What Is a Snagging Report?

A snagging report is the deliverable you receive after an inspection — a structured, photographed list of every defect identified in your new home. It's also the document that does the heavy lifting in the conversation with your builder. A clear, professional report is what turns "we noticed a few issues" into a list the developer can't easily ignore.

Here's what should be inside a properly prepared snagging report, and how to use it.

What's Actually Inside a Snagging Report

1. Itemised Defect List

The core of the report is a numbered list of every issue identified during the inspection, typically grouped by room or area. Each item is a single defect — for example, "Kitchen — chip in worktop near sink, approx. 3cm" — with enough detail that a trade reading the report can identify what to fix without needing to be on the call.

2. Photographs with Annotations

Every defect should be backed by a photograph. Wide shots establish location ("which wall in which bedroom") and close-ups show the actual issue. Where helpful, photos are annotated with arrows or circles to direct the eye. Without photos, defects become a "your word vs theirs" argument; with them, the evidence is unambiguous.

The screenshots above are from real SnagSafe inspection reports — each defect is photographed, captioned and assigned an issue number that the builder can work through one by one.

3. Severity or Category Guidance

Not every defect is created equal. A good report distinguishes between:

• Safety / urgent — anything affecting health and safety (e.g. faulty smoke alarm, exposed wiring)
• Functional — items that affect normal use (e.g. door that won't latch, leaking tap)
• Cosmetic — finishing issues that don't affect function (e.g. paint touch-ups, scuffs)
• Monitor — minor cracks or items that need observation, not immediate action

This helps you decide what to push the builder on first, and helps the builder schedule work efficiently.

4. Recommended Remedies

Where appropriate, the report indicates what the corrective action should be — "re-seal silicone around shower tray" rather than just "silicone gap". This eliminates ambiguity about what "fix" means.

5. Summary & Property Overview

The report opens with property details (address, plot number, inspection date) and a short summary of overall findings. This gives the builder context at a glance.

How to Use the Report with Your Builder

The standard workflow is:

• Email the full report (PDF) to your builder's customer-care contact or site manager
• Ask for written confirmation of which items they will address and a timeline
• Keep all communication in writing — emails, not phone calls
• After repairs, walk through the property again and check items off the list (a "re-inspection" or "second visit" by your snagging inspector is often available)

Builders may push back on certain items — typically cosmetic ones — but a professional, photographed report makes that pushback much harder to sustain.

How Long Should You Wait for Action?

Reasonable timelines depend on the defect:

• Safety items: within days
• Functional items: a few weeks
• Cosmetic items: typically completed within the first warranty period (often 12–24 months)

If a builder is unresponsive, your report is also the evidence base for escalation — to their customer-care department, to the warranty provider, or in worst cases to a small claims process.

Professional Report vs DIY Snag List

You can absolutely make your own snag list walking through your new home with a clipboard. The difference a professional report makes is:

• Coverage — trained inspectors know where to look, including hidden areas (attic, behind doors, under sinks)
• Credibility — builders respond differently to a professional report than to a buyer's handwritten list
• Evidence — consistent, high-quality photographs documented at inspection time
• Tools — moisture meters, thermal imaging, levels and other equipment most buyers don't have

How to Read Yours When You Get It

When your report arrives, read it once cover-to-cover, then a second time room by room while standing in the property if possible. Mark anything you have questions about — your inspector should be happy to clarify any item by phone or email before you send it to the builder.