New Build Snagging Checklist? Your Essential Guide

Three construction workers in safety gear onsite working from tablet: NestForms New Build Snagging Checklists

Moving into a new home is like unwrapping a present: exciting, shiny, and almost guaranteed to have a few missing pieces or even a wonky staircase. That's where snagging comes in!

A new build home might look complete at first glance — fresh paint, sparkling taps, brand-new tiles. But hidden beneath the surface, there can be missed fittings, incomplete finishes, or minor defects that only a structured inspection can uncover. That’s where the NestForms GPS Survey App and a New Build Snagging Checklist form becomes essential. There are many apps for surveyors, but the NestForms Quality Control App, when it comes to checklist, inspection and work completion forms stands out in many respects. 

Whether you're a developer, project manager, site inspector or homeowner, this guide outlines how to create, manage, and benefit from a professional snagging process using the latest mobile technology. Snag List and Punch list form construction ensures clear documentation of site issues, timely assignment of tasks, and smooth project handover.

What is a New Build Snagging Checklist?

A New Build Snagging Checklist is a structured form used to identify and document minor faults or issues in a property before it's officially offered up for client sign off. These faults — often called “snags” — can range from scratched worktops to misaligned doors, and even incomplete electrical fittings.

By using a dedicated Snag List App, you can move away from handwritten notes or scattered emails and replace them with organised digital records. A punch list application allows for real-time reporting, faster resolution, and a much more professional handover process.

Why You Shouldn’t Skip Snagging

Even the most reputable contractors can unintentionally leave small issues behind during a project. A snagging inspection ensures:

  • All work has been completed to the agreed standard
  • Health and safety regulations are satisfied
  • Nothing is missed before any final project completion forms and Client sign-off.
  • Responsibilities are clearly recorded for future reference

A well-prepared Snag List Form ensures every room, fixture, and system is inspected with consistency.

Who Uses a Snagging List Survey?

A snagging process is relevant across many construction roles:

  • Site managers and contractors verifying subcontractor work
  • Developers preparing handovers for clients or tenants
  • Homeowners commissioning independent inspectors
  • Quality assurance teams documenting issues in large developments
  • Housing associations conducting post-build inspections

Using a snagging list survey powered by a digital platform simplifies collaboration between all parties.

Going Digital with a Punch List App

Instead of scribbled notes or spreadsheets, professionals are now using mobile tools like the Punch List App within NestForms.

Here’s why going a digital Punchlist Form makes sense:

  • Take images of each issue directly on-site
  • Tag GPS locations for site-specific snag identification
  • Use dropdowns and checkboxes to standardise common faults
  • Assign responsibility for resolution
  • Capture digital signatures for confirmation and client sign-off

With a mobile survey app, all your findings are uploaded to the cloud — or stored locally if working in offline mode — ready for sharing with your team or clients.

Construction worker onsite taking an image of ceiling with a tablet: Offline Surveys and the NestForms Snag List App

Working Offline? No Problem.

One of the challenges in large or remote developments is connectivity. With NestForms as your offline survey app, you can fill Job Completion Forms and carry out full inspections without needing mobile data or Wi-Fi. The form stores all responses securely on your device and syncs them automatically once you’re back online.

That means zero disruption when working in basement plant rooms, high-rise shells, or rural housing sites.

What Should You Include in a New Build Snagging Checklist?

A comprehensive snag list form should cover every aspect of the property. Here are some common checklist categories:

Internal Areas

  • Walls and ceilings (cracks, paintwork)
  • Doors and windows (handles, seals, locks)
  • Flooring (fitting, marks, damage)
  • Stairs and balustrades (secure, aligned)
  • Fixtures and fittings (sockets, switches, lighting)

Plumbing & Bathrooms

  • Taps working and sealed
  • Shower pressure tested
  • No leaks under sinks or toilets
  • Tile grouting and sealant completed

Electrics & Systems

  • Power sockets working
  • Fuse box labelled correctly
  • Fire alarms tested
  • Thermostats and heating operational

External Areas

  • Brickwork, render or cladding
  • Roof tiles and guttering
  • Driveways, paths and landscaping
  • External lighting and security fittings

You can use Skip Logic in your form to show only relevant fields based on answers — keeping your snag list app clean and efficient.

GPS Land Survey App Functionality

For larger housing developments or multi-unit buildings, it’s important to capture not just the issue, but where it is. Using the GPS land survey app feature in NestForms allows you to:

  • Tag the precise location of each snag
  • Differentiate between similar units
  • Provide evidence during disputes or reviews
  • Keep a clear map-based record of fault patterns

This feature is particularly useful for quality assurance teams and developers managing multiple simultaneous builds.

Final Inspection Checklist and Sign-Off

A Final Inspection Checklist helps close the loop by confirming:

  • All reported snags have been addressed
  • No new issues have emerged
  • The client has reviewed the results
  • Official sign-off is complete

Using a form created with the NestForms surveying app, you can:

  • Collect digital signatures from your client and project lead
  • Attach images of resolved snags as proof for work completion reports
  • Export a completion form in PDF format instantly

Everything is timestamped, secure, and ready to archive or share.

Image of a completed interior skeleton of a timber framed home ready for inspection: NestForms New Build Snagging Checklist

NestForms: A Smart Mobile Survey App for Snagging

The NestForms Android Forms App brings together all the features you need to manage your new build inspections effectively:

  • Fully customisable installation forms with dropdowns, images, Skip Logic, and more
  • Work offline and sync later
  • Capture signatures and GPS data
  • Export reports as PDF, Excel or Word
  • Create reusable templates for future developments
  • Access your data from desktop or mobile — anywhere, anytime

If you're looking for a Punchlist App or Snag List App that simplifies quality control, NestForms is built with your needs in mind.

Try the NestForms Surveyor App for Free

Sign up for a 14-day free trial of the NestForms mobile data collection app today. No credit card needed.

Build your own new build snagging checklist or project completion report and test it in the field. With our Quality Control Checklist App, experience how much easier your next inspection will be.

Check out the following pre-designed example templates: Construction Site Survey, New Build Punch List and a New Build Snagging List. Other templates within our library include a Health and Safety Audit and Project Completion Report.

We also offer a Training Demo that’s available to you for free if you have any questions when starting up with the best surveyor app.

Ready to replace clipboards and spreadsheets with a modern, flexible system?