Do I Need a Snagging Survey?
If you’re looking into moving into a new-build home, you’d expect there to be no hidden issues. Even though these homes aren’t decades of years old, however, they can still have problems. Fixable problems perhaps, but still ones that need to be addressed. In the majority of circumstances, however, these issues tend to be relatively minor. Perhaps a door isn’t closing properly, or some tiling has been completed to a poor standard. That being said, before you move in, it might be worth carrying out a snagging survey to identify these issues.
What is a snagging survey?
Snagging is the process of visually inspecting a newly built property to ensure previously agreed upon standards have been met. Any unsatisfactory or outstanding building works will be collated for correction by the contractor. This list will then be reviewed once the outstanding work has been completed to the agreed upon standard. Snagging surveys typically focus on minor issues such as issues with skirting boards or plastering. Occasionally, however, more serious issues can be picked up, such as problems with external brickwork.
When is the best time to get a survey?
In an ideal scenario, you should complete this survey once building work has been completed and before you move in. This gives the developer time to correct any issues identified by the survey. If this can’t be done for whatever reason, a snagging survey should be conducted as soon as possible. So long as it is done within the first 2 years of the property’s warranty period, the developer must act on any identified defects.
Is it worth it?
Considering the hundreds of thousands of pounds you’re investing into a new home, we’d say absolutely! Snagging surveys conducted by professional RICS-certified surveyors can spot existing and potential issues which may have gone unnoticed. Once your property is out of its warranty period, it’s up to you to fix any issues you may find.
Of course, you can always create a snagging list yourself of any problems you discover. But it’s highly likely you will miss out on at least a few issues a professional survey could identify. Also, when conveying the survey results to your developer, an independent snagging survey adds more weight to your concerns. In our eyes, it’s a no brainer.
Examples of common ‘snags’
As mentioned, the majority of issues these surveys look for will be relatively minor, fixable ones. These include, but are not limited to issues with:
- Roof tiles
- Walls, fences, and gates.
- Pipes, taps, and showerheads.
- Paintwork and brickwork
- Doors, windows, and cupboards
- Built-in appliances
- Stairs
- Tiling and skirting
- Insulation and heating
- Plumbing
- Electrics
- Overall Design
More information on what to look for with each of these features can be found by clicking here!
Contact us
For more information about our snagging survey service, get in touch with our experts today! To reach our specialist team, call us on 01245 326 200 or click here!