Completion and handover
Snagging and final payment: what homeowners should check before handover
The end of a project is where homeowners have the most leverage and, usually, the least energy. After months of disruption the pull towards simply signing everything off is strong. An unhurried week at this stage protects everything that came before it.
Walk the job properly, and write it down
A snagging list is not a complaint. It is the ordinary, expected close-out of a construction project, and every competent builder anticipates one.
- Walk each room in daylight, methodically, one wall at a time.
- Check doors, drawers, windows and handles actually operate.
- Run taps, showers and the heating; check for leaks and pressure.
- Test every socket, switch, light and extractor.
- Look at junctions: skirtings, thresholds, tile edges, sealant lines.
- Photograph and number each item, then send the list in one document.
Agree what happens to the list
- Which items the builder accepts, and which are disputed.
- A date by which accepted items will be completed.
- Who confirms completion, and how.
- What sum, if any, is retained until they are done.
Settle the final account
The final account is the arithmetic of the whole job: the original contract sum, plus agreed variations, less omissions and any credits, less what you have already paid. Ask for it as one page.
If the total surprises you, the answer is almost always in the variations list. That is why keeping a running total during the build matters so much.
Collect the handover pack before the last payment
- Building control completion certificate, or final sign-off from your approved inspector.
- Electrical installation certificate and any Part P notification.
- Gas Safe documentation for any gas work.
- Structural or engineer's details where relevant.
- Warranties and guarantees for the works, roof, windows and installed products.
- Manuals and operating instructions for boilers, controls, ventilation and appliances.
- Paint and tile references for future touch-ups.
Understand what happens after handover
Ask what defects cover you have and for how long, how to report an issue, and what response time to expect. Small things often appear in the first few months as the building dries out and settles; knowing the route to report them keeps the relationship intact.
Case-style example
A typical example
A homeowner is asked for the final payment on the day the scaffold comes down. Rather than paying immediately, they ask for a week, walk the property with a notepad and produce a numbered list of nineteen items — most of them small.
The builder accepts seventeen, disputes two as within tolerance, and completes the accepted items in four days. The homeowner releases most of the balance, retains a small clearly identified sum against the two disputed items, and collects the certificates and warranties at the same time.
The job closes cleanly, and both parties know exactly where they stand.
How The Construction Clinic helps with this decision
The Construction Clinic helps homeowners approach completion in a structured way: what to look for on a snagging walk, how to read a final account, what should be in a handover pack, and how much to hold and why. We do not carry out professional snagging inspections; we help you make the final decision with your eyes open.
Common questions
Questions homeowners ask about this
What is snagging?
Snagging is the process of identifying and listing minor defects and unfinished items at the end of a project, so they can be corrected before completion is agreed and the final payment is released.
How much should I hold back for snagging?
There is no fixed rule for domestic work, and it should be proportionate to the value of the outstanding items rather than a punitive figure. Whatever you retain, say in writing what it relates to and what will release it.
What documents should I receive at handover?
Typically the building control completion certificate, electrical and gas certification where relevant, structural details, warranties and guarantees, and manuals for installed equipment. Ask for them before the final payment, not after.
What is practical completion?
It is the point at which the works are complete enough for you to occupy and use them, apart from minor items on the snagging list. It usually triggers the release of most of the remaining payment and starts any defects period.
Do I need a professional snagging inspection?
Not always. For a straightforward extension a careful homeowner walk is often sufficient. For a whole-house project, a new build, or where you are not confident, an independent inspection is generally money well spent.
What if snags appear after I have paid in full?
Report them promptly and in writing. Many builders will return to correct genuine defects, and any warranty or defects cover you agreed may apply. Paying in full simply removes the leverage a retained sum would have given you.
What is a final account?
The final statement of what is owed: the original contract sum, adjusted for agreed variations and omissions, less payments already made. Ask for it in writing before releasing the last payment.