Snagging — the 28-day window
After Practical Completion you have a 28-day window. Two weeks to live in the space and build the snag list, then one builder visit to work through everything in one go, then a final two weeks to add anything else. Sign Off and the warranty follow.
Once your builder has marked Practical Completion, you have a 28-day window to identify snags and have them sorted. The window is structured so your builder does the snag work in one efficient pass rather than ad-hoc returns over weeks. Once the list is clear, you Sign Off and the 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 or doesn't shut cleanly.
- Grout missing in a corner.
- Paint that's missed a patch or marked since the build.
- A light switch in the wrong position.
- A loose handle or fitting.
- Touch-ups, finishing details, small adjustments.
A snag isn't a major defect — those go through a different path (What to do if you disagree with a milestone covers significant disagreements during the build; The 12-month workmanship warranty covers larger issues that surface after Sign Off).
How the 28-day window runs
The window has three phases.
- The first two weeks: list-building. Live in the space. As you spot snags, add them to the list. Your builder isn't expected to be back on site doing snag work during this phase — the goal is to give you time to put together a complete list. Open every door, run every tap, switch every light, look at every surface.
- One builder visit, all snags in one go. Once the list is populated, your builder schedules a return visit and works through everything together. One trip, one set of touch-up materials, one tidy. It's much less disruptive than your builder coming back five times.
- A final 14 days: late additions. After the snag visit, you've got another two weeks to add anything else you spot. At the end of that 14 days the snagging window closes. Items first identified after the window roll into the 12-month workmanship warranty.
If something genuinely can't wait — a leak, a safety issue, anything that affects whether you can use the home — tell your builder straight away rather than waiting for the structured visit.
Writing useful snag entries
Be specific about the location and the issue. "Door rubs at top of frame, kitchen entrance" is more useful than "doors". A photo helps if the issue isn't obvious in words.
When you and the builder disagree on a snag
Most snags are uncontroversial. Where there's a disagreement — your builder thinks an item meets specification and you don't — the snag-dispute written process applies. The article Snag dispute — the written process covers it.
Sign Off
Once the snag list is clear and the 28-day window has closed, you Sign Off. The fourth milestone payment is released and the 12-month workmanship warranty starts from this date.
What this means for you
Use the first two weeks actively. The more complete the list when your builder mobilises for the snag visit, the cleaner the visit goes. The investment now saves a warranty claim later for the same item.
Related articles
- Practical completion and sign-off — what they mean
- Snag dispute — the written process
- The 12-month workmanship warranty