What is a snag list, and how do you track it?
What a snag list is, what goes on it, who writes it and when, and how to track its resolution separately from payment milestones.
By the Ajusteur team5 minute read
What is a snag list?
It is the written list of small faults and missing bits found at the end of a job, which the maker fixes before the job counts as finished. The word is builders' slang. Designing Buildings, a UK construction wiki, notes that snagging has no agreed meaning and is not a contractual term.
Agree in writing how defects are reported, who owns each item and when it will be resolved. Keep that record alongside the accepted payment terms, without treating payment as evidence that every item is closed.
Is a snag list the same as a punch list?
Yes. In the United States the same document is called a punch list, and there it is tied to money too: it lists work that does not match the drawings and specifications, which the contractor fixes before receiving the final payment.
Source: Wikipedia: Punch list
What goes on a snag list?
Anything you can see, touch or test that does not match what was agreed. A door that rubs or will not stay shut. A drawer that slams instead of closing softly. A scratch on a front, a chip on a countertop edge, a gap between a cabinet and the wall, sealant that stops short, a socket with no power, a tile that sounds hollow when you tap it.
Two habits keep it fair. Each item says where it is and what is wrong, so nobody has to guess. And each one is judged against the drawing and the quote you signed.
Who writes the snag list, and when?
You write it together, on the day the work is handed over. Walk every room with the person who ran the job. Open every door and drawer, run the taps, switch on every light, and take photos. Each item is written down with the date, and you both keep a copy. On large projects, snagging can start area by area well before the end.
At Ajusteur every part has a code that matches the drawing and its label, and the snag list uses the same codes. A note about a rubbing door leads the fitter straight to the right part, with no guessing on site.
How do payment milestones relate to the snag list?
Agree the payment milestones and how open items will be handled in writing. Record the snag list separately, with an owner and resolution date for each item. Payment and completion are different records.
Our new quotes for custom kitchens, fitted furniture, doors and renovation use 50% to start, 25% on delivery to site and 25% at the end of installation. Existing accepted quotes retain their agreed terms. Snag items stay open until their resolution is recorded; payment and project completion are separate records.
What does a snag list check on a kitchen, a wardrobe or a renovation?
The items change with the job. These are the ones worth checking on each.
What is the difference between a snag and a defect that appears later?
A snag is visible at handover. Some faults only show up later, after a few months of heat, humidity and daily use. Designing Buildings describes a defects liability period after completion, when the contractor can be called back to fix defects that appear, and makes the point that this period is not a chance to fix problems that were already visible at completion. Those belong on the snag list.
So be thorough on the day, and ask any maker what happens after handover. Get that answer in writing too.
How do you close a snag list properly?
Every item gets a date and a status, open or closed. When the maker says something is fixed, check it yourself before you tick it off. Keep a record of every open item and the agreed resolution. The coordinator checks payment eligibility against your accepted quote; paying does not mark unfinished work complete.
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Quick questions
What is a snag list in construction?
A written list of small faults and unfinished items found at handover, such as a door that rubs or a scratched front. The maker fixes every item before the job counts as finished.
Who prepares the snag list?
Usually you and the person who ran the job, together, on handover day. On bigger projects an architect or contract administrator may write it. Both sides keep a dated copy.
When should the final payment be made?
For new quotes, the final 25% is due at the end of installation. The earlier stages are 50% to start and 25% on delivery to site. Existing accepted quotes keep their terms. Record disputed or unfinished items separately with your coordinator.
Is a snag list the same as a punch list?
Yes. Punch list is the American name for the same document.