Inspection services
Property snagging services for Dubai apartments and villas
Independent, room-by-room snagging inspections for new Dubai homes. We check finishes, MEP systems and visible safety concerns before handover.
A clear, evidence-led snag list
Every inspection documents the defects found so you have a practical record to raise before accepting the keys.
Inspection services
- Villa Snagging Inspection — Villas present the most complex inspection challenge — roofing, facades, MEP systems, landscaping, and boundary walls. We deploy thermal imaging and moisture mapping alongside our 500+ point checklist to find what eyes alone miss.
- Apartment Snagging Inspection — High-rise living demands precision on windows, balconies, AC performance, and acoustic seals. We inspect everything a developer would prefer you not notice — and document it before you sign.
- Pre-Handover Inspection — The crucial final step. We accompany you at the official developer handover, cross-reference our initial report, and verify every defect is rectified before you sign. If it's not fixed, we don't sign off.
- Post-Handover Re-inspection — Defects that emerge after you've moved in are still the developer's liability during the DLP. We document, chase, and verify every fix — so you're not left managing contractors and paperwork alone.
- International Concierge — Can't be on-site? Add International Concierge to any inspection for one flat AED 1,499 fee. We arrange developer access, conduct the full inspection, and deliver findings asynchronously via photo and video updates to your client dashboard — no travel required.
- Warranty-End Inspection — Before your 10-year structural warranty expires, a final audit locks in outstanding developer liability. Miss this window and you fund the repairs yourself. We make sure you don't miss it.
Frequently asked questions
Apartment, villa and townhouse snagging
What does an apartment snagging inspection cover?
An apartment snagging inspection covers every room and system in the unit: wall, floor and ceiling finishes, doors and windows, joinery and kitchens, electrical points and the distribution board, plumbing and drainage, air-conditioning, balconies and safety features. Each defect is photographed, rated by severity and logged in a room-by-room snag list.
What is different about villa snagging?
Villas have far more to inspect than apartments — multiple floors, roofs, external walls, gardens and boundary walls, private pools, garages and standalone mechanical and electrical systems. A villa snagging inspection in Dubai checks all of these, with thermal imaging and moisture readings where needed, so waterproofing, structural and finishing defects are caught before you accept handover.
Do townhouses need their own snagging inspection?
Yes. Townhouse snagging sits between an apartment and a villa: there are several floors, a roof or terrace, external walls, a garden and usually a garage, plus shared party walls that need checking for sound and fire separation. ProSnagging prices townhouses by bedroom count and inspects the external areas as thoroughly as the interior.
Can you inspect an off-plan property before completion?
Access to an off-plan unit is controlled by the developer, so the first opportunity is normally the handover appointment or a pre-handover viewing. ProSnagging books around that appointment: we inspect during the viewing where the developer allows it, or on the first day you hold the keys, and we advise you not to sign a defect-free handover form before the inspection.
Do you inspect second-hand and resale homes as well as new builds?
Yes. A pre-purchase home inspection on a resale apartment or villa in the UAE looks for the same categories of defect as snagging, plus wear, previous water damage, ageing air-conditioning and unauthorised alterations. The report gives you a factual basis for negotiating the price or asking the seller to repair items before transfer.
When to inspect: before handover, after handover and at warranty end
When should I book — before or after handover?
Book your snagging inspection for the handover window, before you sign to accept the property. In Dubai, developers give buyers a defect liability period (typically 12 months) to report defects, but it is far easier to have faults fixed while the unit is still under the developer's control at handover. Booking early gives you a documented snag list to raise before you take the keys.
What is an inspection before handover, and can the developer refuse it?
An inspection before handover is a snagging inspection carried out at the developer's pre-handover viewing or handover appointment, before you sign the completion documents. Most UAE developers allow buyers to bring an inspector to this appointment; some limit the time available. ProSnagging can work within a short viewing and complete the remaining rooms once you hold the keys, so nothing is skipped.
I have already taken the keys. Is it too late for snagging?
No. Defects reported within the defect liability period set out in your sale and purchase agreement are normally the developer's to fix, and most UAE developers give 12 months from handover. A post-handover snagging inspection produces the same photographed, room-by-room snag list; you submit it to the developer's customer-care team and ProSnagging re-inspects once the work is done.
What is a warranty-end or defect liability period inspection?
Before the defect liability period ends — usually 12 months after handover — a final inspection records any defects that have appeared since you moved in, such as cracking, leaks, air-conditioning faults or failed sealant, so they are logged with the developer before its obligation to rectify them ends. Structural elements are generally covered by a longer ten-year liability under UAE civil law; your sale and purchase agreement sets out how it applies to your property.
How the inspection and report work
How long does a snagging inspection take?
Most apartment snagging inspections take one to three hours; townhouses and villas take longer, depending on size and condition. ProSnagging inspectors work methodically through every room, checking finishes, electrics, plumbing, air-conditioning and safety systems, and you receive the completed report the same day.
What happens after the report?
You receive a detailed digital report the same day, with every defect photographed, categorised by severity and located room by room. You send it to your developer or contractor to fix the snags. Once they confirm the work is done, ProSnagging returns for a free re-inspection to verify each item was properly rectified before you close out the handover.
What does a snagging report look like?
A ProSnagging report is a room-by-room record of what was inspected and what was found. Every defect has a photograph, a location, a severity rating and a plain-language note on what it means. Rooms and categories with no issues are recorded as checked, so the developer can see the scope, and a link to the online report can be shared directly with the developer's customer-care team.
Can the developer refuse to fix defects?
In Dubai, developers are generally responsible for rectifying genuine construction and finishing defects reported within the defect liability period in your sale and purchase agreement, within a market regulated by RERA and the DLD. A clear, professional snag list with photographs and severity ratings gives you documented evidence to hold the developer accountable and makes refusals far harder to justify.
Do I need to be present at the inspection?
No. Many ProSnagging clients live overseas or are at work. With your permission and the developer's access arrangements, the inspector attends alone, keeps you updated with photographs during the visit and delivers the report the same day. Our International Concierge option handles the developer access on your behalf.
Snagging cost and choosing a company
How much does snagging cost in Dubai?
Snagging inspection prices in Dubai depend on the size and type of property — a studio or one-bedroom apartment costs less than a large villa. ProSnagging publishes fixed, transparent pricing per property size with no hidden fees, and every inspection includes a same-day report and a free re-inspection once the developer completes the fixes. See our pricing page for current rates.
How do I choose between snagging companies in Dubai and the UAE?
Compare four things: whether the company is independent of developers and contractors, whether its inspectors are qualified engineers, whether the report is photographed room by room with severity ratings, and whether a re-inspection is included. Fixed published prices and a sample report you can read before booking are good signs. ProSnagging meets all of these and has completed more than 10,000 inspections across the UAE.
Is snagging worth the cost?
In almost every case the value of defects found far exceeds the inspection fee. Rectification the developer carries out at its own cost during the defect liability period would otherwise be paid for by you after it ends — retiling a bathroom or repairing a hidden leak costs many times a snagging inspection.