A walk-round, a clipboard and a long evening
Practical completion inspection on a new house. The architect walks every room with a clipboard and a phone. Paint missed behind a radiator. A door that catches. Silicone not finished in the en suite. A light switch not level. A crack in the render near the porch. Some items are photographed, some just written down. That evening, the architect types up the list in Word, trying to match photos to items and remember which bedroom was which.
The list goes to the contractor. Over the following weeks, the contractor says items are done; the client says they are not. Nobody is quite sure which items are still open, and the list has been revised four times.
Why snagging takes so long to close
The list is created in one medium, retyped into another, and tracked in email. Items lack precise locations and photos, so the contractor's operatives have to guess. Closure is reported in bulk: 'all done'. And the client, who often walks the house themselves, adds items in their own emails.
- Items are noted on paper and retyped.
- Photos are not linked to items.
- Locations are vague, such as 'bedroom 2'.
- Contractors report completion in bulk.
- Clients add items separately by email.
- Nobody has one list with the current status of every item.
What slow snagging costs
The architect's time, which at this stage of the project is usually well past the fee. Tension between contractor and client, with the architect in the middle. And for whoever administers the contract, uncertainty about whether items are complete when it comes to certification, where the contract administrator's judgement applies.
A snagging tool on the phone
- The project's floor plans are loaded, with rooms named.
- During the walk-round, the architect adds each snag on a phone or tablet: tap the location on the plan, take a photo, choose a trade and type or dictate a short description.
- The client can be invited to add their own items to the same list, which the architect reviews before they go to the contractor.
- The list is sent to the contractor immediately, as a link or PDF, grouped by room or trade.
- The contractor marks each item as done with a photo of the fix.
- The architect reviews each closed item and accepts it or reopens it with a comment.
- The list shows current status at any time, and a report can be produced for the file or for certification decisions.
The tool records items and their status. Decisions about practical completion and certification remain with the contract administrator under the contract.
One snag, start to finish
| Step | Clipboard method | Snagging tool |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | Note on paper, photo separate | Photo, plan location and note together |
| Issue to contractor | Typed up that evening | Sent at the end of the walk-round |
| Closure | 'All done' email | Photo of each fix |
| Acceptance | Revisit and argue | Accept or reopen each item |
| Record | Several Word versions | One list with history |
Handovers that finish
The list is ready when the walk-round ends. The contractor knows exactly where each item is. Closure is item by item with evidence, which leaves less room for argument. The client sees progress without writing long emails. And the architect's time at the end of the project, which is usually unpaid, is kept to a minimum.
Is snagging like this for you?
- Snagging lists are written on paper and typed up later.
- Photos and snag items are not linked.
- Contractors report everything done at once.
- Clients send separate lists by email.