Get a house ready to sell: the snagging list

Snag a house before selling: fill, paint, fix doors and taps, reseal and regrout, then check paperwork, over one or two weekends.

Guides in this project

01Fill cracks and holes before painting 02Touch up paint without it showing 03Fix a door that sticks 04Reseal a bath 05Regrout wall tiles 06Fix a dripping tap by replacing the washer 07Tidy an overgrown garden 08What is a Building Regulations completion certificate?

SNAG-01Walk round and make a snagging listGo room by room and write down every mark, crack, sticking door, worn sealant line, loose grout and dripping tap. Photograph anything you're unsure about so you can show a trade later if needed. Group the list by job type (filling, painting, doors, bathroom, taps) so you can buy materials in one trip and work through phases in order. Budget half a day for this before buying anything.

1 each · Notebook or phone list

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1 each · Torch

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SNAG-02Fill cracks and holesFollow the guide 'Fill cracks and holes before painting' for every crack, old fixing hole and dent on your list. Before filling over an old screw or nail, check for cables and pipes with a detector first — even in a wall you think is empty, something may be hidden behind it. Let every filled area dry fully (check the tub for drying time) before moving to paint, as filler shrinks slightly and may need a second coat.

RULES

2 tub · Multi-purpose filler

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1 each · Filling knife

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2 each · Fine sanding block

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1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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KNOW THE RULES

Always check with a cable and pipe detector before fixing or filling into a wall, floor or ceiling, and still expect something to be there.

SNAG-03Touch up or repaint affected wallsOnce filler is fully dry and sanded, follow the guide 'Touch up paint without it showing' on each filled or scuffed area. For a house sale, consistent sheen and colour matter more than usual, so consider a full wall repaint in rooms with heavy patching rather than lots of small touch-ups. Allow paint to dry fully (check the tin for recoat times) before moving furniture back or starting other phases nearby.

2 litre tin · Matched emulsion paint

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1 set · Small roller and tray

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2 roll · Masking tape

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SNAG-04Fix sticking or misaligned doorsFollow the guide 'Fix a door that sticks' for every internal door that catches, drags or won't latch properly — buyers notice this during viewings. If a hinge needs a new screw hole, check for cables and pipes with a detector before drilling into the door frame or nearby wall. Expect this phase to take longer if doors have swollen with damp or moved with the house settling, since you may need to plane as well as adjust hinges.

RULES

1 pack · Replacement hinge screws

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1 each · Hand plane

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1 set · Pencil and spirit level

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KNOW THE RULES

Check for cables and pipes with a detector before drilling into a door frame or surrounding wall, even though it's less likely there.

SNAG-05Reseal the bath and showerFollow the guide 'Reseal a bath' in every bathroom with cracked, mouldy or gappy sealant — this is one of the first things buyers check. Remove all old sealant fully, since new sealant applied over old will fail quickly and look worse than the original problem. Leave the sealant to cure for the time stated on the tube (often 24 hours) before running a bath or shower.

2 tube · Sanitary silicone sealant

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1 each · Sealant removal tool

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1 roll · Masking tape

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SNAG-06Regrout worn wall tilesFollow the guide 'Regrout wall tiles' anywhere grout is cracked, stained or missing, usually around baths, sinks and splashbacks. Do this after resealing, since fresh grout lines next to fresh sealant give the cleanest finish for viewings. Leave grout to dry fully before wiping down tiles with a damp cloth, as early cleaning can pull grout out of the joints.

1 tub · Ready-mixed wall grout

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1 each · Grout float

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1 each · Grout shaping tool

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SNAG-07Fix dripping tapsFollow the guide 'Fix a dripping tap by replacing the washer' on every tap that drips or won't shut off fully, in kitchens and bathrooms. Turn off the water supply to that tap, or the stopcock if there's no isolation valve, before starting. If a tap keeps dripping after a new washer or is a modern cartridge type that won't strip down easily, consider calling a plumber rather than forcing it, as a damaged tap body can mean a full replacement.

1 pack · Tap washer assortment pack

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1 each · Adjustable spanner

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1 roll · PTFE tape

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SNAG-08Check paperwork and remaining faultsRead the guide 'What is a Building Regulations completion certificate?' to understand what documents a buyer's solicitor may ask for, such as certificates for past electrical work, boiler installation or an extension. Gather any certificates you have, and contact your local authority Building Control if you suspect notifiable work was done without one. If snagging has uncovered an electrical fault, old wiring, a gas smell, or a structural crack rather than a cosmetic one, get a qualified electrician, Gas Safe engineer, or structural engineer to inspect it — these are not DIY jobs and some electrical work is notifiable under Part P.

RULES

1 each · Folder for paperwork

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KNOW THE RULES

A completion certificate or Building Control sign-off is normally needed for notifiable work like new circuits, consumer units, or structural changes. Never attempt notifiable electrical work or any gas work yourself — contact a qualified electrician or Gas Safe engineer instead.

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