Home / Homeowners & buyers / Snagging
New-build snagging inspections
A room-by-room inspection of your new home, with an itemised and photographed snag list to submit to the developer.
Why snag
New homes commonly have defects at handover, from finishing issues and poorly adjusted doors to incomplete insulation or roof details. Most new-home warranties make the developer responsible for remedying defects reported in the first two years. Check the terms of your own warranty.
An itemised list with photographs and references to the relevant standard gives the developer a clear basis to respond and makes progress easier to track.
What I check
Inside
Walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, kitchen and bathrooms, joinery, sealants and finishes, room by room.
Outside
Brickwork and mortar, visible roof and verges, rainwater goods, external levels, paths and drainage covers, fencing.
Roof space
Insulation, ventilation and the visible roof structure, where access is safe.
Against the standards
Items referenced to the Building Regulations, the warranty provider's technical standards, and manufacturers' instructions where relevant.
When to book
Before completion: if the developer permits a pre-completion inspection.
After you move in: at any point in the developer's warranty period. Earlier is better.
Scope & limitations
What the inspection does and does not cover
- A snagging inspection is not a check of compliance with the Building Regulations. Building Control or an approved inspector carries that responsibility.
- The inspection is visual and non-invasive unless intrusive investigation or testing is agreed in writing beforehand.
- Only areas that are safely accessible on the day are inspected. Concealed, covered or inaccessible parts are not inspected, and the report says where access was limited.
- Gas, electrical and drainage installations are not tested. Where a specialist test is advisable, the report says so.
- Any costs given are indicative ranges for budgeting and prioritising. They are not quotations, and contractors' prices will vary.
- Opinions are given within my professional competence as a construction professional, based on the evidence available at the time of inspection.
Full scope, exclusions and fee are set out in the terms of engagement agreed before every instruction.
Collecting the keys soon?
Ask your developer whether they allow a pre-completion inspection, then get in touch to book a date.