Handover is where a fit-out is judged. A disciplined snagging and handover process is the difference between a space that looks finished and one that actually is.
What snagging means
Snagging is the walkthrough where defects and incomplete items are recorded against the agreed scope. Each item has a location, a description, a responsible party and a target date, and it is only closed once someone has checked the correction.
Recording, prioritising and closing snags
A good list is organised by location, so each room or area is walked once. Every entry has a clear description, a photograph where permitted, the party responsible and a priority: safety and operation first, then function, then appearance. A target date follows, and the item is closed only after it has been re-inspected.
What the client should inspect
- The space against the agreed scope, drawings and specification.
- Finish quality, alignment, fixings and cleanliness.
- The operation of doors, fixtures and systems where relevant.
- The record of any item still open and who owns it.
Documents that depend on the scope
The handover pack varies with the project. It commonly includes product and material information, relevant test and commissioning records, warranties that were actually provided, as-built information where the work called for it, and care or maintenance guidance. A contract should state which of these apply.
Outstanding items and responsibilities
Handover does not automatically mean that every item is closed or that every authority step is complete. Outstanding items should be listed with an owner and a date, and anything that is a new request rather than incomplete contracted work should follow the variation process.
Connecting handover to maintenance
Product details, care instructions and unresolved items are the starting point of a maintenance plan. Passing them to whoever looks after the property keeps repeat issues visible and avoids starting from zero.
Questions clients ask
Is every new request a defect?
No. A defect is a departure from the agreed scope. A new request is a change to scope and is priced and approved separately.
How is a variation told apart from incomplete contracted work?
Incomplete contracted work belongs on the snagging list. A new request that changes scope is a variation and follows the change process.
Who should attend the final inspection?
The decision-maker, the person who will operate the space, and the contractor representative who can close items.
How SADEED handles handover
We do not treat a project as closed until outstanding items are listed and resolved and the records that fit the scope are in the client hands. Where the property needs ongoing care, the SADEED Care programme can pick up from the handover records.
Planning a project that has to be right at handover?
Related guides
- Quality Control in Interior Fit-Out: What Should Be Checked and When?
- The Commercial Fit-Out Process: From Approved Scope to Handover
- Facility Management for Offices in Dubai
- Design & Build programme
- Request a site visit
Last reviewed: October 2026. This guide is general information; requirements vary by property, scope and authority.