Snagging & Handover How to Make Sure Your Luxury Home Is Actually Finished

Snagging and Handover

Snagging and handover are what make the difference between a luxury home that feels properly finished and one that slowly annoys you for years. Snagging simply means finding and fixing defects before you sign off things like paint runs, cracks, chips, sticking doors and windows, leaks, messy silicone or lights and sockets that don’t work.

The biggest mistake people make is leaving snagging until after they move in, when most of the money is already paid, the site team has gone and trades are tied up on other jobs. That’s when you end up spending months chasing people to sort things that should have been dealt with before you took the keys.

A sensible snagging process is simple. First, a pre-completion walk-through where every wall, ceiling, floor, door, window, tap, shower and socket is checked in daylight and written down as a snag list. Second, a practical completion inspection where only minor items remain and there’s an agreed list and deadline. Third, a proper handover with manuals, warranties, heating/MVHR demo, certificates and as-built plans so you actually know how to run the house. Finally, use the defects period smartly by keeping a short snag list with photos, grouping issues into one or two agreed visits and logging everything formally rather than firing off WhatsApp's.

Handover

Handover should always be more than just getting the keys, if you can’t confidently operate the home, it hasn’t been handed over properly.

Bringing in iMAC Architecture at this stage means you get a trained eye on the finish, a clear contractor-proof snag list, checks against drawings and specifications and support through practical completion and final sign-off. Less drama, better outcome.

The Three Rules

The three rules are simple: agree snagging and handover in the contract from the start, don’t rush to call it “finished” just to hit a move-in date and always get professional eyes on the last 10%, because that’s where the real quality shows.

If you’re nearing the end of a build or renovation and want to be sure your new home is genuinely finished to the standard you’ve paid for, contact iMAC Architecture to book a Snagging & Handover Review.

Conclusion

You only get one chance to hand your project over properly. The design, the finishes and the money you’ve invested all deserve a professional, structured end to the process – not a rushed sign-off and a year of frustration. By taking snagging and handover seriously, you protect both the quality of your home and your sanity. If you want someone in your corner who understands luxury residential projects inside out and will push for the standard you actually paid for, iMAC Architecture can guide you through those final, crucial steps.