Home snagging is the process of checking for defects in new build properties. It is often overlooked and can lead to expensive surprises when you move in. It can be carried out by a professional snagging survey company or you can do it yourself. It is a good idea to carry out snagging surveys as early as possible in order to give the property developers an opportunity to fix any issues that may be identified.
It is also possible to use a home snagging report as evidence for your warranty claim if you are unhappy with the level of service from your housebuilder. It is important to note that a snagging report should only be completed by a professionally qualified and insured snagging surveyor. Those who try to do it themselves risk missing crucial faults that a trained snagging professional will pick up.
How to conduct a snagging inspection
The best time to carry out a snagging survey home snagging uk is before you exchange contracts with the housebuilder. This allows them to fix any problems before you move in and gives you peace of mind that your new home is free from defect. However, if this is not possible then the inspection should be done as soon as you can access the property to ensure any faults are rectified before you move in.
You can identify some of the more obvious faults in a new build property yourself, such as surface imperfections, uneven paintwork and loose door handles. But a professional snagging survey will be able to go much deeper and will spot many things that the average person would miss, such as defective electrics, heating issues or damp and mould.
Most professional snagging companies will split the property into different areas and then check each section individually. This can be by room or by systems used in the property such as plumbing, electricity, gas and central heating. They will then compile a full report with photos of each issue. A good snagging company will also include a thermal imaging scan of the property. This can help identify areas where heat is being lost through poor insulation or gaps in doors and windows.
A professional snagging company will be able to give you an estimated cost for any snags that they identify. This will be based on the size of the property, the amount of work required to rectify the problem and the urgency of the repair. They will also be able to advise you on any extra costs that may be incurred due to the delay in getting the snagging repairs carried out.
It is worth noting that a snagging survey does not replace a full building survey or valuation and is only a brief inspection of the property to look for defects. It is important to have a building survey and valuation done as well, but these are mainly for the benefit of your mortgage lender rather than you.