

Check these on each visit before you leave the space.

• Walls, ceilings, and paint: scuffs, roller marks, incomplete cuts, hairline cracks at joints.
• Floors: hollow tiles, lippage, scratched timber, incomplete beading.
• Doors: bind, latch, paint on hardware, missing buffers, uneven gaps.
• Skirting, architrave, and window boards: gaps, nails showing, unfilled mitres.
• Sockets, switches, and faceplates: level, painted-in, working, labelled where needed.
• Radiators or underfloor zones: secure, bleeding, thermostat present.

Kitchen and utility

Kitchens generate a long snag list on Irish new-builds.

• Worktop joints, upstands, and sealant at the sink and hob.
• Cabinet doors and drawers aligned; soft-close working.
• Appliances level, plinths fitted, extraction ducted correctly.
• Taps: drips, spray pattern, isolators accessible.
• Tiling splashback: grout, cuts, and silicon at junctions.

Bathrooms and ensuite

Water and tile work show up quickly if rushed.

• Sanitaryware level, cistern quiet, no marks on enamel or acrylic.
• Shower door or screen: seals, leaks on a short run of water, tray falls.
• Silicone at bath, tray, and basin - missing, split, or mould-stained from a damp house.
• Floor and wall tile cracks, especially at door thresholds.
• Extractor fan: runs, vents outside, not into the attic.

Windows, external doors, and attic

Stand outside as well as in. Condensation between panes and missing trickle vents are common.

• Opening sashes and locks; keys labelled.
• Mastic to frames inside and out.
• Glass: scratches, trapped debris, failed seals.
• Attic hatch, insulation coverage, and any tank or flue that should be accessible.

Outside, garden, and services

A snagging visit should include the elevation, not only the rooms.

• Render, brickwork, and pointing; missing ridge or verge tiles.
• Gutters, downpipes, and gullies clear and falling the right way.
• Paths, steps, and patio falls away from the house.
• Fencing, gates, turf, and boundary as per the contract.
• Meter box, EV duct, outside tap, and consumer unit labelling.