A pre-handover snagging checklist for a Dubai property should cover walls and paint, floors and tiling, doors, windows and locks, kitchen and joinery, bathrooms and plumbing, electrical points and the DB, AC performance, and, for villas, roofing and external drainage. Inspect before you sign the handover so the developer fixes defects at their cost, then re-check once the fixes are done.
The room-by-room checklist
- Walls and ceilings: cracks, patchy paint, uneven gypsum, stains.
- Floors: hollow, cracked or lipped tiles, poor grouting, skirting.
- Doors and windows: alignment, seals, glazing, locks and handles.
- Kitchen and joinery: cabinets, worktops, fittings, finish.
- Bathrooms and plumbing: leaks, drainage, water pressure, sanitaryware.
- Electrical: every socket and switch, the DB, testing and labelling.
- AC: cooling, airflow, noise, thermostat function.
- Villa externals: roofing, drainage falls, gardens, boundary works.
Why snag before handover
Once you accept handover, many defects become your problem to fix. Snagging before you sign logs them as the developer responsibility, and a professional report with photos and locations is far harder to dismiss than a verbal list. After the developer completes the list, a de-snag re-inspection confirms every item is properly fixed.
People also ask
When should I snag my Dubai property?
Before you sign the handover, so defects are the developer responsibility. A post-handover snag within the defect-liability period still helps if you already accepted.
How long does a snagging inspection take?
A thorough apartment inspection takes a few hours; a villa can take most of a day, depending on size and floors.
Do you re-inspect after fixes?
Yes. We carry out a de-snag re-inspection to confirm every listed item is properly resolved before you accept.
Book a pre-handover property snagging, apartment or villa inspection in Dubai.
For fit-out after handover, see our interior finishing service.