Snagging your new home: a 12-point checklist
Never take handover without an independent snag report. Here are the twelve things our inspectors flag most often — and the items most buyers miss.
Taking handover of a new property without a professional snagging inspection is one of the most expensive mistakes a Dubai buyer can make. Most defects are minor individually — but accumulate quickly, and the developer's obligation to fix them ends the moment you sign the handover form.
What is snagging?
Snagging is the formal process of inspecting a newly-completed property against the developer's specification and identifying defects, incomplete work and quality issues. In the UAE, the developer is obligated to remedy any items raised in a snag report submitted before final handover.
The 12-point checklist we use on every inspection
- AC performance — every cooling cassette tested under load for 30 minutes, with thermal imaging where possible.
- Plumbing pressure test — every tap, shower, drain and toilet checked for flow and seal integrity.
- Electrical load testing — every socket, switch and light fitting verified, including USB outlets and smart-home modules.
- Door & window alignment — gap consistency, hinge tension, latch engagement.
- Tile and grout — hollow-sound testing, level checks, grout cracking.
- Paint finish — runs, drips, missed patches, colour consistency across walls.
- Floor levels — laser-level verification, particularly important for marble and wood.
- Kitchen fittings — cabinet alignment, soft-close mechanisms, appliance commissioning.
- Bathroom fixtures — silicone seals, drain falls, glass shower screen alignment.
- Balcony & terrace — drainage falls, railing fixings, waterproofing integrity.
- Smart-home commissioning — every automated system tested through its scenes.
- Documentation — appliance warranties, system manuals, building completion certificates collated.
The items most buyers miss
Three issues consistently catch self-snagging buyers off-guard: AC drainage line slopes (cause leaks 6–12 months later), floor screed cracks under tiles (cause tile lift), and missing or undersized exhaust extraction in bathrooms.
When to snag
Schedule your snagging inspection within 48 hours of receiving the handover invitation, and before you sign anything. Allow the developer 4–6 weeks to remedy snags, then re-inspect before final handover.
A typical Panache snagging inspection takes 4–6 hours, costs significantly less than a single bathroom remediation, and routinely identifies 80–150 defects on a new villa.
