Property snagging in Dubai.
Snagging is the practice of identifying defects in a new or recently completed property. Done right, it forces the developer to fix issues at zero cost to you. Done wrong, every snag becomes your maintenance bill.
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Snagging is a property inspection focused on identifying defects rather than condition. It's most commonly done at handover from a developer, but can also be done after major renovations or before a tenant moves into a recently completed unit.
In Dubai, snagging is a critical step for any new build buyer. Developers offer a defects liability period (typically 12 months) during which they must remedy issues at no cost. The snagging report is your evidence that those issues exist.
Snagify's AI is trained on thousands of Dubai property defects. It flags wall cracks, paint imperfections, tile chips, plumbing leaks, electrical issues, and finish problems automatically. The PDF goes straight to the developer with severity ratings.
When you need it.
You bought off-plan and the unit is being delivered.
Snagging in the first 2 weeks after handover catches 90% of developer-fixable defects. Wait too long and the developer will argue you caused them yourself.
Your renovation just finished and you want to verify quality.
Contractors miss things. A 30-minute snagging inspection produces a punch list that holds them accountable to fix issues before final payment.
You're listing a recently completed unit for rent.
Snagging before the first tenant moves in protects you against tenant complaints about builder defects. Issues you document now are still on the developer's bill.
The Snagify approach.
Step by step.
Set up the snagging session
Property details, developer or contractor as recipient. Severity threshold (default: flag everything cosmetic and above).
Walk room by room
Snagging is more thorough than condition checks. Open every cabinet, test every socket, run every tap. Each defect deserves its own photo.
AI scans every photo
Wall cracks, paint streaks, tile chips, missing grout, scuffed skirting, broken fixtures, exposed wiring. AI flags everything.
Severity classification
Cosmetic (paint, scuffs), functional (leaky tap, broken outlet), urgent (water damage, electrical hazard). Each tagged separately.
Developer signs acknowledgement
Developer's representative signs on the same device. Each snag is now formally acknowledged with an expected resolution date.
Track resolutions over time
As the developer fixes each snag, mark it resolved with a follow-up photo. Final report shows what was fixed and what's still outstanding.
What you get at the end.
A multi-page snag list PDF with photos of every defect, severity classifications, room-by-room organization, developer acknowledgement signature, and a resolution tracker. Suitable for sending directly to the developer's customer service team or escalating to RERA if needed.
Frequently asked.
Within 2 weeks of taking handover for off-plan purchases. Within 1 week of contractor completion for renovations. Before listing a new unit for rent. The earlier the better, as developers often argue defects appeared after handover if you wait too long.
A check-in documents condition for a tenancy baseline. Snagging documents defects that should be fixed by the developer or contractor at no cost to you. They overlap in flow but the report structure and recipient are different.
AI catches the vast majority of visible defects in photos. It can miss anything not captured in the photo (subtle smells, faint sounds, intermittent issues). Take photos liberally and walk through each room mindfully. The human eye plus the AI together catch nearly everything.
It varies. A new build off-plan unit typically has 30 to 80 snags at handover, depending on developer quality. A renovated unit usually has 10 to 30. If you're seeing zero, you're probably not looking carefully enough.
Most reputable Dubai developers respond within 14 to 30 days. If yours doesn't, escalate to RERA. The Snagify PDF with its SHA-256 hash and developer's acknowledgement signature is strong evidence in a RERA complaint.
Catch every defect.
AI-powered snagging. Free check-ins. Pay only for snag reports.
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