How to describe a snag so it's harder to dispute
How you describe a snag determines how easy it is to identify and fix, and how hard it is to dispute.
This page outlines how to draft your snag descriptions, including what it should say, and what to leave out, using three real worked examples.
What should a snag description say?
Use one to two plain sentences to describe what you can see, including the location and size.
Name the room and a fixed feature related to the snag to place in the room. Examples may include: "to the left of the hob", "above the bedroom window", or "at the bottom of the stairs".
A description that locates the fault precisely is significantly easier for someone walking the property to identify and fix.
Use your own words. If you know the correct name for a part or feature, use it. If you do not, describe it plainly. "The rubber strip around the shower door" is equally as likely to result in a fix as a description that uses its trade name. If you're unsure, you should be honest about what you observed. A misplaced technical term can significantly undermine the credibility of your report.
Why should you not guess the cause?
The reader of your report is more likely to contest its content where you have guessed or hypothesised about the cause of an issue, without the detail required to back it up.
You can see a crack, but you usually can't see the underlying cause of why it happened. If you write "there is a crack" with its size and location, the following conversation is more likely to be about fixing the crack. If you write "there is a crack from the building settling", the reply is likely to be about whether the building is settling, while the crack issue remains unresolved.
Always describe what is visible. Diagnosis is a job for your developer or housing provider, and often requires specialist training or equipment.
Should you include measurements?
Yes, and always keep them exactly as you measured them.
"About 30cm long" and "wider than a £1 coin at the top" are honest, useful measurements.
Invented precision significantly weakens your report: do not write "32mm" if you did not measure 32mm, and never quote a tolerance or a standard you have not checked.
An approximate measurement stated as approximate preserves your credibility, while supporting further investigation. A precise measurement that is unsupported significantly undermines it.
Do strong words get a faster fix?
No. Terms like "terrible", "shocking" and "completely unacceptable" add little value, and they can result in your list being viewed as a complaint, rather than a record of whether your property fails to meet the required standards.
Always describe the fault, not your feelings about it. A flat, factual list is much easier to share with the team responsible for the fix, and it is much harder to dismiss as exaggeration.
The fault description signals its validity
"The bath panel is not attached on the left side" does not need additional adjectives to be interpreted as an issue worth fixing.
Three snag descriptions, rewritten
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Awful paint job in the hall, looks like it was done in the dark | The hall walls have visible roller marks, and two patches above the radiator where the paint is thin enough to see the surface below |
| Big crack in the bedroom wall, must be from the building settling | A diagonal crack about 30cm long above the left corner of the bedroom window, wide enough to see from the doorway |
| The en suite door is really badly fitted and constantly sticks, totally unacceptable | The en suite door catches on the frame at the top corner and needs a firm push to close |
Each rewrite applies the same three changes:
- Subjective, judgement words are removed
- Reference to the location and size are added
- Any inference or guess about the underlying cause is removed
The importance of the issues is not softened. The rewritten versions are much stronger claims, not politer ones, because every word in them can be checked first against your photos, and then against the condition of the property.
What if a snag is getting worse?
Report changes to snags factually, with dates. Note when you first saw the problem and what has changed since, and keep your earlier photos so the comparison is on record.
For example, "The crack was about 20cm when we moved in on 2 May and reaches the ceiling now" is a clear and traceable observation.
Snag lists are too often viewed as a static, one time activity. Changes in weather, or property foundations as they settle can result in new or worsening issues that weren't visible pre-completion, or on your move in date.
We always recommend re-snagging your property and documenting the condition in full from your first visit, including descriptions and photos.
How we can help
sendingsnags is an app that turns your own walkthrough of a new build home into a clear, photographed snag report you can send to your developer or housing provider. It suggests clearer wording for each snag alongside what you typed, and you choose what to accept, so your report reads to this standard without losing your own voice. We have no limit on the number of reports you can generate, and preserve past report versions so you can highlight where conditions have worsened in just a few clicks. Each snag is tracked with options to update statuses and events as conditions worsen or improve.
You can start your report at sendingsnags.com. We hope you find it useful.