Start with a record you can share.
Download the plain-text template and copy it into your preferred document editor, or print this page. Repeat the blank item for each issue. No email address or account is required.
Download the free templateProperty inspection record
Project / property: ____________________
Unit / address: ____________________
Inspection date and recorded by: ____________________
Scope and inaccessible areas: ____________________
One item per defect
Reference: ____________________
Room and exact position: ____________________
Category: ____________________
Observation: ____________________
Original photo filenames: ____________________
Requested action / clarification: ____________________
Responsible trade, if agreed: ____________________
Target date, if agreed: ____________________
Status / reinspection outcome: ____________________
Reinspection date and checked by: ____________________
Completion photo filenames: ____________________
Remaining issue or limitation: ____________________
A useful example, without technical guesswork.
Reference: HOME-001
Location: Bathroom, tile beside the shower door.
Observation: Visible crack at the lower corner of one wall tile.
Photos: HOME-001-wide.jpg and HOME-001-detail.jpg
Requested action: Please inspect the affected tile and confirm the proposed repair.
Status: Open. Trade and target date not yet agreed.
This is an illustrative record, not a diagnosis or a specification for repair. Get qualified advice where needed.
Keep the record understandable after the visit.
- Give each issue a unique reference. Do not recycle it for a different defect.
- Take a wider photograph and a close-up. Use matching references in your photo filenames.
- Record facts separately from the action you are requesting.
- Keep the dated original report and the builder’s replies.
- At reinspection, add the date, outcome and new evidence without replacing the original.
Use Fixed, Still defective, Unable to inspect or Not attempted for your follow-up outcome. An inaccessible area is not the same as a checked area without defects. Follow the repair-checking guide for more detail.
Snag-list template or snagging software?
A document can be enough for a short, one-off list. As photos, rooms and repair visits multiply, matching everything by hand takes more work. SnagAction keeps those records connected and creates PDF reports from them.
Keep the template when the list is simple
You manage photo filenames, reference numbers and dated copies yourself. This download is a plain-text template, not an Excel workbook or an automated report generator.
Try software when you inspect repeatedly
Record each snag with its location and evidence, review the wording, then issue a report. On a return visit, retain the original reference and add the outcome rather than replacing the original observation. Explore the inspector workflow.
The template is free. Paid SnagAction access is optional and does not turn a homeowner’s observations into a professional survey. See the report example or create your own report preview before paying.
Know the limits of a home checklist
This guide helps you record visible conditions. It is not a structural survey, safety certificate or legal assessment, and does not set warranty deadlines or determine liability. Follow your own contract and local professional advice. Do not open electrical equipment, climb to unsafe areas or test anything you are unsure about.
For background, see RICS’s explanation of snagging. Its UK context does not establish local rights or requirements.
See your own notes become a snag report.
Add up to three snags with your own photos and observations. No account or card required. The preview stays in your browser; saving a cloud project and issuing the full PDF require a plan.
Create your own report previewNeed room-by-room guidance? Or explore snagging report software for inspectors.
Paid access includes one property’s notes, photos, initial report and later close-out revisions. €15 once per property. Compare plans.