What is snagging?
The short version
Snagging is the inspection of a newly built home to find defects in workmanship and finish - scuffed paint, missing silicone, a door that binds, a tap that drips - before you fully move in.
The inspector walks every room (and usually the outside), records each issue against the drawings, and hands the builder a report they can work from. It is not the same as a full building survey of an older house.
When to book it
Book snagging when the house is practically complete: kitchens and bathrooms in, decoration substantially done, and you can walk safely. Many buyers inspect just before keys, then again after the builder has had time to return.
If you are already living there, you can still snag. Photograph and date every item; some warranties expect defects to be notified within a window.
What it typically costs
Independent snagging in Ireland is usually priced per visit and by size of house, not as a percentage of the purchase price. Ask what is included: interiors only, or elevations, attic, and a written PDF.
A cheap visit that leaves you with an unsorted camera roll is more expensive when the builder argues about location. A numbered report with photos on a plan is easier to close out.
What happens next
You send the report to the builder or selling agent. They should return to complete or make good the listed items. Keep the original references (S001, S002) so a reinspection can mark what is still open.
Structural issues, safety items, and incomplete certificates sit outside a cosmetic snag list - raise those with your solicitor and, where relevant, the warranty provider.
Need a report builders will actually use?
Inspectors use Snaglad to pin defects on the plan, attach photos, and export a numbered PDF.