The vague-snag mistake that costs sub-contractors a return trip

Practical steps

1. 1

   Open your most recent 10 snags. Read each title out loud.

2. 2

   If the title would not tell a new tradesperson what to fix, rewrite it.

3. 3

   Replace single-word titles. 'Paint' becomes 'Hairline crack in master bedroom east wall paint'.

4. 4

   Use the structured fields (plot, room, element) for location; never repeat location in the title.

5. 5

   If a sub-contractor has come back twice asking what a snag means, that snag is the training example for the team.

Key takeaways

• Read every snag title out loud. If it does not stand alone, rewrite it.
• Single-word titles are always wrong. The minimum is 'problem in element on location'.
• Sub-contractor return trips for clarification are the cost. Avoid them with one extra sentence.