Snag List Template for Ireland — Room-by-Room, What to Check, and the Format
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Snag list: 60–180 items on a 180 m² house. Walk room by room with a torch, a level, and a notepad. Document every defect. Format: room, item, defect, photo, severity (minor/major), status (open/closed). Most contractors prefer a shared spreadsheet (Google Sheets, Excel). Hire a professional snag surveyor for €400–€900. They find 30–60 items you wouldn't. The cost is recovered in retention you keep. The most common items: paint runs, gaps in the trim, scratched surfaces, misaligned doors, drainage falls, tile lippage, silicone seals, missing silicone, drainage falls in the shower, electrical sockets not level, plaster cracks, door handles loose. Walk the house twice — once for the obvious, once for the detail.
TL;DR
Snag list: 60–180 items on a 180 m² house. Walk room by room with a torch, a level, and a notepad. Document every defect.
Format: room, item, defect, photo, severity (minor/major), status (open/closed). Most contractors prefer a shared spreadsheet.
Hire a professional snag surveyor for €400–€900. They find 30–60 items you wouldn't. The cost is recovered in retention you keep.
When this matters most
You're approaching practical completion and need to build a snag list.
When this doesn't apply
The snag is closed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I build a snag list?
Walk room by room with a torch, a level, and a notepad. Document: room, item, defect, photo, severity, status. Most contractors prefer a shared spreadsheet. Walk the house twice — once for the obvious, once for the detail.
What are the most common snag items?
Paint runs, gaps in the trim, scratched surfaces, misaligned doors, drainage falls, tile lippage, silicone seals, electrical sockets not level, plaster cracks, door handles loose. A professional snag surveyor finds 30–60 items you wouldn't.
How much does a snag surveyor cost?
€400–€900 for a 180 m² house. The cost is recovered in retention you keep. Most first-time self-builders don't have the eye for the detail.
Sources
SCSI, Snagging and defects practice note 2024. https://www.scsi.ie/
Frequently asked questions
How do I build a snag list?
Walk room by room with a torch, a level, and a notepad. Document: room, item, defect, photo, severity, status. Most contractors prefer a shared spreadsheet. Walk the house twice — once for the obvious, once for the detail.
What are the most common snag items?
Paint runs, gaps in the trim, scratched surfaces, misaligned doors, drainage falls, tile lippage, silicone seals, electrical sockets not level, plaster cracks, door handles loose. A professional snag surveyor finds 30–60 items you wouldn't.
How much does a snag surveyor cost?
€400–€900 for a 180 m² house. The cost is recovered in retention you keep. Most first-time self-builders don't have the eye for the detail.