Snagging is the inspection process that catches defects before a client takes occupancy: a misaligned door, a paint touch-up, a socket that was never wired live. Done well, it is a short, structured close to the project. Done badly, or skipped under schedule pressure, it becomes an open-ended argument that runs for months after the client has already moved in.
The difference is rarely the checklist itself. Most contractors in Pune and Mumbai use broadly similar defect categories. The difference is whether there is an agreed process: who inspects, in what order, against what timeline, and what happens to retention money if items are not closed.
What snagging actually covers
Snags range from cosmetic to functional. A scuffed skirting board is cosmetic. A door that does not latch, a light fixture on the wrong circuit, or an AC vent with no airflow is functional, and some functional snags are safety-relevant, like a fire door that does not self-close. Treating all three the same severity is a common mistake that either delays handover over trivial items or lets a safety issue slip through because it looked minor on a long list.
Categorising snags by severity
| Category | Example | Handling |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | Fire door not self-closing, live socket exposed | Must close before handover, no exception |
| Functional | AC vent blocked, door misaligned | Close before handover, or documented with a firm date |
| Cosmetic | Paint touch-up, minor scuff | Can close post-handover against retention |
A realistic snagging timeline before handover
A workable snagging timeline runs roughly two weeks before the scheduled handover date, not the day before. Internal contractor snagging first, giving the site team time to fix obvious items. Then a joint walkthrough with the client's representative and the construction team, item by item, with photos and locations logged against a floor plan. Finally, a re-inspection of closed items before the handover certificate is signed.
Compressing this into 48 hours before move-in is the single biggest cause of disputed handovers, because there is no time to actually verify fixes before the client is physically in the space.
Who should inspect, and how
The client's representative should walk the space with the contractor's site supervisor, not review a photo list remotely. Items are logged against a numbered floor plan, each with a photo, a description, and an assigned trade, so there is no ambiguity later about which item was meant or whether it was actually fixed. A shared digital snagging tool, rather than a spreadsheet emailed back and forth, keeps both sides looking at the same live list instead of diverging copies.
Sign-off and retention against outstanding items
Most fit-out contracts hold back a retention percentage, commonly 5 to 10%, released once all snags close. The practical question is what happens to items that genuinely cannot close before handover, such as a specialist finish awaiting a replacement part. A written schedule with dates and a value attributed to each outstanding item, held against retention, lets the client take occupancy without losing leverage to get the remaining work finished.
- Agree the retention percentage and release trigger in the contract, not informally at handover.
- Put a firm date against every open item, not "pending" with no timeline.
- Re-inspect before releasing retention, do not release on the contractor's word alone.
Where snagging disputes usually start
Most disputes trace back to one of two causes: an item was fixed but never re-inspected, so it stays open on paper while resolved on site, or the client and contractor logged the same defect differently and both believe the other missed it. A shared, photo-referenced list with a single source of truth removes almost all of this friction, which is why the tool matters as much as the checklist categories.
Frequently asked questions
Critical snags are safety-relevant, like a fire door not self-closing, and must close before handover with no exception. Functional snags affect use, like a blocked AC vent. Cosmetic snags, like a paint touch-up, can close after handover against retention.
Around two weeks. Internal contractor snagging first, then a joint client walkthrough, then re-inspection of closed items, all before the handover certificate is signed. Compressing this into 48 hours is the main cause of disputed handovers.
5 to 10% is common in Pune and Mumbai fit-out contracts, agreed in the contract itself with a clear release trigger, not decided informally at handover.
Usually because an item was fixed but never re-inspected, so it stays open on paper, or both sides logged the same defect separately and believe the other missed it. A shared photo-referenced list against a floor plan avoids this.