Snagging — the 28-day window
After Practical Completion, the customer has a 28-day window split into two halves. They live in the space and build the snag list for the first two weeks; you do all the snag work in one go; they have another 14 days to add anything else they spot before the window closes and the customer signs off.
After Practical Completion, the customer has a 28-day window to walk through the renovated space, identify snags, and have them sorted. The window is structured to be more efficient for you and less disruptive for the customer — one visit, not many. Once the list is cleared, the customer signs off and the 12-month workmanship warranty starts.
What counts as a snag
A snag is a small finishing item — something that's not quite right but doesn't stop the space from functioning. Common examples: a door that rubs, missing grout in a corner, paint touch-ups, a fitting in the wrong position, a loose handle.
Substantive defects — cracking plaster, leaking pipework, electrical issues — aren't snags. They're workmanship issues handled differently and may need re-attendance under the warranty rather than the snag list.
How the 28-day window runs
The window has three phases:
- The first two weeks: list-building. The customer lives in the space and adds snags to the list as they spot them. You're not expected to do snag work during this phase — the goal is to let the customer build a complete list before you mobilise.
- One return visit, all snags in one go. Once the list is populated, you schedule a return visit to work through everything together. One mobilisation, one tidy, one set of touch-up materials. It's more efficient for you and less disruptive for the customer than ad-hoc returns over weeks.
- A further 14 days: late additions. After your visit, the customer has another two weeks to add anything else they spot. At the end of those 14 days, the window closes and remaining items roll into the workmanship warranty.
Where a snag genuinely can't wait — a leak, a safety issue, anything that affects whether the customer can use the home — handle it sooner. The structured visit is the default for the rest.
What happens at Sign Off
Once the snag list is cleared and the 28-day window has closed, the customer signs off and the fourth milestone payment (typically 30% of the construction fee) releases. The 12-month workmanship warranty starts.
Disagreements
If you and the customer disagree on whether a snag is met to spec, the snag-dispute written process applies. The article Snag dispute — the written process covers it.
What this means for you
Plan the structured visit. Most builders block out a day or two for the snag return. Materials prep up front (touch-up paint, grout, spare hardware, fixings) saves a second trip. Don't drag the snags out — the longer they hang around, the more friction they create with the customer.
Related articles
- The 12-month workmanship warranty
- Snag dispute — the written process
- The four standard milestones in operational practice