The Snagging Checklist is a practical inspection worksheet designed to help you identify defects, incomplete work and outstanding items before you accept your house and make the final payment. It is Tool 18 in the From Land to Home companion toolkit and supports Chapter 32 of From Land to Home. The worksheet guides you to inspect the house room by room, from top to bottom, and record each problem together with a photograph.
A house may appear complete while still having defects, unfinished items or installations that require correction. This checklist gives you a structured process for inspecting the property, documenting snags, assigning corrective actions and confirming that problems have been resolved before final payment.
Inspect the House Systematically
The worksheet provides a detailed inspection guide covering key parts of the completed house.
You can review:
- External walls, roof edges, gutters and downpipes
- Drains, gates, boundary walls and paving
- Walls and ceilings
- Floors and tiled surfaces
- Doors and windows
- Electrical installations
- Plumbing and drainage
- Kitchens and bathrooms
- Room dimensions and levels
- General cleanliness
This gives you a consistent way to inspect the property rather than relying on a quick visual check.
Check External Areas
The checklist prompts you to inspect external elements such as walls, roof edges, gutters, drains, gates and paving.
It also asks you to consider how water flows after rainfall.
These checks can help you identify drainage, roofing or external finishing issues before handover.
Inspect Walls, Ceilings and Floors
For walls and ceilings, the worksheet asks you to look for:
- Cracks
- Damp patches
- Stains
- Uneven surfaces
- Poor finishes
- Signs of leakage
For floors, you can check levelness, tile alignment, joint consistency, hollow sounds and cracks.
Test Doors and Windows
Doors and windows should be tested rather than simply inspected visually.
The checklist asks you to confirm that they:
- Open properly
- Close properly
- Latch and lock
- Have even gaps
- Keep water out through their seals
Check Electrical and Plumbing Installations
The worksheet also guides you through basic checks of building services.
For electrical installations, you can test sockets, switches and lights and review the distribution board, labels and electrician’s certificate.
For plumbing and drainage, you can test taps, showers and toilets, inspect drainage flow, check for leaks under sinks, assess water pressure and review the water tank.
Review Kitchens and Bathrooms
The checklist includes checks for:
- Installed units
- Fittings
- Waterproofing records
- Ventilation
- Floor slopes towards drains
These areas contain several finishes and services, so a structured inspection can help you identify problems before occupation.
Create a Detailed Snag List
Page 2 provides a dedicated Snag List where every problem can be recorded separately.
For each snag, you can document:
- Number
- Date
- Location
- Description of the problem
- Photograph
- Action required
- Person responsible
- Due date
- Re-inspection status
- Final sign-off
This gives you a written record of outstanding defects and makes it easier to follow up with the contractor.
Use Photographs as Part of the Record
The worksheet specifically asks you to record every problem with a photograph.
Photos can support your written snag list and provide a clear record of the condition of the work before corrections are carried out.
Re-Inspect Before Signing Off
A snag should not be considered complete simply because someone says it has been corrected.
The worksheet includes dedicated columns for re-inspection and sign-off, allowing you to confirm that corrective work has actually been checked before the issue is closed.
Complete Final Checks Before Payment
Before releasing the final payment, the checklist asks you to confirm that:
- Every snag has been signed off
- Installations have been tested
- Required certificates have been received
- The quantity surveyor has checked the final account, including recorded variations
- The date on which the defects period ends has been recorded
This final review connects the physical inspection of the house with project records and financial close-out.
What This Toolkit Helps You Do
The Snagging Checklist helps you:
- Inspect the completed house room by room
- Identify visible defects and unfinished work
- Test doors, windows, electrical and plumbing installations
- Review kitchens, bathrooms and external works
- Create a detailed snag list
- Record photographs of defects
- Assign corrective actions and deadlines
- Re-inspect completed corrections
- Confirm final sign-off
- Review key items before making the final payment
Who Is This For?
This worksheet is suitable for:
- First-time home builders
- Families approaching completion of a new house
- Ghanaians living abroad who are preparing for project handover
- Owners completing unfinished buildings
- Clients working with contractors and project managers
- Property owners undertaking major renovations
- Anyone preparing for final inspection and handover of a residential building
How to Use It
Use the checklist before accepting the completed house and before making the final payment.
Inspect each area systematically and record every defect you identify. Take photographs, state the corrective action required, assign responsibility and record the due date.
After the contractor carries out the corrections, re-inspect each snag before signing it off. Complete the final payment section only after the listed checks and documentation have been dealt with.
Product Details
Product: Snagging Checklist
Series: From Land to Home Companion Toolkit
Tool Number: Tool 18
Related Chapter: Chapter 32
Format: Digital PDF worksheet
Length: 3 pages
Author: Adams Bediako Asare
Website: asarebediakoadams.com
The toolkit is provided for personal use and should not be sold or redistributed without permission.
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