New Build Snagging Surveys

Taking the stress out of buying for new home owners.

New Build Snagging Surveys

It is understandable that buying a newly built property can be a stressful process, especially if it is the first time you are buying a property. That is why here at Andrew James Property Surveyors we fully appreciate how stressful this process can be.

As a result, we at Andrew James Property Surveyors offer a snagging service for new builds to ensure your home meets your requirements.

Upon receiving the keys to your new home, your builder will ask you for a list of any defects, snags or issues you find in your new home.

You may find it strange that you are asked to find faults with your brand new house, but you must remember that many trades have worked together to hand build your house in all-weather conditions.

There are a number of defects and poor workmanship in new homes that are common today. The construction industry is plagued with inexperienced and poorly skilled tradesmen who take little or no pride in the work they are performing. When you combine this with the government’s demands for more homes and the housebuilders’ need to satisfy their shareholders, it’s not surprising the industry has a poor reputation for delivering quality new homes.

Many times, customers are left to foot the bill for defects they notice too late or are unable to identify without specialist equipment and knowledge. When all these facts are taken together, the consequences are not good, which is why Andrew James Property Surveyors recommends you have a full snagging survey of your new home completed, before you move in.

As snagging surveyors, we specialise in new build houses and apartments, not only compiling a comprehensive snagging report, but also creating a detailed snagging document, so that your builder can act promptly to remedy the defects we find.

You should have your snagging inspection carried out preferably before you take legal completion (unfortunately, most builders will not allow this), since it is more convenient for you and will cause you the least disruption after you move in. This will also give your builder more time to remedy any defects we find and locate, especially major ones.

Our recommendation is that you have a snagging survey carried out as soon as possible following handover, but definitely within the first two months of occupation. The majority of house builders will have a customer care charter which outlines the procedures and timeframes for reporting defects to their customer care department, please make yourself aware of this.

A detailed comprehensive photographic snagging report, which you will receive no later than 72 hours post survey, electronically, complies all the minor and major defects found within your new home based on our extensive knowledge and experience in the industry.

An inspection for snaggings is not a structural or valuation report, but rather a visual check.

The inspection usually takes between two and four hours, and our reports contain a summary of all the defects that we have found.

Through snagging, we commonly find roofing problems, poor insulation, thermal bridges, poor brickwork, leaks, violations of the building codes and NHBC/LABC standards, and cosmetic issues, such as damaged kitchen units, woodwork and finishes.

During your new-build property’s snagging inspection, we will perform the following checks: